Hispanic Heritage Celebrations

Fall is filled with celebrations honoring Hispanic heritage acknowledging the contributions of people who share the Hispanic culture from September through November.

Día de Los Muertos is around the corner, but Hispanic Heritage is more than just a fun show or a culinary experience. It’s also a time to reflect on the culture. Many students take the Chicano and Latin American Studies course Sex, Race, and Class in American Society to satisfy their multicultural international general education requirement. The class, taught by Dr. Victor Torres, teaches students about diversity.

“Even if you don’t agree with anything that took place in class, you know that still learning,” Torres says. “You still learn what other people think, how other people feel, how other people view the world, right? And you still learn about other people’s experiences. Without having to agree with them. You are more familiar now, right? The goal is not to have you agree with everything, it’s for you to be exposed to that perspective.”

Fresno State is enriched with a 52% diversity of Hispanic students who represent many different countries. To enjoy the festivity, Torres says to be sure to reflect on the meaning of the celebrations.

“We also get to show others who we are,” says Kathy Franco, who attends Fresno State. She says Hispanic Heritage is a time to celebrate one’s culture, and that is important.

“And what follows from that is that we also continue learning from our heritage. Like me personally, I’m learning more about the culinary side of it, and it’s just really fascinating,” Franco says.