Welcome to our Latinx Heritage Month 2020 online exhibit!
This exhibit presents a wide selection of recent books, relevant streaming videos, and resources for your reading and viewing pleasure. We also offer a special tribute to Latinx LGBTQ+ authors and topics to recognize and celebrate Fall 2020's semester long Pridefest. Enjoy!
- Mariachi Band at Boswell House, by IowaPolitics.com; CCBY SA 2.0
About LHM: The observation of Latinx Heritage Month began in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson. The initial observation was for one week only, which was then called Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan extended the observation to last 30 days, signing into law the period from September 15 through October 15 to be known as Hispanic Heritage Month. The intent of the Heritage Month is to recognize and celebrate the many contributions of Latinx to the United States.
Why does the celebration straddle two months? The original legislation that founded Hispanic Heritage Week targeted the week that included September 15 and 16, as these two dates are the anniversaries of independence from Spain for five Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, all on September 15) and for Mexico's independence from Spain on September 16.
