Hispanic Heritage Month 2024
Hispanic Heritage Month 2024
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated each year from September 15 to October 15. Its origins date back to 1968, when it began as a week-long celebration during the presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson.
In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded this commemoration to a full month, granting additional time to more fully recognize the significant contributions of American Latinos to the country.
Books about Spaniards in the USA
Below we present a series of books that compile stories about some Spanish characters in their wanderings through this country in which we live. We hope that this selection is to your liking.
"Cabeza de Vaca": Antonio Pérez Henares refutes the absolutism of the Black Legend in this magnificent historical novel that recreates the fascinating life of Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca, the Spaniard who best understood the indigenous way of life in the sixteenth century.
"And Bernardo de Gálvez entered Washington", By Francisco Reyero is a book tribute to his figure, but it is also a work of historical research and a great journalistic chronicle"
"Distant Flags:" The Exploration, Conquest, and Defense by Spain of the Territory of the Present-Day United States, a book by Carlos Canales and Fernando Martínez Laínez.
"TUCSON DRAGONS OF THE DESERT", by Ferran Brooks. Author: Daniel Thomas. "In the city of Tucson, at the end of the seventeenth century, the Spaniards rode on the back of the dragons defending the territory."
The writer from Jaen Jesús Maeso de la Torre, professor and historian, is completing the trilogy of Captain Martín de Arellano. This character is the protagonist of the first part of the series, entitled "Comanche" and published in 2018 and of the most recent "La Rosa de California", in which, with the framework of the Spanish expeditions to Alaska, frontier life, presidios, the relationship with native tribes, Maeso offers a mixture of genres, crime novel, adventure and in the background the historical importance of Spain in the West, in the West.
The novelist Almudena de Arteaga focused the plot of "La Virreina Criolla" on Felicitas Saint-Maxent, the wife of the Spanish Governor of Louisiana during the years of the American Revolution, Bernardo de Gálvez, recognized as an Honorary Citizen for his contribution to the independence of the former 13 British colonies.
The Aragonese writer Luz Gabás won the 2022 Planeta Prize with the novel "Lejos de Luisiana", set in the times of the Spanish administration in that territory.
María Dueñas revives the Spanish diaspora in New York. The novelist presents in the Big Apple 'The Captain's Daughters', about emigration to the United States at the beginning of the twentieth century
"A Hundred Miles from Manhattan" by Guillermo Fesser. Current stories of the life of a Spaniard living "One Hundred Miles from Manhattan".
Unveiling Memories: Spain and the Hispanic Contribution to the Independence of the United States. Book created by Iberdrola on the role of Spain in the independence of the United States.
If you want more ideas on reading for Hispanic Heritage Month you can also consult the following website: Good Reads
You can also check your local library for other stories. In the following libraries in Michigan you can also find titles in Spanish in the following libraries in Michigan:
Ann Arbor, Auburn Hills, Canton, Capital Area District (Downtown & Okemos), Clinton Macomb, Dearborn, Farmington (Branch & Main), Grand Rapids, Northville, Novi, Rochester Hills, Sterling Heights, Troy, West Bloomfield, William P. Faust (Westland, Ypsilanti.
Hispanic heritage in the United States is an essential part of the country's history. From the first Spanish explorers in the sixteenth century until today, the Spanish influence has been significant. Currently, there are approximately 1.3 million people of Spanish origin in the United States.
The states with the largest Spanish populations include California, Florida, New York, and Texas, although there are significant communities in many other states, such as Michigan.
Spanish immigration began to increase in the 19th century, but especially in the mid-20th century, coinciding with waves of migration due to the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) and the Franco dictatorship. Since then, the Spanish population has grown steadily, with a particular focus on urban areas.
Demographics of the Spanish population in the USA
Spaniards relevant to U.S. history and culture:
In the following list you can find some of the most illustrious Spaniards in the history, culture and development of the United States:
Isabel of Castille
- Born: April 22nd, 1451, Madrigal de las Altas Torres, Spain
- Died: November 26th, 1504, Medina del Campo, Spain
- Impact: Financier of Christopher Columbus' expedition that discovered America. "Without their support, the discovery of the New World would not have been possible."
Juan Ponce de León
- Born: 1474, Santervás de Campos, Spain
- Died: July 1521, La Habana, Cuba
- Impact: Explorer who discovered Florida. "Their exploration opened the door to future European colonization in the United States."
Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
- Born: February 15th, 1519, Avilés, Spain
- Died: September 17th, 1574, Santander, Spain
- Impact: Founder of St. Augustine, the oldest city in the U.S. "He established the first permanent European colony in North America." and celebrated North America's first "Thanksgiving Day" on September 8, 1565, with a mass and a fraternal meal celebrated between Spaniards and native Saturiwa.
Bernardo de Gálvez
- Born: July 23rd, 1746, Macharaviaya, Spain
- Died: November 30th, 1786, Tacubaya, México
- Impact: A hero of the American War of Independence, he supported the colonies militarily and economically. "Without their intervention, victory in battles like Pensacola would not have been possible."
Junípero Serra
- Born: November 24th, 1713, Petra, Spain
- Died: August 28th, 1784, Carmel, California, U.S.A.
- Impact: Founder of missions in California, which later became key cities. "His legacy lives on in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco."
Gaspar de Portolá
- Born: 1716, Os de Balaguer, Spain
- Died: 1786, Lérida, Spain
- Impact: Founder of missions in California, which later became key cities. "His legacy lives on in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco."
Rafael Guastavino
- Born: March 1st, 1842, Valencia, Spain
- Died: February 1st, 1908, Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A.
- Impact: Architect known for his technique of Catalan vaults, present in buildings such as the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York. "He introduced a revolutionary technique that transformed architecture in America."
Joaquín Sorolla
- Born: February 27th, 1863, Valencia, Spain
- Died: August 10th, 1923, Madrid, Spain
- Impact: Painter whose works were exhibited in New York and Chicago. "With his exhibition at the Hispanic Society in 1909, he brought light and color from Spain to America."
Pablo Casals
- Born: December 29th, 1876, Vendrell, Spain
- Died: October 22nd, 1973, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Impact: Cellist who popularized classical music in the U.S. "revolutionized the art of the cello with memorable concerts at Carnegie Hall."
Emilio Herrera
- Born: February 13rd, 1879, Granada, Spain
- Died: September 13rd, 1967, Ginebra, Swiss
- Impact: Engineer and scientist, precursor of aerospace technology. "His 'astronautical diving suit' influenced the development of spacesuits used by NASA."
Federico García Lorca
- Born: June 5th, 1898, Fuente Vaqueros, Spain
- Died: August 19th,1936, Granada, Spain
- Impact: A poet and playwright, his influence on the U.S. Hispanic community lives on. "His work was fundamental in Hispanic theater in New York."
Xavier Cugat
- Born: January 1st, 1900, Girona, Spain
- Died: October 27th, 1990, Barcelona, Spain
- Impact: Musician who popularized Latin music in the U.S. "He introduced Latin rhythms to the mainstream of American music."
Luis Buñuel
- Born: February 22nd de 1900, Calanda, Spain
- Died: July 29th, 1983, Ciudad de México, México
- Impact: Filmmaker who influenced auteur cinema in the United States, especially in the surrealist current. "His work defied Hollywood conventions with films like 'The Exterminating Angel.'"
Salvador Dalí
- Born: May 11th,1904, Figueres, Spain
- Died: January 23rd,1989, Figueres, Spain
- Impact: A surrealist painter, his museum in St. Petersburg, Florida, is a cultural landmark. "He fused American art and pop culture with his surreal vision."
Joan Oró i Florensa
-Born: October 26th, 1923, Lerida, Spain
-Died: September 2nd, 2004, Barcelona, Spain.
-Impact: Spanish biochemist whose studies were key to understanding the origin of life on Earth. He was a professor at the University of Houston in 1963 and was a member of several committees of NASA and the United States Academy of Sciences until 1990.
Montserrat Caballé
- Born: April 12th, 1933, Barcelona, Spain
- Died: October 6th, 2018, Barcelona, Spain
- Impact: Soprano who sang in major U.S. opera houses. "Her voice left an indelible mark on the Metropolitan Opera in New York."
Plácido Domingo
- Born: January 21st, 1941, Madrid, Spain
- Impact: An opera singer, he has been director of the Washington National Opera and the Los Angeles Opera. "His talent and leadership have marked opera in the U.S."
Santiago Calatrava
- Born: July 28th,1951, Benimàmet, Spain
- Impact: Architect famous for projects in the U.S. such as the Oculus in New York. "He transformed the Manhattan cityscape with his innovative style."
Joan Massagué Solé
-Born: April 30th, 1953, Barcelona, Spain.
-Impact: pharmacist and researcher focused on cancer development and metastases, and director of the Sloan Kettering Institute.
Antonio Banderas
- Born: August 10th, 1960, Málaga, Spain.
- Impact: Spanish actor of international fame with Hollywood films such as The Mask of Zorro. "His presence in American cinema has helped to make Hispanic actors visible in Hollywood."
Javier Bardem
- Born: Mach 1st, 1969, Las Palmas, Spain
- Impact: Oscar-winning actor with roles in films such as No Country for Old Men. "Its international success has expanded the recognition of Spanish actors in Hollywood."
José Andrés
- Born: July 13th, 1969, Mieres, Spain
- Impact: Chef and philanthropist, recognized for his humanitarian work in the U.S. "Through World Central Kitchen, he has provided food in disasters such as Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico."
Penélope Cruz
- Born: April 28th, 1974, Alcobendas, Spain
-Impact: Oscar-winning actress who has worked in important Hollywood films such as Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Volver. "Its success has made Spanish talent visible in Hollywood."
Rafael Nadal
- Born: July 3rd, 1986, Manacor, Spain
- Impact: Elite tennis player, great idol in the U.S. "His success in tournaments such as the US Open has established him as a legend of the sport in the U.S."
