College of Charleston Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month

^{Above: Hispanic Latino Club members celebrate El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).}

The College of Charleston is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) with a vibrant series of events – including thought-provoking panel discussions, dynamic cultural performances and engaging workshops – to honor the rich culture, history and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx communities.

Organized by the Office of Institutional Diversity, the Department of Hispanic Studies and the Program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies – along with the Hispanic Latino Club, the Spanish Club and the Cougar Activities Board – these events offer a unique opportunity to explore diverse perspectives and connect with the campus community.

“The Department of Hispanic Studies honors the rich and complex histories of Hispanic and Latinx peoples in the United States and in our own community,” says Susan Divine, chair of the Department of Hispanic Studies, adding that several events – including a Taco Tuesday fundraiser and tabling at the Multicultural Festival last week – have been spearheaded by students. “We are extremely proud of our student-led initiatives.”

“The Latin American and Caribbean studies program is honored to sponsor events for our students and local community that showcase the diverse cultures of Latin America,” says Sarah Owens, director of the Program in Latin American and Caribbean Studies. “We are proud to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, especially with our growing Hispanic and Latinx student body! We hope that the multiculturalism of Latin America will shine at CofC not only this month, but throughout the year.”

That’s the idea across campus.

“Beyond this month, our Hispanic studies faculty and affiliates are dedicated to learning, teaching and growing from the study of the languages, literatures, arts and cultures of the Hispanic and Latinx world,” says Divine. “Our goal is always for a more open and diverse society that celebrates multiculturalism and values both the breadth of perspectives that multilingual speakers impart and the personal and professional opportunities it bestows.”

Here is your chance to start celebrating and learn more about the incredible impact of Hispanic heritage on our society!

Hispanic Latino Club Supper Club
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024
6–8 p.m.
Cistern Yard

Join the Cougar Activities Board for an opportunity to socialize and meet new people, get connected to your campus community and enjoy a delicious free meal. Preregistration required.

“An Ecological Amazonian Journey: Post and Contemporary Representations in the Arts, Film and Literature”
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024
5:30 p.m.
Randolph Hall, Alumni Hall

Join the third annual Círculo Hispanoamericano de Charleston’s Keynote Lecture Series, presented by Jorge Marcone, an environmental humanist from Rutgers University.

“Towards Social Transformation: Critical Perspectives and Classroom Strategies in Language Education”
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024
12:15 p.m.
Beatty Center, Room 216

Join the Department of Hispanic Studies and the Spanish as a Heritage Language Distinction Program for this presentation by Beatriz Lado, associate professor of Spanish at Lehman College and the CUNY Graduate Center. Pizza will be served.

Corporeal Readings of Cuban Literature and Art: The Body, the Inhuman and Ecological Thinking
Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024
4–6 p.m.
Randolph Hall, Alumni Hall

Join Christina García, associate professor of Hispanic studies, for her book launch and discussion.

“Epistemological Criminals: 17th Century Poetry as Subversive Philosophy”
Friday, Oct. 4, 2024
3–4:15 p.m.
Tate Center, Room 207

Join Sofía Ortiz-Hinojosa, assistant professor of philosophy at Vassar College and a current Mellon New Directions Fellow.

Cooking Class
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024
5–7:30 p.m.
Rita Liddy Hollings Science Center, Room 152

Join this collaboration between the Office of Student Wellness and Well-being, the Office of Multicultural Student Programs and Services and the Hispanic Latino Club for an easy, dorm-friendly and healthy cooking class! We will be making tostadas, with both meat and vegetarian options available. 

Conversations With Déo Cardoso
Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024
2–3 p.m.
Online via Zoom

Join Luci Moreira‘s film class via Zoom for a conversation with Déo Cardoso, director of Cabeça de Nêgo/A Bruddah’s Mind (2021). The critically acclaimed fictional film was awarded Brazil’s best picture of 2021 by Abraccine (Brazilian Association of Film Critics) and by APCA (São Paulo Association of Art Critics). Contact Luci Moeira at moreiral@cofc.edu for Zoom invitation.

Short Films With Yulian Martínez-Escobar
Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024
6–7 p.m.
The Nick (1607 Main St., Columbia, S.C., 29201)

Join adjunct Hispanic studies faculty member and documentary filmmaker and photographer Yulian Martínez-Escobar, for an evening of powerful storytelling that celebrates Hispanic culture and explores the diverse narratives that shape our world. Martínez-Escobar’s unique perspective as a traveler and observer of diverse cultures is evident in each of the films. Through soccer, salsa and the hands that harvest our food, his work offers a heartfelt and vivid portrayal of the Hispanic experience in unexpected places. Thanks to the series sponsor, SC Commission for Minority Affairs, tickets are only $5! The three films being featured are as follows:

• Our Sunday (19 min) – Soccer unites people from different walks of life. Follow the stories of four individuals from around the globe who have found community and connection through the game in Charleston, South Carolina.
• “LLegó Federico y su Salsa” (33 min) – This documentary delves into the life of Federico Betancourt, Venezuela’s pioneer of salsa music. Now retired and living in South Carolina, Federico’s legacy as “El Rey del Güiro” and the first musician to popularize the term salsa lives on.
• Invisible Hands (8 min) – Witness the daily lives of Mexican migrant farm workers in rural South Carolina. This intimate short film captures their unseen but crucial labor that brings food to American tables, set against the backdrop of a town deeply rooted in its confederate past.

Check back for additional upcoming events.