GABBY GASCON/THE OBSERVER

Rosario, a poet and published author, hosted one of Jerome Park Library’s Hispanic Heritage Month events on Sept. 17.

A Bilingual Workshop at the Jerome Park Library in the Bronx is one D train stop after Fordham Road. This New York Public Library branch is hosting events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month almost every day, with gatherings ranging from language workshops for exclusively Spanish-speaking adults, to arts-and-crafts for the community’s children. 

Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM) is dedicated to honoring Latin culture and influence in the country today. Unlike other heritage commemorations, HHM begins in the middle of its assigned month, as Sept. 15 marks the end of Spanish control and the beginning of sovereign rule for many Central and South American countries. This month-long celebration that began in 1968 was initiated by Congressman George E. Brown, who represented East Los Angeles, an area that has long been home to a large Hispanic community. 

This hour-long session included interactive questions proposed by Rosario in both English and Spanish, as well as input from a group of New Yorkers about their own personal Hispanic traditions and experiences.

Throughout all five boroughs, a plethora of unique events are being hosted by city organizations meant to unify the Hispanic community and educate non-Hispanics on the intricacies of the colorful heritage. In Queens, the vibrant Hispanic Day Parade marched through the streets on Sept. 22, with displays and costumes adorned with details and cultural factors unique to each represented country. In the Bronx, on particular days, Yankee Stadium hosts special events dedicated to the celebration, which includes a uniquely crocheted Yankees hat bearing a Hispanic country’s flag of the buyer’s choice. Staten Island hosted a remarkable and widely attended Mexican Independence Day parade on Sept. 16, and park festivities hosted by Urban Park Rangers are being held in Williamsburg and select Manhattan public parks till the middle of October. 

The host of the Bilingual workshop in The Bronx was Jasmine “JRose” Rosario, a Long Island City-raised poet and published author who recently published a collection of her poems in Pieces of My Crumbled Thoughts. This hour-long session included interactive questions proposed by Rosario in both English and Spanish, as well as input from a group of New Yorkers about their own personal Hispanic traditions and experiences.

Two questions she put forward were touching to her and the audience:  “What traditions do you have in your family that have changed throughout time?” and “If you were to create a new tradition, what would it be, and who would it be for?” Rosario shared three original poems, exploring themes of her ancestors, Boricua traditions from her childhood, and a piece written entirely in Spanish about being in love with the moon.

Rosario said that she believes teaching the workshops allows her to “get into the history of (her) culture” and that the research she delves into so that she can perfect the information in the workshop helps her “understand more about (her) heritage and feel closer to it.” 

She said that she believes the Hispanic community, no matter how different their journeys were to reach where they are today, have many similar aspects that bring them together. “Everyone’s individuality is so fascinating; I love seeing how different we are… (and yet) there are so many similarities in our journey,” she said. “We’re not all so different.” 

During the workshop, Rosario and the adult participants demonstrated their belief that it was vital for Hispanic people to carry on their cultural traditions from generation to generation. Through the accessible events occurring during HHM, the prominent Hispanic community of New York City (including the 17.4% of Hispanic/Latino undergraduate students at Fordham) will be able to connect and delve into their roots. 

Though the month-long celebration was formally enacted in the mid-20th century, the widespread cultural event that it is nowadays is new. The growth of the Hispanic population within the United States since 1968 has contributed to the increase of cultural events held and educational initiatives being enacted to increase awareness of Hispanic cultural contributions. Hispanic representation in the media has also increased thanks to the advocacy and activism prominent members of the cultural community have committed their lives to.

Local HHM events in Manhattan can be found on nyctourism.com, which provides links and invitations to both public and private events celebrating the rich culture and community of Hispanic people in the United States.