Download a PDF version of the Hispanic Heritage Month Academic Crash Course here.

Introduction and Background

Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the cultures, histories, and experiences of those with Hispanic and Latinx* heritage. This month runs from September 15th to October 15th, spanning the independence days of many Hispanic and Latinx countries. September 15th is the anniversary of independence for El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua, followed by the Mexican anniversary of independence on September 16th and the Chilean anniversary of independence on September 18th.

The MSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion collaborates with students, staff, faculty and community partners to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by delivering events and programs throughout the month.

As an opportunity for ongoing learning, Office of Diversity and Inclusion has developed this Academic Crash Course intended to be utilized by faculty and students. The following resource provides an academic foundation for understanding Hispanic Heritage Month and related communities. This Academic Crash Course includes a trio of videos and short readings, that explore the topics of race, ethnicity, terminology, accomplishments and impacts within Hispanic and Latinx communities. It also offers a list of scholarly articles, in a variety of disciplines, all revolving around Hispanic and Latinx heritage and lived experiences.

*In this resource, we use the term “Latinx,” in an effort to be inclusive. Please refer to the resources provided to understand the nuances of this and other identity terms.

Crash Course

Read: “A Guide to How Words like Hispanic and Latinx came about.”
This article was made in collaboration with professors in linguistic, Latin American studies, and Spanish. The authors include a detailed glossary of terms for identities based in Hispanic and Latinx heritage. The nuanced pros and cons are also explored, bringing up both the inclusive opportunities and limitations of these identity labels.

Watch: “A Conversation With Latinos on Race | Op-Docs.”
Hear stories from members of Hispanic and Latinx communities as they discuss the challenges of navigating identity labels, stereotypes, and misconceptions around their ethnicities and races. They explore the diversity of Hispanic and Latinx communities and the nuances of community, skin color, and cultural pride.

Read: “20 Influential Hispanic Americans Who Have Made History.”
This article beautifully celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of many Hispanic and Latinx Americans in many fields, including but not limited to movies, politics, arts, sports, and more. The noted change-makers have been extremely influential in cultivating America’s history and culture and this article brings attention to them in celebration.

Further Quick Resources
PBS Hispanic Heritage Month Guide
MSU Hispanic Heritage Month At-Home Resources
PBS Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Videos Playlist
National Museum of the American Latino Resources

Scholarly Articles

Below is a list of scholarly academic articles revolving around Hispanic and/or Latinx heritage, histories, experiences and more. The articles are organized roughly by topic and discipline, though many could fit in more than one category.

Art and Archeology

Ambrosino, G. (2018). Painted origins: inscribed landscape histories in the Fortaleza pictograph style during the Andean, late pre-Hispanic period. World Archaeology, 50(5), 804–819. https://doi.org/10.1080/00438243.2019.1612272

Basso, E., McGeachy, A., Mieites Alonso, M. G., Pozzi, F., Radpour, R., & Katz, M. (2024). Seventeenth-Century Barniz de Pasto Objects from the Collection of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library: Materiality and Technology. Heritage, 7(5), 2620–2650. https://doi.org/10.3390/heritage7050125

Education and Language Studies

Schreffler, S. B. (2007). Hispanic heritage language speakers in the United States: linguistic exclusion in education. Critical Inquiry in Language Studies, 4(1), 25–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427580701340683

Perreira, K. M., Potochnick, S., & Brietzke, M. P. (2020). Integrating Hispanic immigrant youth: perspectives from white and black Americans in emerging Hispanic communities and schools. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 43(1), 119–141. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2019.1667512

Engineering

Villanueva Alarcón, I., Mejia, J. A., Mejia, J., & Revelo, R. (2022). Latiné, Latinx, Latina, Latino, or Hispanic: Problematizing terms often used in engineering education. Journal of Engineering Education (Washington, D.C.), 111(4), 735–739. https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20486

Garriott, P. O., Carrero Pinedo, A., Hunt, H. K., Navarro, R. L., Flores, L. Y., Desjarlais, C. D., Diaz, D., Brionez, J., Lee, B. H., Ayala, E., Martinez, L. D., Hu, X., Smith, M. K., Suh, H. N., & McGillen, G. G. (2023). How Latiné engineering students resist White male engineering culture: A multi‐institution analysis of academic engagement. Journal of Engineering Education (Washington, D.C.), 112(3), 695–718. https://doi.org/10.1002/jee.20536

Gender Studies

González, Á., Vasquez, M. C., & Abeyta, M. (2024). “The Traits That a Woman Has, a Man Can Have, Too”: How Collegiate Latino Men Navigate Masculinity Performance. Journal of College Student Development, 65(1), 18–34. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2024.a919348

Kelly, U. A. (2009). “I’m a mother first”: The influence of mothering in the decision-making processes of battered immigrant Latino women. Research in Nursing & Health, 32(3), 286–297. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.20327 Scholarly Resources co

Health

Dreyfus, B., Kuri, L., Ferri, M., Doykos, P., Fazeli, M. S., Hofer, K., Andonova, A., & Ferri, L. (2023). Understanding Hispanic/Latino Participation in Clinical Trials and Observational Studies, and Strategies to Increase Participation: A Targeted Literature Review. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 34(1), 399–424. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2023.0026

Estrella, M. L., Rosenberg, N. I., Durazo-Arvizu, R. A., Gonzalez, H. M., Loop, M. S., Singer, R. H., Lash, J. P., Castañeda, S. F., Perreira, K. M., Eldeirawi, K., & Daviglus, M. L. (2018). The association of employment status with ideal cardiovascular health factors and behaviors among Hispanic/Latino adults: Findings from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). PloS One, 13(11), e0207652–e0207652. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207652

History

Muñoz, E. A. (2021). “Why Not Nuevo Mexicano Studies?”: Interrogating Latinidades in the Intermountain West, 1528–2020. Genealogy (Basel), 5(3), 68-. https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy5030068

MacDonald, V.-M. (2001). Hispanic, Latino, Chicano, or “Other”?: Deconstructing the Relationship between Historians and Hispanic-American Educational History. History of Education Quarterly, 41(3), 365–413. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5959.2001.tb00093.

Literature and Humanities

Murrah-Mandril, E. (2021). Writing/Righting History: Twenty-Five Years of Hispanic Literary Heritage [Review of Writing/Righting History: Twenty-Five Years of Hispanic Literary Heritage]. 56(3–4), 331-. Utah State Univ.

Baeza Ventura, G., Gauthereau, L., & Villarroel, C. (2019). Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage: A Case Study on US Latina/o Archives and Digital Humanities. Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture, 48(1), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.1515/pdtc-2018-0031

Music

Alcala, R. J. (2024). Recruiting and Retaining Hispanic and Latino/a/x Music Educators: A Literature Review. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, 42(3), 8–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/87551233231164641

Padilla, F. M. (1989). “Salsa Music as a Cultural Expression of Latino Consciousness and Unity.” Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 11(1): 28–45. https://doi.org/10.1177/07399863890111003 Scholarly Resources cont’

Political Science

Parkin, M., & Zlotnick, F. (2014). The Voting Rights Act and Latino Voter Registration: Symbolic Assistance for English-Speaking Latinos. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 36(1), 48–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986313511056

Schildkraut, D. J. (2015). Latino Attitudes About Spheres of Political Representation. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 37(3), 398–419. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986315584016

Psychology, Trauma and Resilience

Merz, E. L., Roesch, S. C., Malcarne, V. L., Penedo, F. J., Talavera, G. A., Castañeda, S. F., Daviglus, M. L., Giachello, A. L., Gonzalez, nd, Perreira, K. M., Ponguta, L. A., & Gallo, L. C. (2016). Social Support, Simpatía, and Hypertension Prevalence in Hispanics/Latinos: Findings from the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 4(3), 131–141. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000047

Cardoso, J. B., & Thompson, S. J. (2010). Common Themes of Resilience among Latino Immigrant Families: A Systematic Review of the Literature. Families in Society, 91(3), 257–265. https://doi.org/10.1606/1044- 3894.4003

Sociology and Culture

Telzer, E. H., Yuen, C., Gonzales, N., & Fuligni, A. J. (2016). Filling Gaps in the Acculturation Gap-Distress Model: Heritage Cultural Maintenance and Adjustment in Mexican–American Families. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 45(7), 1412–1425. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-015-0408-8

Daftary, A.-M. H. (2018). Intersectionality and the Disparate Experiences of Latinos Based on the Immigrant Status of Family Members. Social Work Research, 42(3), 187–198. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/svy017

 

If you have suggestions for additional resources, please send them to our program coordinator.

Office of Diversity & Inclusion
Program Coordinator
Abby Rodi
[email protected]