Articles
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15) by attending a series of bilingual readings sponsored by the Texas Center for the Book with grant support from Humanities Texas. “Texas Latino Voices 2011” features readings in Houston, Laredo, and Palestine.
On September 24, 2011, Dr. Carmen Tafolla gave a bilingual presentation at the Laredo Public Library. Dr. Tafolla is the author of five books of poetry, one volume of non-fiction, seven screenplays, and numerous short stories, articles, and children's works. She is also noted for her one-woman performance piece, My Heart Speaks a Different Language, which has been performed throughout the U.S., as well as in England, Spain, Germany, Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, and Norway.
On October 1, 2011, from 1–3 p.m., author Dr. Carlos Flores will visit the Palestine Public Library. Dr. Flores, author of the young-adult novel Our House on Hueco, is a co-founding director of the South Texas Writing Project and a winner of the Chicano/Latino Literary Prize. He teaches Chicano literature at Laredo Community College in Laredo, Texas.
Finally, on October 8, 2011, novelist Oscar Casares will give a bilingual presentation from 2–4 p.m. at Houston’s Park Place Regional Library. Casares is author of the critically acclaimed novel Amigoland and the collection Brownsville: Stories, an American Library Association Notable Book of 2004. Since 2003, his essays have appeared in The New York Times, Texas Monthly, and on All Things Considered for National Public Radio.
Looking for more ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Here are a few ideas:
- See the exhibition Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy at the Brazoria County Historical Museum, on view until October 31.
- Attend ¡Fiesta Latinoamericana! 2011 on October 9 in Dallas. This family-friendly celebration of Latino heritage will feature music, crafts, and food.
- Learn about Mexico’s rare treasures at the Denton Public Library with the exhibition Unknown Mexico, which is up until November 19.
- Learn about both Native American and Hispanic heritage at two symposia in San Marcos on October 1, or catch a dance performance on October 2.
- In Weslaco, view the exhibition Images of Valor: U.S. Latinos and Latinas of World War II at South Texas College until December 1.
- West Texans can see the exhibition In His Own Words: The Life and Work of César Chávez, on display at the Centennial Museum at The University of Texas at El Paso until December 3.
Visit the Humanities Texas events calendar for more information about these and other programs in your area.