Hispanic Heritage Month runs Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, and throughout the month, UNM’s El Centro de la Raza has organized a series of events, according to El Centro officials.
Dayra Fallad, a student programs specialist at El Centro who identifies as Hispanic, leads many of the group’s on and off-campus projects and represents El Centro at the Albuquerque Hispanic Heritage Committee.
She said this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month events — organized in partnership with ASUNM Student Special Events and UNM Student Activities, and with the support of UNM Vice President for Student Affairs Eliseo “Cheo” Torres — included mariachi music, folklórico dancing and more.
With UNM enrollment data indicating that, in 2011, Latinos/Hispanos made up 37 percent of the student population, the Daily Lobo decided to sit down with Fallad to discuss the subjects of Hispanic Heritage Month, El Centro de la Raza, cultural identity and other related topics.
DL: Why is it necessary to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, especially at UNM?
DF: UNM is a Hispanic-serving institution. I think it’s a great way to pay tribute to those Hispanics that have really influenced our country and even campus.
It hasn’t always been that way. Hispanics haven’t always been celebrated, and the culture hasn’t always been embraced historically, even in New Mexico. Being able to have the opportunity to educate others about Hispanic culture and about those individuals who have paved the way for other Hispanics, it is important, particularly considering the history of New Mexico.
DL: Do you feel people in general have a full understanding of what this month is?
DF: Not all the time. That’s part of the reason why we celebrate it and try to do what we do. It’s to continue to educate people and to make them aware of what this means.
Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated nationwide, and it started in about 1968. I think the biggest misconception is that it only focuses on one body of people…It begins on Sept. 15, which happens to be the independence of a lot of Latin American countries, some of whom self-identify as Hispanics.
The term “Hispanic” or “Latino” refers to Puerto Ricans, South or Central Americans, or individuals of other Spanish descent, regardless of their origin or race.
DL: How can we improve people’s understanding of what this month is and what Hispanic heritage is?
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DF: Especially in New Mexico, a big part of it is learning the history of our state, because New Mexico is very unique to other parts of the country, largely because it retains its traditions and culture, despite its history.
Overall, continuing to have and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is a good route. El Centro also holds workshops, such as showing documentaries and inviting different speakers that talk about the importance and the history of some of these countries or what it means to self-identify as Hispanic, Chicano or Latino.
To continue to provide spaces to allow for that dialogue is also important. If you don’t know, it’s okay to be intellectually curious and definitely ask.
DL: For you personally, what does it mean to be Hispanic?
DF: It would be celebrating and remembering my culture and the culture of my ancestors and their histories, and knowing that, while there’s beautiful things about their history and how we came to self-identify as Hispanic, it’s also a very painful history.
DL: What is the importance of having El Centro de la Raza on campus?
DF: Having a space like El Centro is important, because not all (Hispanic, Latino or Chicano) students are the same. We’re able to help bring all those intersectionalities together and provide services for students who respect those intersectionalities and also help the students see themselves past just the color of their skin, socioeconomic status or histories.
We provide services that very intentionally help students connect with who they are and be able to move forward in their academics and see themselves as scholars, regardless of the stereotypes that may be out there about Hispanics, Latinos or Chicanos.
We provide that open and safe space where students can be themselves, and they don’t have to leave who they are at the door. They can find others who they identify with and build community, while taking ownership of their education.
DL: What do you hope people take with them after leaving any of the center’s events?
DF: I hope that they get to see the diversity, richness and beauty within the Hispanic culture. We host different events, from educational event workshops to honoring and celebrating our faculty.
This year, as part of the Hispanic Heritage Committee for the city, we’re going to be honoring individuals in different professions, such as community professionals, professors or students. We hope that others see the richness and the quality of individuals, and that Hispanics are doing big things and they’re doing good things, both for their communities and for the world as a whole.
DL: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know?
DF: If they’re interested in learning more about the Hispanic culture, stop by El Centro. We do things throughout the year, not just during Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a great space to get exposed to some of that, both from an academic and social side.
We have a lot to offer, and it’s a great way to learn more. I think New Mexico offers a beautiful and amazing story that is often not sought after, or people forget about it, but there’s a reason why New Mexico is so different from any other part of the United States, and its history, Hispanic culture and citizens have a lot to do with it. If you can, learn more about it.
Elizabeth Sanchez is a news reporter at the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @Beth_A_Sanchez.
