The University of Texas at El Paso celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month with weeks of activities including lectures, theatrical performances and film screenings, all free and open to the public.
A presentation of the book “Famous Places in El Paso History” by author María Natividad, currently serving as an artist-in-residence with the UTEP Chicano Studies program, takes place 1:30 p.m.Thursday, Sept. 17, at the University Library’s Blumberg Auditorium.
Larry Valero, Ph.D., director and associate professor of UTEP’s National Security Studies Institute, will speak on “Forgotten Heroes: The Military Contributions of Mexican Americans throughout U.S. History” at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, in Kelly Hall, Room 401.
A lecture and book presentation by UTEP alumnus Samuel C. Martinez, author of “Systemic Evil: Mat Pérez v. The FBI”. The presentation takes place 12 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the University Library’s Blumberg Auditorium. Martinez will also hold a book signing 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Sept. 26 at the University Bookstore.
The opening of an exhibit entitled “The Legacy and Vision of La Mujer Obrera” will take place 4 – 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Café Mayapán (2000 Texas Ave.) The exhibit is sponsored by the UTEP Department of History and its Museo Urbano project.
Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
A full calendar of UTEP Hispanic Heritage Month events may be downloaded here.