National Hispanic Heritage Month Book Display
There are currently more than 60 million Americans living in the U.S. who identify as being of Hispanic heritage, and over 20 countries are represented within this population that makes up the largest ethnic minority in the U.S., according to the U.S. Census!
As a way to commemorate the contributions of Hispanic-Americans living in the U.S. today, the books that were chosen highlight the diversity, individuality, and creativity present within the Hispanic-American community. From an eye-opening account of a famous actress’s experience with immigration laws (In the Country We Love: My Family Divided) to a new spin on a tale of ancient Mayan gods (Gods of Jade and Shadow), the range of new ideas and stories represented are endless. In addition, the diverse perspectives and experiences of Hispanic-Americans who identify as LGBTQ (Before Night Falls), Afro-Latinx (The Poet X), and even the unique experiences of being light-skinned as a Hispanic-American (My Time Among the Whites: Notes from an Unfinished Education) reveal the bigger mosaic that encompasses the distinctive voices that make up this community.
While these books do represent the collective identity of being of Hispanic heritage, they also celebrate the individuality that comes with each unique story and perspective of this diverse community.
-April Hong and Mandy Jiang (Oxford College Library Student Employees)