If you want to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ve created a Latinx culture guide starter pack with 25 must-see and must-read books, documentaries, movies, shows, TED talks and more.
Latinx Movies, Films and Shows
Luis Miguel: The Series (Directed by Humberto Hinojosa Ozcariz): Netflix created a drama series based on the extraordinary life of global heartthrob and songster Luis Miguel, played by Mexican actor Diego Boneta. Known for his romantic tunes, the Mexican singer has been singing since he was a child in the 80s. Texicanas (Created by Anna Rodzinski): Move over, Real Housewives—Texicanas is a reality TV show following Americans with Latinx heritage in San Antonio. Penny Ayarzagoitia, Mayra Farret, Lorena Martinez, Anayancy Nolasco, Karla Ramirez and Luz Ortiz (the women the show follows) balance raising families in the United States while doing their best to teach their children about their Latin American history, heritage and traditions. I Like It Like That (Directed by Darnell Martin): The acclaimed film follows a Latinx family in the Bronx (starring Rita Moreno) as they deal with real-life scenarios of love, passion, and troubles with the legal system. After the family’s father is arrested, the young mother is left to figure out how to support her children. La Noche de Los 12 Años (Directed by Álvaro Brechner): This true political drama recounts the 12-year military dictatorship in Uruguay from 1973-1985. The film is a dramatization of the captivity of three key members of the leftist Tupamaros group who were imprisoned and tortured for 12 years—José “Pepe” Mujica who later served as the 40th president of Uruguay, Eleuterio Fernández Huidobro who became Uruguay’s Minister of Defense, and Mauricio Rosencof, who later became the Director of Culture of the Municipality of Montevideo. Machuca (Directed by Andrés Wood): This Chilean film is set in 1973 Santiago during the period of Salvador Allende’s government and General Augusto Pinochet’s military coup. The coming-of-age story follows two students with very different backgrounds and their unlikely friendship as the political unrest in Chile grows. Why Do We Say “Latino”? by Danielle Bainbridge: This PBS channel Origin Of Everything short video delves deep into the history and meaning of the word Latino and the variations that stem from the word. Hispanic was the first term used to describe people originating from Spanish-speaking countries, but has deep references to colonial Spain. Latin America was first used in the 1850s, but Latino is a somewhat controversial term for a wide collection of people from across the continent. Planeta G by Crystal Mojica and Valentina Stackl: The Greenpeace USA environmental web series focuses on the intersection between the environmental movement and Latinx identity. The series demystifies environmental topics by hosting Latinx voices within the environmental movement, including youth climate organizers, influencers, activists and celebrities. The Q Agenda: This talk show features rotating LGBTQ+ guests, such as actress and trans activist Juliana Joel, comedian Lianna Carrera, and reality TV personality Enrique Sapene. Each episode focuses on genuine conversations regarding issues that affect the LGBTQ+ community.
TED Talks
Erika Lucas’s America’s Trillion Dollar Blindspot: The Latina entrepreneur’s TEDx talk focuses on creating access to capital for overlooked female and people of color entrepreneurs. She discusses the dangers of the lack of representation among investors and how females and people of color entrepreneurs feel unwelcome due to unconscious bias. Alisa Valdes Rodriguez’s The Latino Myth: Rodriguez discusses what it’s like to be Latina in the U.S. In the TEDx talk, she explains how there are over 55 million people who identify as Latino in the States and how the community is not monolithic in their culture, food, history, appearance, or music. Fernanda Ponce’s What Being Hispanic and Latinx Means in the United States: Ponce discusses the xenophobia Latinxs endured in the United States and shares her own experiences as a first-generation Mexican-American. She addresses stereotypes and harmful assumptions regarding people with origins from Latin American countries.
Documentaries
Residente: Rene Perez Joglar, known as Resident, is one of the most celebrated musicians in Latin America. This documentary follows his journey after taking a DNA test that inspired him to take an around-the-world adventure as he follows in the footsteps of his ancestors to examine his heritage. During his adventure, he learns about injustice, culture, and heritage—all of which influenced the album he recorded while on the road. Southwest of Salem: This Emmy-nominated, Peabody-winning documentary follows the story of four Latina lesbians who were wrongfully convicted of gang-raping two little girls in San Antonio, Texas. The harrowing tale is a modern incident similar to the Salem witchcraft trials except these women were targeted for their ethnicity and sexuality. Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado: This enlightening and entertaining Netflix documentary showcases the remarkable life of international superstar Walter Mercado. The Puerto Rican icon was a world-renowned astrologer who never shied away from a bit of bling. Beyond his celestial gifts, he bent gender norms which is especially noteworthy in the machismo nature dominant in many Latinx societies. Latino Americans: PBS’s six-hour documentary covers 500 years of LATAM history that resulted in Latinx being the largest minority group in the States. The docuseries features over 100 interviews to showcase the diverse experiences of members of the Latinx community in the U.S. Each episode focuses on a different facet of what life is like for Latinx Americans. Underwater Dreams: A group of high school students whose parents are undocumented Mexican immigrants participate in an underwater robotics contest. The crafty team gets creative with the task and utilizes low-cost materials due to scarce resources. Like many children of immigrants, they face challenges and disadvantages, but are instilled with a strong work ethic and sense of discipline.
Comedies
John Leguizamo’s Latin History for Morons: This somewhat problematic comedy special uses history to show that Latinx people are not a monolithic group. Tasteless jokes aside, during his one-man Broadway show, Leguizamo introduces the audience to 3,000 years of history across the Americas, including how by the early 1600s colonizers were responsible for the death of at least 56 million Indigenous people, making it the largest genocide in history. (Netflix)
Latinx Books
When I Was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago: Santiago’s memoir tells her story of moving from rural Puerto Rico to New York and the realities of navigating life in a new land with a new language and society. The heartfelt tale follows her path into a new identity. Santiago continues to tell her story beyond her earlier years with two additional memoirs. The best-selling trilogy is one of the most celebrated tales of the Latinx experience in the U.S. Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent by Eduardo Galeano: In this expose of the history of Latin America, Galeano’s narrative weaves together historical, political, social, economic, and cultural events to showcase how exploitation has terrorized the continent for half a century. The region is rich with natural resources including gold, silver, rubber, petroleum, iron, nickel, and more which have created power struggles across LATAM. These products symbolize the veins of the continent which empty their wealth in the United States and Europe. Aventura, Amor y Tacos: The Path to Reconnecting with the Motherland by Maira Hernández: The author shares her journey of returning to Mexico to reconnect with her roots. While she’s in her motherland she develops a deeper understanding of her identity while spending time with her abuelos on the ranch where her parents grew up but left behind. Ringside Seat to the Revolution by David Dorado Romo: This collection of essays and archival photographs sheds light on the heroes, rebellions, and political atrocities at the U.S.-Mexico border in the early 20th century. El Paso and Juarez were key places in the Mexican Revolution. A Peculiar Kind of Immigrant’s Son by Sergio Troncoso: This collection of short stories explores how those exiled in the 21st century suffer from the loss of culture, language, and family. Exiles leave behind their roots and must adjust to what it means to be Latinx in spaces where their community lacks representation. Separated: Family and Community in the Aftermath of an Immigration Raid by William Lopez: This book follows the life of a family that’s been separated by an ICE raid, the strain that the threat of deportation causes, and the lasting damage that ICE has caused immigrant communities in the U.S. ¡Todos a Celebrar! A Hispanic Customs & Traditions Alphabet Book by Dr. Ma. Alma González Pérez: This award-winning bilingual children’s book features customs and traditions from various LATAM cultures, including a glossary of cultural objects from across the continent. Looking for LGBTQIA+ representation on TV? Try these TV shows with gay characters and storylines.
