There is a saying “you don’t know what you have until it is gone”. About 2 ½ years ago this saying became real to me. Born in West Virginia, I relocated to Minnesota during elementary school. I remained in Minnesota during my childhood, yet somewhere along the way I began to resent the state I now call home.
Although I had very vivid memories of West Virginia, I truly did not know what to expect as I prepared to move back to Huntington, West Virginia. Without going into details, as soon as I moved, I realized that Minnesota was a prized jewel that I had mistakenly thrown away. There was not a day that went by I did not dream of the festivals, ethnic foods, and the diversity that proudly makes up the Twin Cities area. In fact there are so many diverse activities in Minnesota, I think we have grown numb to the significance that these customs bring.
Take for instance this month, can you tell me one activity that is going on in your area surrounding Hispanic Heritage Month? Most people are not able to answer this question, or know that September 15, 2010 started National Hispanic Heritage Month. This celebration has been around since August of 1988. The purpose of the 30 day celebration is to celebrate "the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America". With 5 days into Hispanic Heritage month, the remaining 20 days I will attempt to Blog about Hispanic Heritage. In the mean time, why not stop by and support a local event in your neighborhood? If you are in the Minneapolis area the Hennepin County Library will be hosting a number of events. The performances will showcase Latin American Folkloric music, Aztec ceremonial dance, and metal tooling for kids just to name a few. For more information please visit www.hclib.org or call 952-847-5669. Another great option is to stop by the Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Association in Minneapolis. Capoeira is an art form that combines martial arts, music, dance, and cultural tradition that was created by African slaves in Brazil. I personally want to try this class myself! For more information, visit www.abcapoeira.com. You can also share this blog with an individual who may not have known about Hispanic Heritage Month.
You may not participate in the activities I have suggested, and that is OK. All I ask is please do something for Hispanic Heritage Month. After all you don’t know what you have until it is gone!
Source- Cited source was taken from the National Hispanic Heritage Month web page, (www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/ ).
