Campuses involved in observing Hispanic Heritage Month
By Chris Taylor, managing editor

     TCC campuses, each with its own diverse student body, will sponsor several activities to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
     At the center of the festivities is Diez y Seis de Septiembre, a celebration of the independence of Mexico from Spain in 1810. The phrase translates into September 16, the date Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla, a parish priest in Dolores, issued the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores).
     The Cry of Dolores called for the end of rule by the Spanish, equality for the races and redistribution of land.
     The term Hispanic may not be the proper title for this month since that term often is used to refer collectively to all Spanish-speaking people and connotes a lineage or cultural heritage related to Spain.
     However, millions of people who speak Spanish are not of Spanish descent, and many who live in Latin America do not speak Spanish or claim Spanish heritage.
     For those reasons, some may prefer to call this month Latino Heritage Month, as the term “Latino” refers to people originating or having a heritage related to Latin America.
     Currently, the leftist rebellion group Ejercito Zapatista para la Liberacion Nacional (EZLN) is peacefully fighting against the government to keep the land that was won in the 1810 revolution by revolutionaries such as Emiliano Zapata, in their possession.
     Mexican Independence Day commemorates this event.
     Five South American countries celebrate their independence Sept.15—El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica and Nicaragua—although some may not still be completely sovereign nations.
     Initiated by the U.S. Congress as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, the celebration has grown and in 1989 expanded to a month.
     During September the following events will take place at TCC.

     NE Campus
Friday, Sept. 15, at 12:30 p.m. luncheon speaker Dr. Jesus “Chuy” Negrete, Mexican folklorist, will discuss Mexican civil rights issues during the 1960s in the Center Corner in the Student Center.
Sept. 11-15, La Bamba will be the feature film in the Student Center video lounge with showings at 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday- Thursday. Showings will be at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

     NW Campus
Friday, Sept. 15, at 10:10 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Dr. Jesus “Chuy” Negrete, Mexican folklorist, will speak about Mexican-American heritage in B118.
From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. students can enjoy live Latino music as Stampede performs. Tacos, nachos and cinnamon crisps will be served.

     South Campus
Thursday, Sept. 14, at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center living room, Dr. Jesus “Chuy” Negrete, Mexican folklorist, will speak about Mexican-American heritage.
SE Campus
Thursday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m., the Azatlan Academy will perform in the C. A. Roberson Theatre followed by Dr. Jesus “Chuy” Negrete, one of the nation’s foremost interpreters of Mexican and Mexican-American folk music, performing at 7 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 18, at 10:10 a.m. Victor Morales, Texas politician, will speak to the students in the North Ballroom.