Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and it is a great time to learn more about the diversity of Hispanic and Latina/e/o/x experiences and cultures. In 2020, the U.S. Hispanic population was an estimated 62 million out of the total U.S. population of 331.4 million.
We know that just one descriptor can hardly capture the spirit and cultures of so many people who descend from a vast geography that includes present-day Southwestern U.S. states to the southern most tip of South America, and nearly every present-day country and island in between. This is why you’ll see many different ways in which people describe themselves and their heritage. You’ll see the terms Latina, Latino, and their non-gendered versions Latine and Latinx. You might also see people identify as Hispanic, Chicano, Tejano, Taino, Isleños, Boricua, Afro-Latino, in addition to the many more terms used for people who have families and ancestors in the 22 nations and territories that comprise Latin America.
Join us in celebrating this special month with some great TV and radio programming, engaging content, streamings, kids activities, and more!
American Masters: José Clemente Orozco—Man of Fire
Watch Monday, Sept. 16 at 10 p.m. on WCNY-TV
The life of Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco (1883-1949), a life filled with drama, adversity and triumph, is one of the great stories of the modern era. Despite poverty, childhood rheumatic fever that damaged his heart and an explosion in his youth that cost him his left hand, Orozco persisted in his wish to become an artist.
American Masters: Julia Alvarez—A Life Reimagined
Watch Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 9:30 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Explore the story of Dominican-American poet and novelist Julia Alvarez, who burst onto the literary scene and blazed a trail for a generation of Latino authors.
Finding Your Roots: Mexican Roots
Watch Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. explores the deep Mexican roots of talk show host Mario Lopez and comedian Melissa Villaseñor, uncovering ancestors stretching back to the 1500s. Weaving together stories of migratory farmers, Spanish Conquistadors and Native Americans, Gates conjures up personal histories of diverse, sometimes conflicting, elements.
VOCES American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos (Three-Part Series)
Watch Friday, Sept. 27 at 10 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Join actor John Leguizamo on a quest to uncover Latino and Latina heroes and their contributions. In this new three-part series, Leguizamo takes viewers on a captivating journey, delving into both well-known and lesser-known stories of Latino history, spanning thousands of years, from the Ancient Empires to the present, and shining a light on the rich and often overlooked history of Latinos.
Watch Friday, Sept. 27 at 11 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Celebrate the 37th Hispanic Heritage Awards with performances and appearances by top Hispanic artists and visionaries, including Carolina Herrera, Rea Ann Silva, Carmelo Anthony, and more.
VOCES: Mambo Legends—The Music Never Ends
Watch Friday, Oct. 4 at 11 p.m. on WCNY-TV
Explore how the Mambo Legends Orchestra is dedicated to preserving the music of Afro-Cuban bandleaders Machito, Tito Puente, and Tito Rodríguez for future generations.
American Masters: Lights, Camera, Acción
Trace the life and legacy of labor activist Cesar Chavez, highlighting how music and the arts were instrumental to the success of the social movement he helped found.
PBS Short Film Festival 2024: El Paisa
After being rescued by a charismatic vaquero on the streets of East L.A., gay goth skater Fernando must put an end to closeted young love, leading to personal transformation and a newfound connection to familia.
American Masters: Jovita Idar—Mexican American Activist and Journalist
Jovita Idar (1885-1946) helped organize the first Mexican American civil rights conference in 1911 to address racism, lynching, and dismal educational opportunities for Mexican American children.
VOCES: Sabor Artico—Latinos en Alaska
Latinos face unique challenges in the Arctic environment where things can be extreme, remote, and sometimes inaccessible. “Sabor Ártico: Latinos En Alaska,” a short documentary, introduces viewers to a growing population of Latinos in Alaska through poignant interviews that give insight on the importance of food and culture in adapting to the Arctic environment and in forging their identity.
New from WCNY, Pulso Central, our region’s first and only Spanish-language radio station! Pulso Central is a space where people in the local Hispanic community express themselves through storytelling and music. It has the heritage, arts and culture of the local Hispanic audience at its forefront. Pulso Central features a wide-variety of Latino music provided by local host DJ Lorenz. Listen for original local programming in Spanish including Sabor Latino, Tu Voz Latina, Hablando con Central New York, and El Escaparate con DJ Lorenz—with much more to come. Plus, music, news and information from national Spanish language network Radio Bilingue.
Listen to Pulso Central over the air on an HD radio, WCNY 91.3 HD-2 or livestream it!
WCNY Classic FM honors Hispanic Heritage Month with Bruce Paulsen hosting “Instantáneas Hispánicas” (Hispanic Snapshots). Listen to these colorful, descriptive works that mirror the sights of Hispanic lands, featuring Hispanic artists. Enjoy these audio “snapshots” of individuals and landscapes.
Listen Monday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. on Classic FM!
Think it Through with Alma’s Way (Grades Pre-K-2)
This sub-collection from “Relish” includes episodes that feature dishes inspired by Latin American heritage, including recipes from Guatemala, Yucatán, and Mexico.
Learn the Origins of Hispanic American Heritage Month (Grades 3-12)
There are about 54 million Hispanics and Latinos in the United States. That’s a lot of people to celebrate! Across the country, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated with festivals and community events recognizing the contributions of Hispanics and Latinos in the United States.
Learn About Civil Rights Activist Jovita Idar (Grades 6-12)
Learn about the struggles and successes Rita Moreno and other Latino actors encountered in Hollywood, and explore concepts of representation, stereotypes, and appropriation in media.
Explore Latinx Contributions to the National Parks (Grades 6-12)
George Melendez Wright, a pioneer in wildlife preservation, and Juan Lujan, a member of the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), contributed to a long and meaningful legacy of latinx leaders in national parks. Melendez Wright spoke out about the human treatment of animals in nature, while Lujan found meaning and identity in his work in national parks via the CCC.
