Dear Tisch Community,

Join us in honoring Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month, which falls strategically between September  15 - October 15, to encompass the dates that Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, & Chile became independent from formal Spanish colonization. NYU Libraries developed a multimedia guide that provides historical context, acknowledges exclusionary practices against indigenous peoples, and spotlights literature and music that uplift the voices of these communities.

There has been dispute over the use of the term ‘Hispanic’, as its history is tied to the U.S. Census’ attempt to identify underrepresented groups. Many of those groups prefer to celebrate their unique cultural heritages by using terminology like Chicano/a, Tejano/a, Taino/a, Isleños, Boricua, and Afro-Latino/a. Younger generations and academics have popularized the terms ‘Latinx/e’ to embrace a gender-neutral or nonbinary alternative to Latino/a. We celebrate the diverse cultures and contributions of people whose achievements and influence have enriched the artistic tapestry of our school and nation.

The Latinx Project (TLP) at NYU, founded 5 years ago, explores and promotes U.S. Latinx art, culture and scholarship through creative and interdisciplinary programming. They are especially committed to examining and highlighting the multitude of Latinx identities as central to developing a more inclusive and equitable vision of Latinx Studies.

Estilazo is available to view independently at 20 Cooper Square through December 5, 2022. The Office of Diversity will be highlighting several more of TLP’s events and arts performances on our webpage in the near future, so please keep an eye out to engage with this incredible platform.

As a community, we also want to acknowledge the impact of the widespread damage that Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian caused in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Florida and other affected locations. Our sympathies go out to those whose homes and loved ones may have been affected by this disaster, and we’d like to share a few resources for students who may need additional support at this time.

We look forward to being in community and sharing valuable resources to support learning and exploration. If you have any questions, please contact the Tisch Office of Diversity at Tisch.IDBEA@nyu.edu.

With gratitude,

Christina

Christina Salgado, Assistant Dean of Diversity