Hispanic Heritage Month has officially started (September 15 to October 15). The month, which is not really a proper month if you think about it, was built/invented around the independence (from Spain) days of some Latin American countries (i.e. Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua – 9/15, Mexico 9/16, Chile 9/18). For those countries/nationalities whose independence days fall outside this range, or for those, like my own Puerto Rico, who have yet to have an independence day, we are expected to rest easy knowing that within this invented month is included October 12 – Columbus Day/Dia de la Raza/Discovery Day/genocide day so that we are all included via our “creation” as an identity if you will.

The issue of naming the 30 days set aside to acknowledge the existence of Latinos complicates things further. Originally called Hispanic Heritage Week and later turned into the month we now know , the government label of “Hispanic” makes the role of the Spanish/European conquest central to the “celebration”. Some people, who reject the label “Hispanic”, prefer to call the month “Latino Heritage Month” in an attempt to deemphasize the conquista and focus on the survival and growth of the diaspora/mestisaje.

Clearly I’m somewhat comfortable with the label Latino – defined by me as including the diaspora of those colonized in Latin America, the Hispanic/Latin@ identity is complex and controversial and certainly not universally accepted. The idea of Latinidad is sometimes – and rightfully to some extent – accused of erasing certain aspects of what have made Latinos who we are today. The mixing of the indigenous with the European and the European with the African was not based on mutual consent but conquest, rape, violence, and war. All other variations were based on survival. This not a matter of ancient history, this is a matter of looking at how right now across Latin American governments are actively committing acts of theft and violence against indigenous communities. It is not a matter of ancient history the way many among “us” claim/re-claim our Indigenous identities to the exclusion of our African roots or vice-versa or claim none of the above at all.

I have mixed feeling about the “holiday”. It, like so many pieces of our history, is being repackaged and marketed back to us for consumption. We replicate what we are told Latinidad is as opposed to representing the complicated, messy way that history, race, gender, ethnicity and economics actually plays how we play ourselves. There are parades, lessons in school, ad campaigns, sales, and specials to make us feel special for 30 days out of the 365. The rest of the year, as a whole, our issues – which are all issues- are whitewashed and marginalized.

As a Latina : a NuyorRican Taina African mami to a MapucheRican and a ChileRican, my life work – as a writer, poet, performer, and educator – my work life is about exploring issues of identity, representation, presence and action. This has been a hard place to come to and it often is a hard place to remain, especially in the face of the post-colonial, post-racial myth. Is Latino Heritage Month a necessity? No, especially not as it is used now – often using our narratives against us. Does it have the potential to be used as a tool/weapon to educate, talk with each other? Yes – if we view these 30 days as the start of the next 365 of commitment to our communities.