Latin Culture

BOOKS 

11 Recent Books on Latino Culture from the NY Times 

Memoirs/History/Biography

America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent by Eduardo Geleano 

Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico by Miguel León-Portilla 

When I was Puerto Rican by Esmeralda Santiago 

The Routledge History of Latin American Culture by Carlos Manuel Salomon 

I, Rigoberta Menchú: An Indian Woman in Guatemala by Rigoberta Menchú 

Amexica: War Along the Borderline by Ed Vulliamy 

A History of Latin America by Benjamin Keen

Cultural History of Latin America: Literature, Music and Visual Arts in the 19th and 20th Centuries by Leslie Bethell 

Fiction 

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 

How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez 

In The Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez 

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Who by Junot Díaz 

The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende 

Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel 

VIDEOS, MOVIES & TV SERIES 

Links to full-length film/video when possible. Trailers otherwise. Streaming options noted.  

Videos 

Whats the difference between Latino and Hispanic? - A look at the origin of the words and how people often mix the two up 

What Being Hispanic and LatinX Means in the United States TedTalk by Fernanda Ponce 

LATINO - How you see me - individuals in the LatinX community recall how they are viewed in America 

Latino Learning Modules: Latino Culture and Culture Values - A brief introduction into the Latin Culture 

Learn about Latin American Culture & Arts - A video for teachers and individuals who wish to learn more about Latin Culture and Arts 

Defining Latino: Young People Talk Identity, Belonging - Young individuals talk about their experiences and how they are defined in this American culture and society 

My Identity is a Superpower - not an obstacle TedTalk by America Ferrera 

A Conversation With Latinos on Race - Op-Docs by The New York Times 

Dramatic Feature Films/Series  

Selena - Available with subscription to Netflix

A Fantastic Woman - A transgender woman copes with the loss of her partner and deals with the negative presence of his family - Available to rent or with subscription to YouTube, Amazon

Ixcanul - An Indigenous pregnant women wishes to remain out of the modern world until it saves her life - Available to rent or with subscription to YouTube, Amazon, Vudu 

Coco - Young Miguel has a passion for music and along his journey he finds himself in the Land of the Dead - Available to rent or with subscription to YouTube, Amazon, Disney+

Gentefied - Three Mexican-American Cousins chase the American dream, family, love, and growth - Available with subscription to Netflix 

Vida - Two sisters come home after after their mothers death and realize the truth of their mother's identity and each other - Available subscription to Hulu, Starz, Amazon 

Los Espookys - A mainly Spanish-language comedy filled with spooks, thrills, and chills - HBO Max, Hulu, YouTube TV

Documentaries 

Cuba and the Cameraman - Multigenerational portrait, Emmy nominated, “Outstanding Historical Documentary” - Available with subscription to Netflix 

Paper Children - Inside America's Overwhelmed Asylum System - Available on YouTube 

Latino Vote: Dispatches from the battleground - Encourages the LatinX Community to vote and make their voices heard - Available to rent or with subscription to Amazon 

Street Food: Latin America - Fusing cultures, flavors, moods -Available with subscription to Netflix

Underwater Dreams - A group of undocumented individuals build an underwater robot with parts from Home Depot - Available to rent or with subscription to Amazon, AppleTV, Vudu

Perú: Tesoro Escondido - Showcases the cultural traditions and the riches of the land - Available to watch with subscription to Netflix 

Inocente - The story of a girl who finds herself in tough situations and comes out on another side - Available to watch on AppleTV 

The Latino List - Prominent individuals in the Latino community pose for photos and videos - Available to watch with subscription to HBO

Humano - One man goes on a three-month journey through the Andes Mountains while understanding the purpose of life - Available to rent or with subscription to Amazon, Vudu, AppleTV

The War on Democracy - The story of the United States and their role in Latin American politics - Available with subscription to Amazon 

Argentina's Economic Collapse - Shows the events that led up to the economic collapse of Argentina in 2001 - Available on YouTube 

The Battle of Chile - Directed by  Chilean Patricio Guzman and is broken into three parts The Insurrection of the Bourgeoisie (1975), The Coup d'état (1976), Popular Power (1979) - Available to rent or with subscription to Amazon, Vimeo 

ARTICLES & NOTABLE COLLECTIONS OF RESOURCES

La Coalicion: Latin American Coalition - An immigrant rights organization that is building an inclusive community in North Carolina 

Latin American Chamber of Commerce - Focuses on the growth and strength of the Charlotte Latin Community 

Hola Charlotte Festival - Highlights the Latin American culture and traditions

Latin American Culture - A page with resources and information about Latin Culture such as arts and history by enforex.com

American Latino Theme Study: Food (U.S. National Park Service) - Coming home to Salsa: Latino roots in American food by Jefferey M. Pilcher 

Latinos and the Changing Face of America by Rogelio Saenz Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas A&M from pro.org 

What Hispanic Heritage Month means and how anyone can celebrate it by Austa Somvichian-Clausen from thehill.com

Stigma is keeping LGBTQ+ Hispanic and Latino men from seeking HIV care: report by Anagha Srikanth from thehill.com

Latinos disproportionally affected by coronavirus, sheds a lights onto existing inequities by Austa Somvichian-Clausen from thehill.com 

10 Latinx Activist You Should Know by Jillian Abel with TMI Consulting from medium.com

Created by Isis Parker, Mint Museum Intern, Summer 2021