THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

  The month-long celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month is officially over...or is it? We continue to be Latino.  It's not something that we can turn off.  And we wouldn't want to if we could.  So even though the holiday is over, the Celebration Continues. As Latinos, let's continue to honor our Parents, our roots, our culture, our music, our language, all our peoples.  And, let's Pay Tribute to Latinos everywhere.  Read Latino books; watch Latino movies; patronize Latino businesses; play your favorite Latino artists. The Latina Book Club also wishes to thank its Guest Bloggers this month; see list below.  If you missed their post, just click on their names.   GUEST BLOGGERS Marcela Landres , Editor Extraordinaire Raul Ramos y Sanchez , author of AMERICA LIBRE Monique Frausto of Blogs by Latinas Mike Padilla , author of THE GIRLS FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY CANTINA Vanessa Libertad Garcia , author of THE VOTING BO...

   The Latina Book Club is pleased to welcome Julio Ricardo Varela as our Guest Blogger in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.  Julio brings an important message for all of us.  by Julio Ricardo Varela Latinolandia is at a crossroads in its quest to find its place in United States society. As the number of Latinos/Hispanics continues to grow in US, we are left to wonder: what will be our legacy? What will be our crowing achievement? Earlier this year, I wrote a blog piece about how being Latino in the United States comes with a lot of baggage. While an event like Hispanic Heritage Month tries to show a group of 54 million strong that is homogenous and united, it is clear that there is a marketing ideal and then there is true. I argued that we Latinos are are own worst enemy. Instead of celebrating our commonalities, we easily fall into the trap that we come from different countries and experiences, and that trap leads to disunity. Take the case...

by Maria C. Ferrer Founder, The Latina Book Club Today begins Hispanic Heritage Month . For one month out of the year, the US celebrates Hispanics, aka Latinos. This year the celebration seems ironic given the current tensions over the immigration bills being considered and laws enacted, but let’s not talk politics or we’ll be foaming at the mouth. Instead, let’s celebrate that Hispanics are an integral part of this great nation of ours. Let’s celebrate Hispanic leaders in our community, in our government, in our schools, in our lives.  For this one month, let’s celebrate what makes Hispanics unique and beautiful – our culture, our music, our letters, our passions, our people. I’m starting my month-long—and life-long—celebration with Familia . My family is the root of my Hispanidad. It is with them and from them that I get my pride in my heritage.  And, so I celebrate that I am Hispanic. I celebrate that I am Puerto Rican. I celebrate that I love my island, Borin...