Hispanic Heritage Month: Latinx Creatives That Inspire Us

Hispanic Heritage Month honors the contributions of Hispanic Americans in the U.S. It’s an opportunity for us to further educate ourselves and others on where we came from and where we are today. The kickoff of the month (September 15) is significant as it’s the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, with September 16 marking the celebration of independence for Mexico, and September 18 for Chile. It is a celebration that began in 1968 and has evolved ever since.

The Latinx community at Praytell has also continued to evolve. We created the Latinx ERG, Compañer@s, to not only discuss what we are seeing in the industry, but also to ensure that our community is better represented. It’s no secret our industry has struggled with diverse representation, specifically racial diversity and leadership positions among Black and Latinx employees. Over the next few years, we are committed to increasing our Latinx representation from 9% to 19% to be reflective of the U.S population and the world we serve.

To close out the month, and in celebration of Latinx artists, writers and creatives, Praytell’s Latinx ERG is sharing a few pieces of work that have made an impact on us personally. We hope they bring you all some new perspective, reading material and most importantly, solo buenas vibras (translation: Good vibes)!

Para celebrar a los que nos precedieron y a los que nos seguirán (translation: to celebrate those that came before us and to those that follow).

Enjoy!

Latinx Reads We Recommend

1. Íntimas Suculencias de Laura Esquivel - A book of stories, an essay, a biography and a cookbook in which Laura Esquivel presents her most personal work. Mixing recipes with emotions, learnings and storytelling, the author engages the reader with a warm and knowledgeable touch.

2. Once Minutos de Paulo Coelho - Coehlo delves into the nature of sex and love, inviting us to confront our own prejudices and demons. Through the experiences and eyes of a sex worker, we see the intense and difficult relationship between body and soul, and how to achieve the perfect union between both.

3. El Murmullo de Las Abejas de Sofía Segovia - Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution and the Spanish influenza of 1918, this fictional story follows the life of an all-seeing child. Simonopio, disfigured at birth, is abandoned under a bridge and curiously found covered by a blanket of bees. Seen by some as a devil-child for having visions, landowners Francisco and Beatriz Morales welcome him into their lives. When he closes his eyes, he can divine things yet to come, both wonderful and tragic - aiding the Morelos family in overcoming obstacles, and cementing Simonopio’s purpose in the town of Linares. This story captures both the fate of a country in flux and the individual destiny of a family who puts their love, faith and future in the hands of mysticism.

4. Toda Mafalda de Quino - An Argentinian comic strip by Quino, pen name of the late Joaquin Salvador Lavado Tejon. Mafalda is a 6-year-old girl from Buenos Aires’ working class, discernible by a big red bow atop her head. This satirical comic follows the countless thoughts - ranging from irreverent to intellectual - of Mafalda and friends, who constantly worry about the state of the world. She is a feminist crusader, a beacon for social justice and an adamant scorner of soup.

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Latinx Music to Enjoy

Praytell’s Latinx Playlist

Want to learn more about Praytell’s commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and our ERG groups? Drop us a line hello@praytellagency.com

About Compañer@s

Compañer@s is Praytell’s Latinx ERG group whose mission is to be a supportive network to enable and strengthen our members. The group provides a safe and open space to discuss challenging issues within our community and to drive cultural awareness.