Nat'l Hispanic Heritage Month (9/15-10/15)

Maybe Sofia Vergara should speak for US Hispanics

Crystal Quintero, the Mexican Buddhist (WQ)

The growing Latinx (Latina and Latino combined) population, popularly referred to as Hispanic (descended from Spain) is too big to be contained in one month. So we take up two, the second half of September and the first half of October.

It might have been better to claim November with its mass celebration of el Dia de los Muertos or "the Day of the Dead," which is quickly becoming the new Cinco de Mayo, the American celebration of "Mexican Independence Day."

Of course, Independence Day actually falls not on the 5th of May (cinco de mayo) but on Sept. 16th (el Grito de Dolores, "Cry of Dolores," which being a place rather than a person called Dolores, should perhaps be rendered "Shout from Dolores," a word that literally means "pains" as in birth pangs) at the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month. What do most Americans want, fanatical popularity or technical accuracy?

If "we are what we eat," can I be Mexican by eating real Mexican food?

(Business Insider) How one chef is fighting to preserve a cooking tool as old as civilization itself | Still Standing: the hand-mill or metate ("mealing stone," quern-stone for grinding ingredients)

What if I want to eat like a real American from the Americas?

Look at the Native women in their native land using their own metate (quern), Palestine 1900

Plant-Based Mexican Recipes for Healing

More than a cookbook, Decolonize Your Diet restores what "traditional" Mexican food means by reaching back through centuries of history to reclaim heritage crops as a source of protection from modern diseases-of-development. It was compiled by partners, California professors, and co-authors Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel.

When Calvo was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, they both radically changed their diets and began seeking out recipes featuring indigenous, healthy, vegetarian Mexican foods.

Did Mossad bring Mexico under Jewish rule?

This led to the promotion of a diet rich in plants indigenous to the Americas (amaranth, maize, beans, squash, greens, herbs, and seeds) and a passionate idea that Latinxs in America, specifically Mexicans, need to ditch the colonial garbage, synthetic, artificial, and toxic fast food and return to their own culture's food roots for physical health and spiritual fulfillment.

This vegan and vegetarian cookbook features over 100 colorful recipes based on Mesoamerican cuisine and also includes contributions from indigenous cultures throughout the Americas. It is a winner of the International Latino Book Award for Best Cookbook. More

What's National Hispanic Heritage Month?

Presidenta Sheinbaum, deja me. I'll do the talking for the 65 million U.S. Hispanics, okay?

First flag of the Mexican Empire of Spain

Mes nacional de la herencia hispana is observed annually from September 15 to October 15 in the United States of America ("America" being a big continent, much bigger than the powerfully hegemonic USA) for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic culture to the nation's achievements, culture, and history [1, 2].

(Big Smiles Daily) Prehispanic mole w/ Zapotecan chef Abigail Mendoza

Hispanic Heritage Month 2026: What makes being Latinx special?

History

What have Mexicans ever done?

National Hispanic Heritage Week was established by legislation sponsored by Democratic Rep. George Brown Jr. of Los Angeles and signed into law by Democratic Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 [3, 4, 5], taking place on the week including both September 15 and 16th [6].

In 1988, the commemorative week was expanded to a month (September 15 to October 15) by legislation sponsored by Rep. Esteban Torres (D–CA), amended by Sen. Paul Simon, and signed into law by Republican Pres. Ronald Reagan [3].

September 15th was chosen as the starting point for the commemoration because it is the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores (early morning, Sept. 16, 1810), which marked the start of the Mexican War of Independence.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating culture, traditions, and history

The original Mexican flag (1821) had no snake

In 1821, this resulted in independence for the imperial New Spain Colony, which was actually a viceroyalty (known in the Native language, which has never been Spanish but rather Nahuatl and the Nahuan/Aztecan family of languages as Yankwik Kaxtillan Birreiyotl, but first called the "Kingdom of New Spain," now the United Mexican States or United States of Mexico, Estados Unidos Mexicanos, the Mesoamerican country's official name, and the Central American nations of Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Nicaragua), which became the Federal Republic of Central America.

The 30-day period also includes many dates of importance in the Hispanic (Spain-descended) community:

• Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their anniversary of independence on Sept. 15;
• Mexico commemorates its independence on Sept. 16;
• Chile commemorates its independence on Sept. 18;
• the celebration day of reviled Jewish terrorist and Converso Cristobal Columbus (an Anus'i or Marrano), formerly known as Columbus Day now Día de la Raza [7]. More

What have the Latins ever done for US?

(Great Big Story) Mexico's most fascinating foods and pre-colonial traditions

Oaxaca: the most Native part of Mexico

• Crystal Quintero, CC Liu, Sheldon S. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

It's Native American Heritage Month

Native Americans dancing used to be so beautiful in full regalia. Now we party nearly naked:

.

White Indigenous tribes of Scandinavia (Sami)

Tell us more about Native American Heritage Month. National Native American Heritage Month celebrates the culture, contributions, and heritage of Indigenous populations called Native Americans or American-Indians.

In 1990 Pres. George H. W. Bush approved a joint resolution designating November 1990 “National American Indian Heritage Month.”

Decolonize Your Diet (vegan recipes)

Similar proclamations, under variants on the name (including “Native American Heritage Month” and “National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month”) have been issued each year since 1994.

This month is a time to educate the public about Native American tribes, raise a general awareness about the unique challenges the Indigenous (First Nations) have faced, and to illuminate the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.

• Native American Heritage Month – LA County Library

Native American Food Sovereignty

Progressive plant based Native eating

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month, join the Los Angeles County Public Library in highlighting how Native communities are taking control over their food sources and production by revitalizing traditional, healthy [predominantly vegan], and localized food sources.

In this hands-on workshop, learn how to start a Salvia columbariae plant and explore its cultural uses among various Native groups. This event has multiple dates and locations throughout November. View events list below to find the program at the nearest location.

• Native American Food Sovereignty (LACL)

The Americas are home to many tribes

Tongva (Kizh) Cultural Classes

Main Altadena Library, burn scar, Los Angeles County

Altadena Library District

On Nov. 1st, 2025, we learned to make Cloth Medicine Bags with Councilwoman Neminski and Councilwoman Murillo of the Gabrielino/Tongva (Kizh) Nation, who taught the workshop for ages 10 and up.

Beaded Wire Wrap Bracelets Workshop

Saturday, Nov. 15, 2:00-4:00 pm: Councilwomen of the Gabrielino/Tongva (Kizh) Nation teach class for ages 8 and up.

Pine Needle Basket Medallion

Saturday, Nov. 12, 2:00-4:00 pm: Councilwomen teach class for ages 8 and up.

• Native American History Month Discussion, Thursday, November 20, 2025, 1:30 - 2:30pm - Programs — Altadena Library District

Jewel heist at the Louvre, France

What we worship: Monas over mountains

(Channel 4 News) No one cared about the Mona Lisa until someone stole it in 1911. Then it became famous, was recovered, became subjected to the Mandela Effect, and grew in fame every year since, until an entire wall then room became dedicated to it. When we visited, the rooms were beautiful, even the halls were grand, but the mob in front of this one painting was ridiculous. At that time it could still be photographed, but taking a photo of the photographers seemed more appropriate.

(CNN) "An amateur move," says a jewel thief of Louvre heist

Now it has a shield and guards, and goodness knows it's probably not the original, just a forgery with the real thing in a safe somewhere. The Louvre's security is behind the times, possibly because Pres. Macron's husband (and the couple's ridiculous fight with American Candace Owens about gender) and the riots in the streets are sucking all the oxygen and discretionary funds that should be applied to keeping the imperial booty and irreplaceable treasures in this pyramidal repository safe.

(Primal Space) The Greatest Art Heist in History: Hello, Mona Lisa

• Channel 4 News, Oct. 20, 2025; former jewel thief Larry Lawton, CNN, Oct. 20, 2025; Eds., Wisdom Quarterly

Mexican Independence Day: El Grito

(eastla-parade.com)

Hispanic Heritage Month begins today (Sept. 15th). How is it celebrated? As with most Mexican things, delicious food is involved. Unable to stop the British Empire's intrusion west, Mexico fought a war to expel Spain (France and other European occupiers) during the Mexican War of Independence. It was ultimately successful not on Cinco de Mayo (which was just a successful battle against French forces expelling them from Puebla, near the largest pyramid in the world in Cholula). 

• What's Mexico's "4th of July"? El Grito de Independencia ("The Shout of Independence" or "Cry of Dolores")

East LA hosts Mexican Independence Day Parade

(ABC7) Sept. 14, 2025: The 79th annual East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival was held under the theme of "Tradition, Education and Achievement." More: abc7.com/17774373

It's National Hispanic Heritage Month

In Spanish es el Mes nacional de la herencia hispana, which is observed annually from September 15 to October 15 in the United States for recognizing the contributions and influence of Hispanic culture to this nation's achievements, culture, and history. More

• Hispanic and Latino Americans

• Vegan Mexican at Home (by Dora)

Fiestas Patrias | ELA Parade Fest

Grand Marshal Jose Hernandez

Food, live music, dance performances, and more are on tap for the 79th annual East L.A. Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival. Astronaut and current University of California Regent José M. Hernández is the parade’s grand marshal.

In a year that has been challenging for the Mexican American (Chicano) community in L.A., it’s a great opportunity to get out and celebrate all that makes East Los Angeles and LA's largest immigrant community (some say its new majority) so vibrant, unique, and joyous.

• Best things to do this weekend in Los Angeles and Southern California: Sept. 12-14 (LAist.com)

What is there to eat this month? Decolonize Your Diet

More than just a cookbook, Decolonize Your Diet redefines what is meant by "traditional" Mexican food by reaching back through hundreds of years of history to reclaim heritage crops as a source of protection from modern diseases of development.

Authors Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel are life partners. When Calvo was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006, they both radically changed their diets and began seeking out recipes featuring healthy, vegetarian (then vegan) Mexican foods.

Yeah, but will it taste good with spice and guac?

They promote an eating lifestyle that is rich in plants indigenous to the Americas (amaranth, squash, corn, beans, greens, herbs, and seeds) and are passionate about the idea that Latinos in America, specifically Mexicans, need to ditch the fast food and return to their own culture's food roots for both physical health and spiritual fulfillment.

This veggie cookbook features over 100 colorful recipes based on Mesoamerican cuisine and also includes contributions from indigenous cultures throughout the Americas, such as kabocha squash in green pipian, aguachile de quinoa, mesquite corn tortillas, tepary bean salad, and amaranth chocolate cake.

Steeped in history but very much rooted in the contemporary world, Decolonize Your Diet introduces readers to the energizing and healing properties of a plant-based Mexican American diet. It is full-color throughout. Decolonize Your Diet: Plant-Based Mexican-American Recipes for Health and Healing

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Start a community garden or urban yard-farm

Professors Luz Calvo and Catriona Rueda Esquibel teach at California State East Bay and San Francisco State University, respectively. They grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs on their small urban farm. This is their first book. Esquibel received her Ph.D. in the History of Consciousness Program at UC Santa Cruz (1999) and is now an associate professor in Race and Resistance Studies at San Francisco State University and author of With her Machete in her Hand (U of Texas Press, 2006). She has also published poetry, drama, and literary criticism. Her father's family has lived in northern New Mexico for more than 12 generations. On her mother's side, her great-great-grandmother, great-grandmother, and grandmother all migrated from Sonora to Los Angeles between 1913 and 1919. Each of these women made a living cooking for Mexican migrant workers and Chicanos y Chicanas in Los Angeles. More

More: Mexican "El Grito" celebrations all around the USA

• EastLA-parade.com via LAist.com; Crystal Quintero, CC Liu, Pfc. Sandoval (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

AAPI Heritage Month w/ Ronny Chieng

• Ronny Chieng Celebrates Asian Trailblazers for AAPI Heritage Month | The Daily Show
• Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• Ronny Chieng, The Daily Show, 5/29/25; CC Liu, Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly 

Roots of Mexican genetics: Mestizos

New research uncovers the hidden roots of Mexican genetics

(Epic Discovery) Oct. 31, 2024: Mexican DNA has something to say about a new cultural identity, the Mestizo. Indigenous genes were forcibly married off to European slave drivers, rapists, invaders, settler colonialists, and imperial Conquistadors. What does it mean to be "Mexican" today? It is a blended MIX (mestizo) of Indigenous and European genes, with strong African, East Asian, and Middle Eastern (many of them Conversos or "Converts" holding on to old cultural traditions) elements. This is the history of Mexico (i.e., The United Mexican States) and its many arrivals and settlers in the New World.

Why do some Mexicans look so Asian? 🧬🇲🇽

(Ancestral Linguist) Dec. 5, 2024: This video analyzes the DNA evidence along with the history of Mexico, the country next to the USA that will soon be merged with it, along with Canada, to form the Amero Union, much as is already happening economically and monetarily in spite of Fuhrer Von S.I.P. Trump promoting division, isolationism, and racial separation.

TIMESTAMPS

• 00:00 - Introduction
• 01:26 - African ancestry
• 03:13 - European colonialism
• 04:13 - Filipino connection does not explain Asian looks
• 04:46 - Conclusion

SOURCES

• link.springer.com/article/10....
• pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles...
• journals.plos.org/plosgenetic...
• ko-fi.com/c/0e25f332f8

DNA 🧬 G25 masterclass ko-fi.com/ancestrylinguist: Support the channel. This discord is for people who want to help create DNA videos: discord

Nat'l American Indian Heritage Month

Don't let your yesterdays eat too much of today

November is National American Heritage Month in the US, aka Native American Heritage Month, which began in with Bush in 1990.

"The President [of the USA] has authorized and requested to call upon Federal, State and local Governments, groups and organizations and the people of the United States to observe such month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities."

The landmark bill tribal people represented a major step in establishing this celebration.

Kachina dolls of the Hopi tribe

That struggle began in 1976 when a Cherokee/Osage Indian named Jerry C. Elliott-High Eagle authored Native American Awareness Week legislation, the first historical week of recognition in the nation for Native peoples.

This led to Pres. Reagan in 1986 proclaiming November 23–30, 1986, as "American Indian Week" [1].

This commemorative month aims to provide a platform for Native people living in the United States of America to share their:

• culture,
• traditions,
• music,
• crafts,
• dances,
• and ways and concepts of life.

LA, what say you about the White Man's oppression?

It is meant to give Native people the opportunity to resuscitate their languages and spiritual practices, natural medicines and rituals to express to the community in cities, counties, and states so that officials become aware of their concerns. In this way solutions for building bridges of understanding and friendship in local areas can be fostered.

Indians of the Valley, Tataviam, have a center

Federal agencies are encouraged to provide educational programs for their employees regarding American Indian history, rights, culture, and contemporary issues to better assist people affiliated with surviving tribe in their jobs and for overall awareness. More

I have a vision

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Southern California, and Los Angeles in particular, has the highest concentration of Indigenous people in the country. Yet, we have no "reservation," no remainder of our land not stolen by treaty and war by the Federal government. There are, however, public lands.

What if those who wanted to revive the Old Ways, keep them alive as mixed with the modern, were to have a place to live as before? I imagine somewhere in the forest above the city, in the San Gabriel Mountains, the Angeles Forest and monument.

The invaders almost made us forget

What if Natives and allies could come together to fashion a better society within the society. Now we're all spoiled and do not want to relinquish the benefits of modernity. But we do not want to be deprived of our traditions, identities, and customs.

The knowledge, language, and culture taken from us can be restored. If everyone were given title and deed to a homestead on Catalina Island, it would soon be full, our own "Hawaiian kingdom" with a queen representing us. Soon all the Channel Islands would be full of canoes and catamarans, traversing the waters of Santa Monica Bay.

If elders guide us, we might all live in peace.

What if we could all receive secure housing within the county, no need to be placed on desolate land and isolated. What if Indians got recognition?

Los Angeles is Tongva (Kizh, Gabrieleno) land, and that could be to everyone's benefit. Even Bruce's Beach eventually got recognition. We'll have to assemble in community to find a consensus.

• Xochitl, Ashley Wells, Dhr. Seven, Crystal Q. (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly Wiki edit

Largest Day of the Dead contest in CA

San Pedro Día de Los Muertos Festival to Host Largest Catrina Contest with Royal Caribbean Cruise for 10 as Grand Prize

Hey, Everybody, look at me! I'm a white doll!

National Latino Heritage Month continues, and Ashley has a question: Is it "cultural appropriation" to dress up for Dia de los Muertos? We think not, but in these sensitive times; anyone can get offended by anything.

Ashley's Oktoberfest cultural appropriation ;)

It seems a male can become a female just for saying so, but NAACP leader Rachel Dolezal gets her backside handed to her on a platter for convincingly changing races or going biracial, even though she is an ally, has Black kids, a Black husband, and good intentions. When she decides to become a man, we're sure she'll be welcomed, celebrated, and encouraged to do drag. Let's look in and see how Ashley's doing on her journey of cultural exploration. Hooray!

• Tips for celebrating Day of the Dead as a foreigner in Mexico
• How to dress for Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) for both sexes
• Next to Mexico: Belize to Tikal Day Trip: 17 Important Tips for Guatemala Day Tours (mywanderlustylife.com)

A Frat Boy's Freedom to Offend (Prager U at UCLA and on Olvera St.)

We're living in Los Angeles (LA, "Latin America"), or the Rust Belt City of Chicago (Chi Town), so it's time to get with it. El Dia de Los Muertos or The Day of the Dead is an important adjunct to our European Halloween and Samhain (because Obon has already past). It's autumn, the fall season, and with the change of weather and amount of daylight, so goes the mood of the city. It's time to get cozy inside with lots of light because outside, The Dead are coming. These are our ancestors, and appeasing them is a nice thing, wholesome karma.

• Buddhists can "transfer merit" to them in temple celebrations in both traditions, the older or back-to-basics Theravada and the populist later-development Mahayana or Hinduism-light.
• The Dead are not altogether gone, just phase-shifted out of easy reach, but contact is still possible due to the strangeness of the universe and separation of dimensions and 31 Planes. Beings go on to be reborn when they pass from here. Where do they go? That utterly depends on their karma (store of deeds, not just from this life but from countless past lives), and we can contribute to their karma by helping them.
• It's like offering medicine to the sick: Some would get better with or without it, some will pass even if they get it, and there is a third group who will only survive if they get it. Is it good to give it?
• In all three cases, it's good to offer it. Let them decide what they need, which they will invariably do by their response (which is their karma).
• Here the "medicine" is not a dangerous allopathic toxic created by sorcerers (Big Pharma) with lots of side effects. It's not even natural plant-based medicine, which can be strong. This medicine is karma (intentional action).
• If sad at the airport and one is offered a flower (by say a hairy Krishna devotee), what can one do? Slap it away in annoyance, accept it and acknowledge the offer in gratitude while politely declining, accept it and eat it then spit it back out and hand it back when charged a "donation" (by their crafty employment of the sociopsychological basis of power known as reciprocation), take it and pay up, take it and tell them to naff off for demanding money... There are so many ways we might respond.
• We are like the sick patient being offered something. How we respond (our intentionally chosen response) or react (our practiced and habitually reaction) is our karma.
• But if it is offered in kindness with nothing expected in return, it can be quite a balm, a salve, a medicinal. It might be calendula, in which case not only is it bright and yellow, it is also medicinal when prepared as a tincture.

It's not just Hollywood Forever. It's all of LA

So this is LA, the Day of the Dead is coming, and here's a chance to participate. The contest has many prizes. Be a Catrina, a painted doll, for the celebration.

We were surprised to learn that Catrinas are not Goth ghosts, not "The Dead," haints, ghouls, spirits. They were originally Indigenous mockeries of Hispanics who dressed up and tried to pass for pure Spanish. "Oh, look at me; I'm so elegant and fashionable with my white powder face!" We were all mixed, Mestizos and Mixtecs.

Hollywood Forever | Cultural Events | Films

The Indigenous dressed up in elegant Euro garb to mock the half-white beauty queens and princes trying to pass as white to emphasize their mixed blood affiliation (the result of rape, coercion, and mostly enticement) with the Conquistadors and settler colonialists who had ruined the New World by their genocide, occupation, and hegemonic influence.

But what's one to do? The Europeans introduced a complex form of racism and colorism that is still rocking Latin America. Spain went so far as to define 16 groups or "castes" (casta) one would be labelled in a classification system as from the Mulatto to the Negro, from the Indio to the pure Gringo or Spanish (100% purebred Iberian Peninsula European).

What "caste" or casta are you? It determines your future?

CONTEST

Get paid for having fun with cosplay?

"The Catrina Contest is open to all genders between the ages of 18-99 with contestants judged on creativity, design, beauty, authenticity. crowd response. We are elevating our celebration with a contest that invites everyone to bring this iconic figure to life with creativity and flair, all while keeping the spirit of family and remembrance at its core.”

— Executive Director of Discover San Pedro Ryan Blaney

• ART: La Calavera Catrina ("The Skeleton Catrina")

LOS ANGELES, California, USA, Sept. 18, 2024 (einpresswire.com) - Discover San Pedro is proud to announce the largest Catrina Contest in California as part of its annual Día de Los Muertos Festival. This year, the contest will offer a grand prize sponsored by the LA Cruise Alliance, which includes Royal Caribbean Group, Carnival Corporation, and MSC Cruises. The winner will receive an unforgettable cruise for 10 aboard Royal Caribbean International. San Pedro Día de Los Muertos Festival (wane.com) (San Pedro is Spanish for "Saint Peter," a coastal city and massive shipping port in LA). More

• Wane.com, 9/18/24; Crystal Quintero, CC Liu, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

REGISTER HERE FOR THE CATRINA CONTEST

PRIZES:
1. Cruise for 10 people aboard Royal Caribbean Cruises
2. Feast for 10 people at the World Famous San Pedro Fish Market
3. Round Trip for 4 people on Catalina Express
4. Downtown San Pedro Red Trolley for 3 hours up to 30 people