By Eduardo Morales, Ph.D.–
National Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration under President Johnson and was expanded to a month by President Reagan 20 years later. The month-long observance provides more time to properly recognize the significant contributions that Latinx Americans have made in the U.S. In 2013, KQED created a documentary series called Latino Americans that I recommend watching. Read on for additional recommendations here in San Francisco during this Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month.
San Francisco’s Mission District is a virtual outdoor art gallery full of vibrant murals. Take a stroll to see the murals up-close and to enjoy nearby restaurants and attractions. Some of my favorite murals are at: 1) Balmy Alley, between 24th and 25th Streets, and Treat Avenue and Harrison Street; 2) Clarion Alley between 17th and 18th Streets, and Mission and Valencia Streets; 3) 24th Street and South Van Ness Avenue for the Carnaval Mural; 4) 3543 18th Street for The Women’s Building Maestra Peace Mural; and 5) 2981 24th Street for the Precita Eyes Muralists arts and visitor center.
The 15th San Francisco Latino Film Festival, happening now through October 15, features virtual and in-person film screenings, visiting filmmakers, panels, meet-ups, and more. The festival is organized by Cine + Mas SF and is produced by Lucho Ramirez. Locations include the Roxie Theater, Landmark’s Opera Plaza Cinema, and the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts. The center, located at 2868 Mission Street, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It makes the arts accessible as an essential element to the community’s development and well-being and focuses on supporting and promoting the full spectrum of Latino arts, including visual and graphic arts, music, theater, dance, writing, poetry, and cultural festivals.
El Rio was voted for decades as the best LGBTQI+ bar by various newspapers and organizations. As you probably know, it is a queer run community space, an event space, a gathering place, a venue, a Mission mainstay, and many other things to many people. Its exterior building was painted by Juan Manuel Carmona. On the 2nd and 4th Sunday afternoons from 4 to 8 pm there is live Latinx music.
The Latinx Cultural District in San Francisco became official in 2014 with Calle 24 and encompasses the stretch of 24th Street running from Mission Street to Potrero Avenue. It boasts a vast number of colorful and unique specialty stores, restaurants, taquerias, Mexican bakeries, fresh produce grocers, butchers, cafés, and art galleries, as well as the greatest concentration of murals and Latinx businesses in the city.
Calle 24 was created in 1999 and its current president is Erick Arguello, who was AGUILAS’ Program Coordinator for 25 years. The nonprofit represents the work of longtime residents, merchants, service providers, and arts organizations. Travel the length of “El Corazón de la Misión,” or The Heart of the Mission from Mission Street to Potrero Avenue, and depending on the time of year, enjoy various activities such as those during Carnaval and the Día de los Muertos for a richness of culture unmatched anywhere else in the world.
Roccapulco, located at 3140 Mission Street, is a large entertainment venue and is the home of the best international shows and dancing with live bands and entertainment.
Club Puertorriqueño de San Francisco, Inc., is a Puerto Rican Social Club located at 3249-A Mission Street in San Francisco. Incorporated on February 25, 1912, it is the oldest Latina/Latino/Latinx organization in the U.S. Its goal is to conserve and promote the values and culture of Puerto Rico by keeping its culture alive through various activities.
AGUILAS, located on the fourth floor of the SF LGBT Center on Market Street, is dedicated to creating a supportive, culturally sensitive environment for LGBTQI Latinxs. Founded in 1991, AGUILAS pioneered a comprehensive HIV prevention and education program in 1994 and has La Academia, which is a leadership development program funded by the ViiV Foundation. It is the only agency in San Francisco that offers all its services in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
There are numerous wonderful places in the city to sample cuisines from various Latinx countries such as Café de Casa in the Castro for Brazilian food, Lolinda for Argentinian dishes, El Metate for Mexican food and their famous mole dishes on weekends, and Dianda’s for pastries and for ordering special cakes. Enjoy what San Francisco has to offer during Latinx Heritage Month and beyond.
Eduardo Morales, Ph.D. is a Professor Emeritus, retired Distinguished Professor, and current adjunct professor at Alliant International University. He is also a licensed psychologist and a founder and current Executive Director of AGUILAS, an award-winning program for Latinx LGBTQ+. Of Puerto Rican decent, he has received numerous distinguished awards and citations, including being named a Fellow of 12 divisions of the American Psychological Association.
Nuestra Voz
Published on October 4, 2023
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