Hispanic Heritage Month, also known as Latinx/e Heritage Month, is an annual celebration observed in the United States from September 15th to October 15th. It is dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the rich cultural heritage, history, contributions, and achievements of Hispanic and Latinx Americans.
For Latinx/e Heritage Month this year, the library is highlighting poetry by Latinx/e authors. All of these books are available to check out. Click on the book covers to be directed to the library catalog.
First, to highlight some of the most prominent Latinx/e poets. Ada Limón is the current Poet Laureate of the United States, Martín Espada’s book Floaters won the National Book Award in 2021, Promises of Gold by José Olivarez was nominated for the National Book Award in 2023, and Yesika Salgado is a National Poetry Slam finalist.
The library’s collection include authors that explore a range of Latinx/e identities. Collections by Rio Cortez, Aracelis Girmay, Aja Monet, Melania Luisa Marte, and Excilia Saldaña are from the perspective of an Afro-Latinx/e identity.
Looking back through history, Gabriela Mistral was the first Latin American author to win the Nobel Prize in poetry (1945). Alfonsina Storni began writing in the 1910s, and Julia de Burgos was published in the 1930s-50s.
Rosa Alcalá, Erika Sánchez, and Natalie Scenters-Zapico use their poetry to address gender and gender-based violence.
Other books from our collection:
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