CELEBRATING HISPANIC HERITAGE AT BARRY UNIVERSITY

By Andrea Briones

Hispanic Heritage Month has marched its way to Barry University. At Barry, we’ve long been a home for Hispanic students, whose food, music and culture enrich campus life. Let’s explore a few of the many cultures housed at BU today.

Puerto Rico

For those who enjoy “Gasolina” and “Pasándola Bien,” you can never go wrong with Puerto Rico and their iconic artists like Ricky Martin and Daddy Yankee, who have stood for Hispanics worldwide.

Famous for its breathtaking beaches and rainforests, the U.S. Census Bureau has tallied Florida with the highest population of Puerto Ricans in the entire country.

"Bad Bunny" Photo Credit to Wikimedia Commons

Down at the vibrant and colorful streets of San Juan, its capital, you'll find yourself among a crowd jamming to Bad Bunny and enjoying authentic street foods like mofongo and bacalaíto.

You can sunbathe on Flamenco Beach’s white sands with a piña colada in hand, looking out at the crystal blue water. You could also visit the Yunque National Forest for its gorgeous waterfalls, ziplining, scenic trails, or native wildlife like the coquí frog.

Dominican Republic

"David Ortiz" Photo Credit to Wikimedia Commons

The Dominican Republic hits a homerun when it comes to their MLB superstars like David “Big Papi” Ortiz, Juan Marichal, and Pedro Martinez. They are known for their lively merengue and romantic bachata that gets everyone stepping to the beat. Bachata especially has become one of the most popular music genres across Hispanic countries; it's been modernized by artists like Romeo Santos and Juan Luis Guerra.

The Dominican Republic is home to cuisines like mangu, sancocho, and desserts like habichuelas con dulce, which are made with pureed red beans, milk, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.

Venezuela

From the aroma of fresh arepas to the crispy empanadas, Venezuela is a country full of sazón and energy!

As lively as its food is, so is the music. The country’s music mixes influences from Africa, Europe and indigenous people. Some notable music stars are Danny Ocean, Mau y Ricky and Elena Rose.

Joropo is one the most famous music genres in Venezuela, which utilizes the harp, cuatro, guitars, bandola and maracas. José Antonio Chaves is known for his contribution to the dance.

Another famous genre is gaita, which originated from the Zulia region. This is performed during Christmas and it includes instruments like the tambora and maracas. Los Cardenales del Éxito is a notable gaita group.

Mexico

Do you know where the sizzling tacos on street corners come from? Mexico, the third largest country in Latin America, also has some of the most recognizable Spanish food in the country. Tamales, salsas, guacamole and quesadillas all are famously attributed to Mexico.

Cuba

Azúcar! Cuba is a resilient country known for its colorful running classic cars from the 1940s. It’s the birthplace of salsa and notable artists like Celia Cruz, Camila Cabello and Ibrahim Ferrer. Some of their prominent instruments are bongos, guitars and congas.

Photo Credit to Wikimedia Commons

They also have delicious dishes such as their national dish, ropa vieja, which is shredded beef stew with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions and spices.

Here are the events still happening for Hispanic Heritage Month at Barry.

October

October 6 – Hispanic Heritage Month: Spanish Cinema Day, 4 p.m.

October 8 – Hispanic Heritage Month: ¡Cocina Con Nosotros!, 6 p.m.

October 12 – Hispanic Heritage Month: Festival de Bomba y Plena, 8 p.m.

October 14 – Hispanic Heritage Month: Fall Music Gala and Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramirez, 11 p.m.