8 Things to Watch, Read, & More to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, CJ associates shared their recommendations for Hispanic stories, creators, organizations, and more! Make note of this awesome list of stuff you'll want to watch, read, listen to, and donate to.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in 2021 and was updated in 2023.

Primo

“Primo is incredibly funny and heartfelt in the way it shows a Hispanic family dynamic. It may not be the same situation everybody grew up in (I didn't), but there's a lot that can resonate for many; crazy family opinions that people don't really want, a great sense of community and friendships. But perhaps most of all: there is tenseness around the way a matriarch can (or can't) cook Mexican food. ”

- Alex Quevedo, Director, Support Operations, Irvine, CA

Cariñito

Cariñito is one of the most popular South American cumbia (chicha style) songs in the world, especially from Peru with different new modern remixes like this one by Mauricia Mesones.  

The song reminds me of my country and my roots far away from my country (Germany at the moment) and is well-known by many people.

- Luis Enrique Carranza, Client Development Associate, Munich, Germany

Jane the Virgin

“Jane the Virgin is an award-winning comedy that brilliantly tells its storylines with a telenovela spin. It incorporates elements of magical realism which is a popular genre in Latin literature from classic authors like Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I love the show because it has all the characteristics of a drama-comedy but with People of Color representation which makes it extra special for me to see part of my culture and traits of my own family displayed in such a creative and entertaining way. I also appreciate that it doesn’t shy away from heavy issues such as immigration, religion, parenthood, and reproductive rights which are seamlessly tied into the stories. The 'abuela' and 'Roggggggelio De La Vega' are hysterical characters that kept me laughing for days as I remembered some of their most memorable lines.”

- Helene Saxena, Senior Solutions Manager, Santa Barbara, CA

Coco

“I know, I know. A Pixar/Disney movie—so basic. But seeing part of my family represented in a meaningful way on screen was amazing. I took my mom to see it in theaters and we instantly drew comparisons between the characters and our family; Mama Coco is the spitting image of my Abuelita and my mom sounds exactly like Miguel's Abuelita when she forces food on unhungry kids and threatens them with una chancla. The cinematography is bold and bright, and the music will have you singing, laughing, and ultimately crying.”

- Brandi Chilton, Content Marketing Strategist, Plano, Texas

Level Up Latina Podcast

“I love listening to the "Level Up Latina" Podcast—a real-talk podcast with ‘Latinas that grew up torn between two worlds to upkeep their parents' beloved cultures while achieving their own ambitious independence in a modern world.’”

- Sommer Urias, SVP, Client Strategy and Influencer Solutions, Santa Barbara, CA

“One Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel García Márquez

"I read this book in high school (so it’s been a minute) but I remember it being a game-changer. It’s a story about multiple generations of a Colombian family with a lot of magic and fantastical symbolism. A future English major’s dream! And although the central family is fictional, there are many references to Latin American history that are fascinating to research to further understand the context."

- Brandi Chilton, Content Marketing Strategist, Plano, Texas

Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia

“Considered one of the biggest rural nonprofit organizations in the world, the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia works for the betterment of Colombian coffee farmers. Representing more than 563,000 families, the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia works to improve the life quality of Colombian coffee producers by optimizing production costs and maximizing the coffee quality.”

- Monique Zapata-Kaufman, VP, Client Development, Chicago, IL

Hermanas Unidas (HaU)

“I would be remiss if I didn't highlight my favorite Latinx organization, Hermanas Unidas (HaU). HaU provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional leadership opportunities and resources to predominately Latina/Chicana students by participating in and organizing academic, community service, and social events/workshops. I have been a member for over 20 years, and it’s through HaU that I have developed the leadership skills and confidence that contribute to my success to this day.”