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Smithsonian Latino Museum

Smithsonian Staff

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino advances the representation, understanding and appreciation of Latino history and culture in the United States. The museum provides financial resources and collaborates with other museums to expand scholarly research, public programs, digital content, collections and more. The museum’s Molina Family Latino Gallery is the Smithsonian’s first gallery dedicated to the Latino experience. The legislation creating the National Museum of the American Latino at the Smithsonian passed Dec. 27, 2020. Connect with the museum at latino.si.edu, and follow @USLatinoMuseum on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Smithsonian Latino Museum's collections

 

Sylvia Mendez, Latinas Talk Latinas

<p><strong>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino and National Museum of American History's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, <strong>Margaret Salazar-Porzio Talks About Sylvia Mendez: From Classrooms to History Books</strong>. </em>After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the objects and resources we have in our digital collection as well as additional information that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</strong></p> <p><strong>Sylvia Mendez has dedicated her life to bringing awareness of discrimination in schools. Her activism began as a young child attending school in Southern California. During the 1940s, her family joined others to fight for fair schooling for non-white children.</strong></p>
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Luisa Capetillo, Latinas Talk Latinas

<p><strong>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino and National Museum of American History's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, <strong>Taína Caragol Talks About Luisa Capetillo: Breaking the Mold</strong>. </em>After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the objects and resources we have in our digital collection as well as additional information that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</strong></p> <p><strong>Luisa Capetillo was a feminist and a labor organizer. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Luisa Capetillo dared to dress as a man at a time when women were not wearing suits or even pants! It was her intellect that made her a fearless labor organizer.</strong></p>
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Graciela, Latinas Talk Latinas

<p><strong>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino and National Museum of American History's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, <strong>Ashley Mayor Talks About Graciela: The Power of Music</strong>. </em> After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the objects and resources we have in our digital collection as well as additional information that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</strong></p> <p><strong>Graciela helped popularize Mambo music during the 1950s in the New York City Latin music scene. Her unparalleled voice allowed the trailblazing Afro-Cubana to use music to break color lines and stereotypes.<br></strong></p>
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Nuestras Voces: Cocuyo Lights the Way

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino's book <em><em>Cocuyo Lights the Way </em></em>created in collaboration with Capstone and written by Danielle Smith-Llera and illustrated by Juan Manuel Moreno.<br></p> <p>In the summer of 1493, eleven-year-old Cocuyo is eager to find her place within her Taíno community on the island of Quisqueya. But in less than a year, her home, her family and friends, and her daily life will be forever changed by the arrival of Europeans. As Cocuyo learns more and more about the strangers who arrive by sea—and what they want from Quisqueya and its people—she looks for ways to help her community. At first, the Taíno try to befriend the strangers, but later they must protect themselves from invasion, disease, and enslavement. As the Taíno resist and survive, Cocuyo becomes determined to help preserve the culture that she loves. In diary format, the <em>Nuestras Voces</em> series profiles inspiring characters and honors the joys, challenges, and outcomes of Latino experiences.</p> <p>This Learning Lab helps identify objects in the Smithsonian's collection that could be found in <em>Cocuyo Lights the Way</em><em>.</em> They are grouped into themes for easier viewing.</p> <p>What is in a collection? It has objects that were used or worn by someone. Examples of objects include articles, photographs, artifacts, and videos. Objects can be anything from a baseball to a piece of clothing. It could even be a space shuttle! Objects help museums tell more complete stories. Museums also take care of objects. That way, future visitors can see them, too.</p> <p>Each Learning Lab includes a thinking routine. They are from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. These questions can help create discussion around the stories and objects here. This Learning Lab can serve middle school and high school students. Especially if they are interested in Latino culture. It can help with a Spanish project exploring family traditions.<br><br></p> <p>For more information on the <em>Nuestras Voces </em>series, please visit www.latino.si.edu.</p>
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Nuestras Voces: Wishing on Star With Estrella

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Latino's book <em><em>Wishing on a Star With Estrella </em></em>created in collaboration with Capstone and written by Vanessa Ramos and illustrated by Eugenia Nobati.<br></p> <p>Sixth grade is hard enough, but Mexican American Selena Estrella Herrera has to do it in a new town. Her family has moved to El Paso to help care for her grandfather (who seems not to want them there and insists on speaking only Spanish). One upside to being at a new school, though, is that she can finally leave behind her embarrassing obsession with musical megastar Selena—whom her parents named her after even though she can’t sing. She renames herself *Strella, avoids her grouchy grandfather, and tries to move on with her life. Then *Strella starts a National History Day project. The topic her team chooses? Selena. Can *Strella embrace her Tejano heritage and her old love of Selena and still become her own person? And will she ever discover what her own gifts are? In diary format, the <em>Nuestras Voces</em> series profiles inspiring characters from yesterday and today, and honors the joys, challenges, and outcomes of Latino experiences.</p> <p>This Learning Lab helps identify objects in the Smithsonian's collection that could be found in <em><em><em>Wishing on a Star With Estrella</em></em>.</em> They are grouped into themes for easier viewing.</p> <p>What is in a collection? It has objects that were used or worn by someone. Examples of objects include articles, photographs, artifacts, and videos. Objects can be anything from a baseball to a piece of clothing. It could even be a space shuttle! Objects help museums tell more complete stories. Museums also take care of objects. That way, future visitors can see them, too.</p> <p>Each Learning Lab includes a thinking routine. They are from the Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. These questions can help create discussion around the stories and objects here. This Learning Lab can serve middle school and high school students. Especially if they are interested in Latino culture. It can help with a Spanish project exploring family traditions.<br><br></p> <p>For more information on the <em>Nuestras Voces </em>series, please visit www.latino.si.edu.<br></p>
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Celebrating the Holidays with Poinsettias

<p>This learning lab collection explores the origins and history of the Cuetlaxóchitl (phonetic spelling cuet-lax-o-chitl) plant. Find out interesting facts about the plant that we have all come to know as the Christmas plant. Discover the legend behind the plant and the science behind the magical color. Then, try your handicraft skills out and make your own poinsettia plant using materials found at home or in the classroom. The learning lab includes additional resources and videos to continue exploring. </p>
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Latino Patriots in American Military History | Patriotas Latinos en la Historia Militar Estadounidense

<p>This bilingual publication highlights ten Latino patriots and spans the American War of Independence to the Vietnam War. The heroes presented are merely a small group of the thousands of Latinos who have served in our armed forces with distinction. The publication is meant to enhance awareness among all Americans of the positive contributions that the Latino community has made and continues to make to U.S. society.</p> <p>Resources serve grades 7/8 and 9/10 social studies, U.S. History, AP Military History, Spanish Language courses and life-long learners. They include critical thinking, writing, language arts, visual arts, historical inquiry activities.  Each war era presents biographies and interesting facts on each of the patriots, a lesson plan for each era, two extension activities (one for 7/8th grade and one for 10/11th grade), and five handouts. Wars and topics covered include:</p> <ul><li>American War of Independence</li><li>Texas Revolution and the Mexican American War</li><li>Manifest Destiny</li><li>U.S. Expansionism</li><li>Civil War</li><li>World War I</li><li>World War II</li><li>Korean War</li><li>Vietnam War</li></ul> <p><br> Also included in the publication are teacher and student resources, as well as the listing of Latino Medal of Honor recipients. Please note that Captain Humbert “Rocky” Roque Versace, Jr. was erroneously omitted from this elite group of men at the time of printing (2008). Captain Versace was born on July 2, 1937. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and began his tour in Vietnam in May of 1962. During a mission in October 1963, he was taken Prisoner of War by the Viet Cong forces and was listed as Missing in Action. His fluency in English, French, and Vietnamese aided him during his capture. After more than two years, he was executed by his captors. He was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously by President George W. Bush on July 8, 2002, making him the first Army POW to receive the Medal of Honor. <br></p> <p></p>
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Day of the Dead Learning Kit

<p><em>El Día de los Muertos</em> or Day of the Dead is a celebration to honor and commemorate the cycle of life and the lives of the recently departed. This Pre-Columbian celebration has been observed in Mexico since before the arrival of the Spanish. Although many cultures see death as a cause for sadness rather than celebration, the cultures that observe el <em>Día de los Muertos</em> view death as a part of life. This is also a special celebration among some Native American and Mexican American communities in the United States.</p> <p>The National Museum of the American Latino has created this resource as a guide to learn more about the Day of the Dead. Use this Learning Lab as a starting off point to celebrate with your community, family, and/or students. Our on-line learning kit includes general information and the history of the tradition. Smithsonian collections, video resources, music, and hands-on activities for in-school or at-home learning are also included.</p> <p><br>This Learning Lab collection also includes links to a special exhibit and mural gallery on the Healing Uvalde Mural Project from Texas. <br><br><br></p>
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SLC Day of the Dead Bilingual Curriculum-Based Resources

<p>The cultural online programs and resources developed by The Smithsonian Latino Center (SLC) featuring Dia de los Muertos represent groundbreaking efforts by the Smithsonian to promote a deeper appreciation for Latino heritage and our connections to the ancestral past. In addition to its online festival, complete with bilingual interactive online resources based on Smithsonian scholarly research, is a vehicle for the exploration of this traditional practice which has become a phenomenon of popular American culture today. The online programming is in part a collaboration with Michigan State University (MSU) and other key community partners across the country.<br /><br />Generous support for the Smithsonian Latino Center's bilingual digital educational resources provided by the following Education Sponsors: Target and The Walt Disney Company.</p>
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Southern Identity: Contemporary Argentine Art

<p>These bilingual (English/Spanish) resources feature activities related to Argentine culture through the lens of contemporary art for families, middle school, and high school students. </p> <p>This digital collection is from an exhibition with the same name, organized by the Smithsonian Latino Center with Argentina’s Secretariat of Culture. <em>Southern Identity</em> presented an overview of the major movements and trends in Argentina’s national art scene since 1948 and is organized in four sections featuring political art, landscapes, national identities and abstraction. It was the largest survey of Argentine contemporary art ever organized in the United States and included paintings, drawings, sculptures, video art, photography and prints representing the work of artists working in Buenos Aires and throughout Argentina’s provinces. </p> <p><em>Southern Identity</em> was part of the public program and exhibition series<em> Argentina at the Smithsonian 2010 </em>that commemorated Argentina’s bicentennial.</p>
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Arte para el cambio social: Conversaciones sobre protestas y brutalidad policial

<p>Una protesta es una manera de que la gente exprese sus convicciones acerca de una persona, lugar, cosa o idea. Esas convicciones pueden manifestarse por medio de una declaración o una acción. Las marchas y mítines públicos son ejemplos de protestas. Escribir cartas, cantar canciones, dejar de comer, o usar la violencia son otros tipos de protestas. </p> <p>En los Estados Unidos la gente tiene derecho a protestar de manera pacífica. La Constitución y su primera enmienda garantizan este derecho. Sin embargo, en algunas ocasiones, la tensión entre los manifestantes y la policía puede llevar a la violencia. Ha habido épocas en que la policía ha tratado con violencia a las comunidades de color. Esta forma de abuso se conoce como brutalidad policial. </p> <p>Vamos a ver juntos algunos puntos de colaboración y de solidaridad entre los afroamericanos y los latinos. Analizaremos las tensiones entre estos dos grupos y cómo llegaron a colaborar. También veremos los conflictos entre ellos y la policía. Los eventos que mencionaremos son:</p> <ol><li>La Moratoria Nacional Chicana, 1970</li><li>Los disturbios en el barrio Mount Pleasant de Washington, D.C., 1991</li><li>#BlackLivesMatter (#LasVidasNegrasImportan), desde el 2013 hasta hoy</li></ol> <p>En este laboratorio de aprendizaje (Learning Lab) se presentan obras de arte, videos, fotografías y pancartas relacionados con las protestas. También incluye rutinas de exploración del Project Zero de la Harvard Graduate School of Education. Estas rutinas ayudan a iniciar conversaciones en torno a las imágenes o las pancartas de protesta que se encuentran en la colección. Al final de esta colección, encontrará hojas de trabajo del Centro Latino Smithsonian,<em> Expresiones culturales:</em> <em>Arte para el cambio social</em>. Están disponibles para estudiantes de educación primaria, intermedia y secundaria. Los cuidadores o maestros pueden usar las preguntas de las actividades para crear pancartas y arte de protesta relacionados con el cambio social.</p> <p> </p> <p></p>
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Sylvia Rivera, Latinas on Latinas

<p>This resource is designed to accompany the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History's and the Smithsonian's Latino Center's video <em>Latinas Talk Latinas, Sylvia Rivera: Pushing Boundaries.</em> After watching the video, which is located in the second tile of this collection, please return to this page to learn more about the assets we have in our digital collection as well as additional resources that will help you further explore the topics and themes presented in the video.</p> <p>Sylvia Rivera was a transgender woman living in New York City during the '60s and '70s. She became a fierce defender of LGBTQ+ rights, pushing the movement in the aftermath of the Stonewall riots to vigilantly protect transgender people's rights.</p>
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