Each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of residents and citizens whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
MLQ is celebrating the occasion by highlighting Hispanic and Latino/a and Latinx members of our community.
A TIME TO CELEBRATE
“Being Latino is something that for a large majority of my life felt just there,” said Isla McNamara of Indianapolis Intensity.
McNamara was not originally in touch with her family’s roots. She was adopted and raised in a completely different environment. As she reconnected with her birth family, she learned about this “beautiful, colorful and life-bringing” culture.
“My family is Argentinian and Mexican, and I get to now be involved with our celebratory traditions and cuisine that makes me so grateful to be part of a culture like mine. It is such an open and loving culture, we really embrace the idea of “all” which has helped me recreate that in my life outside of my family,” she said. “I could not ask to be from a strong, and genuinely gorgeous culture.”
These cultural roots permeate into McNamara’s quidditch experiences, as well.
“Being Hispanic, you learn to love not just your immediate, but your extended family. I have become loving and open with pretty much everyone I meet, including my quidditch teammates,” she said. “MLQ feels to me like my family does in the sense that there is always this aspect of celebration, lovingness and vibrancy that connects me to my Hispanic heritage!”
A TIME FOR PRIDE
Carlos Prado’s family lineage comes from Spain. The majority of his family is from Monterrey, Mexico then migrated to San Antonio, Texas and California. For Prado, of the San Antonio Soldados, Hispanic Heritage Month is the time of year to honor the contributions and sacrifices made by Hispanic and Latino/a and Latinx communities and families. The Hispanic community (Salvadoran, Colombian, Mexican, etc.) has deep roots in American history and have all played an influential role in American society.
“It’s important to respect all cultures and celebrate their accomplishments,” Prado said.
Prado also noted that while this month is a time for pride, that feeling shouldn’t be limited to once a year.
“I am proud to be a young latino, and hope that orgullo (pride) is contagious to others!” he said. “I understand there are not a lot of us minorities in quidditch. As long as I play this game where I am a part of MLQ and USQ, this will continue to be part of my DNA and part of what I do out on the pitch. My family and friends have taught me to be proud of who I am, to be proud of my heritage and where I come from.”
A TIME TO FIGHT
Miguel Esparza has been MLQ’s digital media director since 2018, prior to taking on this role, he was a volunteer photographer for the league. He has also played for and won a championship with the Austin Outlaws and played for and coached the San Antonio Soldados in their inaugural season. Esparza is proud of his Mexican heritage and was able to put this heritage on display last summer as the leading scorer for Team Mexico.
For Esparza, this month isn’t just about remembering his heritage, but also about shedding necessary light on the border camps.
“I’d like to highlight that in the year 2020, at any given moment, we have 40 to 50k people at the southern border in camps being processed for removal,” he said. “I feel like that’s a message that is often forgotten on people not living in a border state.”
It’s not just an issue of people being held in the camps, according to Esparza, but also the issue of holding children in inhumane conditions and our country just accepting it.
This month, Esparza wants you to not only learn more about Hispanic culture, but those border camps and how you can help these children and their families live a better life.
SUPPORT
