Issue date: 10/6/09 Section: Current Affairs

Media Credit: J. Pizzaro Augustine Garcia speaks to the crowd at "Latinization of America."

On Sept. 22, Lambda Theta Phi hosted a lecture for Hispanic Heritage Month called "Latinization of America" in the Carl DeSantis Building Knight Auditorium to shed light on issues surrounding Latinos. The event featured Augustine Garcia, the president and owner of Garcorp International Inc. and an expert in Latino affairs, Latin America, immigration and human and civil rights. Row after row was filled with a mix of students from all different backgrounds.

Garcia began the lecture by discussing what it means to be Latino. He explained how "Hispanic" is not a term he prefers because he feels that people monopolize terms in the U.S. "Hispanic means to speak Spanish, but we do not refer to our food as Hispanic; it is Latin food. We have Latin heritage. We even have Latin lovers not Hispanic lovers."

Garcia spoke with passion when discussing how Latinos are the most diverse ethnicity in the world because they are from the Caribbean, North America, South America and Africa. Latin roots can also be traced back to Germany, Romania, Italy, Portugal, France and other places.

"Latinos are not a race, we are an ethnic group. We came over to the new world, and instead of annihilating the natives, we married them," said Garcia.

"It was a really interesting talk. I can relate to the topic because it is close to my heart." said Sylvia Spoon, sophomore sociology major.

"I think not enough emphasis is placed on Latin Heritage Month. It was a great event shedding light on a group of people who have given a lot to South Florida and America as a whole." said Alex Sabbero, senior finance major. "We should have more events like these."

For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month, visit http://www.nova.edu/cwis/pubaffairs/news/july-sept2009/hispanic_heritage_month.html.

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