It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month, which honors the cultures, histories and accomplishments of U.S. citizens who have roots in Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South America. Dating back to 1968, the national observation originally ran for just one week but now lasts 30 days, from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15.
We’ve compiled five Instagram accounts for you to follow that celebrate Hispanic culture 24/7, 365 days a year.
@blactina
Panamanian storyteller and New York resident Nydia Simone started Blactina Media in 2017 to amplify Black, Latinx and Caribbean stories. Watching Blactina’s Instagram Story Highlights on historical figures is like reading through clippings from a history book we all should have studied in school. Simone spotlights key hidden figures, such as the Mexico-born writer Anita S. Coleman, who was a part of the Harlem Renaissance. Each post on Blactina’s page radiates Afrolatinx magic.
@peoplechica
We’ve all been in the grocery store checkout line and spotted that stack of People Magazines covered with celebrity gossip headlines, right? This Instagram account isn’t about spilling the tea. Instead, People Chica’s posts show off #LatinXcellence. The account recently gave props to “Pose” actress and activist Indya Moore, who serves us more than just face, and Ellen Ocha, the first Latina astronaut to go into space. Swiping through @peoplechica keeps you up to speed with all the Latinx legends you recognize and those you need to know.
@hashtagiamenough
#IAmEnough creates space for Latinas to embrace their skin tone, no matter their shade. Each Instagram post uplifts the sisterhood. Afro-Latinx successes and triumphs are celebrated daily, with shout-outs to those who’ve left their mark on America’s history, self-made business owners and others in the community. Through its Instagram posts and blog, @hashtagiamenough shines a light on stories about cultural identity and sets out to inspire women around the world.
@hispanic_society
The New York-based Hispanic Society Museum & Library posts pictures from their collection of thousands of rare art pieces made by Hispanic and Latinx artists. The Instagram account is very active. You double-tap the photos because of the striking aesthetics and then stay for the history. And these artworks go way back, as in, some were made hundreds of years ago. Check out a recently-posted three photo grid of a watercolor painting by Afro-Peruvian artist Francisco Fierro Palas made in the 1830s.
@bese
Actress Zoe Saldana, the daughter of a Dominican father and Puerto Rican mother, founded BESE in 2017 because she said she felt that the Latinx community wasn’t being covered fairly in the media. The Instagram account is a love letter to America and displays the country’s beautifully diverse communities. Scrolling through the feed, you’ll find change-makers like transgender rights activist Sylvia Rivera, who helped ignite the Stonewall Riots, and Tanya “Nena Soul Fly” Melendez, a self-identified Boricua specializing in self-acceptance by boosting hair, makeup and adornment services.