Hispanic Heritage Month | Be Inspired | Disney Channel

Summary

The video features stories from various individuals celebrating their Hispanic heritage. They share personal anecdotes about their cultural roots, blending their identities as American and Latino. From Puerto Rican, Mexican, Jewish, and Cuban backgrounds, the speakers reflect on family traditions, food, music, and the sacrifices made by their ancestors. Each person expresses pride in their heritage and the values it has instilled in them, such as hard work, love for family, and the importance of maintaining cultural traditions. Their stories highlight how their heritage shapes their identity and everyday lives.

Takeaways

• 🌳 Every family has a unique story and cultural heritage that shapes who they are.
• 🇵🇷 Kayla is Puerto Rican and Jewish, embracing both cultures, especially the dancing and food.
• 🍗 Kayla’s Puerto Rican family vacations connect her to her heritage through traditional foods and family gatherings.
• 🎉 Jenna celebrates her Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, which she connects to through family traditions and a shared love of performing.
• 🌮 Family Christmas traditions like making tamales play an important role in Jenna and Nicholas’s lives, reinforcing cultural bonds.
• 💃 Nicholas’s family is deeply close-knit, with shared values of hard work, love, and generosity, and he proudly embraces his Mexican-American heritage.
• 🐢 Ariana cherishes her Puerto Rican roots, especially through family gatherings with salsa music, traditional recipes, and beach experiences that connect her to her ancestors.
• 👩‍🎨 Ariana’s family holds secret recipes that are passed down, symbolizing the importance of tradition and family unity.
• 🇨🇺 Isaac’s Cuban heritage is marked by resilience; his family went from wealth in Havana to struggling as refugees in the U.S., and he honors their strength and creativity.
• 🎭 Isaac’s family founded an arts group in California, connecting him to his heritage and fostering his identity as a Cuban-American performer.

Q & A

What cultural backgrounds does Kayla Masonette identify with?

Kayla Masonette identifies as Puerto Rican and Jewish. Her mom is Jewish, and her dad is Puerto Rican.

What family tradition does Kayla recall from her Puerto Rican heritage?

Kayla recalls visiting Puerto Rico, meeting her extended family for the first time, and enjoying a traditional chicken and rice dish passed down from her abuela.

What cultural traditions does Kayla cherish the most from her Puerto Rican side?

Kayla cherishes the food, dancing, and music from her Puerto Rican side, particularly the experience of attending the Puerto Rican Day Parade.

How has Jenna Ortega's family heritage shaped her life?

Jenna Ortega’s heritage, being part Mexican and part Puerto Rican, has shaped her values and beliefs, including love and kindness. Her family traditions, such as making tamales during Christmas, are significant to her.

What sacrifices did Jenna Ortega's great-grandmother make for her family?

Jenna Ortega’s great-grandmother left Mexico to go to the U.S. for a better life, leaving her 7-year-old daughter behind. This sacrifice allowed her to provide for her family and ultimately helped Jenna's family thrive in the U.S.

What shared activities bring Nicholas Bechdel and his grandfather closer?

Nicholas Bechdel and his grandfather bond over collecting watches and coins, and they enjoy spending time together doing these activities.

How does Nicholas Bechdel's family celebrate Christmas?

Nicholas Bechdel's family celebrates Christmas by making tamales together. Some are given away to family and friends, while the rest are enjoyed by the family.

What significant journey did Ariana Greenblatt’s great-grandfather undertake?

Ariana Greenblatt's great-grandfather moved to America from Puerto Rico at the age of 19. He didn’t speak English but learned by watching TV.

What importance does food have in Ariana Greenblatt's family gatherings?

Food plays a big role in Ariana Greenblatt's family gatherings, where they enjoy traditional dishes like arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) and other secret family recipes.

How did Isaac Presley's family overcome hardships after leaving Cuba?

Isaac Presley’s family faced hardships after defecting from Cuba, living in a refugee camp in Florida. Despite going from wealth to poverty, his great-grandmother eventually moved the family to California, where his grandfather co-founded a performing arts company called Humans United by Art.