September/October 2021
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15, Fort Bend County Libraries will feature several special online events celebrating the history and contributions of Latinos in America.
The programs will be either live-streamed via Webex or pre-recorded videos. Registration is required for the live-streamed programs only. An email with the link for the Webex session will be sent to all who register on FBCL’s online virtual calendar.
To register for a live-streamed program or to view videos, click on the hyperlinked titles below. You can also register by calling or visiting any FBCL location.
For those who are unable to participate in the live Webex sessions, the presentations will be recorded, and a link to the recording will be made available on the FBCL website and YouTube channel.
“HPD’s Chicano Squad” – Thursday, September 16, 3:00 pm (live-streamed via Webex)
Dr. Natalie Garza, a professor of U.S. History and Mexican American Studies at Houston Community College, will talk about the Houston Police Department’s Chicano Squad, which was formed in 1979. The squad consisted of a small group of Spanish-speaking patrol officers who were trained to serve as translators in the field, helping the police department to close the growing number of unsolved crimes in Houston’s barrios. The group cleared 40 homicides by the end of 1979. The officers earned recognition by the National Latino Peace Officers Association in 1997, after solving 91% of the cases they had been assigned. A professor of humanities at Houston Community College, Dr. Garza has a doctorate degree in history, with a focus on Latin American and Mexican American history.
“Bilingual Family Story Time” – Saturday, September 18 (pre-recorded video)
This special Family Story Time presentation includes bilingual (English/Spanish) stories, songs, finger plays, and action rhymes that children of all ages can enjoy. This activity is brought to you by the children’s librarians at the Sienna Branch Library. A link to the video will be posted on the virtual calendar on the day of event.
“Bilingual Family Story Time” – Saturday, September 25 (pre-recorded video)
This special Family Story Time presentation includes bilingual (English/Spanish) stories, songs, finger plays, and action rhymes that children of all ages can enjoy. This activity is brought to you by the children’s librarians at the First Colony Branch Library. A link to the video will be posted on the virtual calendar on the day of event.
“Answering the Call: Latinos & World War II” – Tuesday, October 5, 3:00 pm (live-streamed via Webex)
Dr. Jesus J. Esparza, an assistant professor of History at Texas Southern University, will talk about contributions made by Latinos to World War II. Gain a better understanding of why thousands of Latinos were among the first to enlist in the war effort. More than 350,000 Latinos (including Mexican American and Puerto Ricans) fought and served with distinction throughout Europe, in the Pacific Theater, North Africa, the Aleutians, and the Mediterranean.
“Famous Hispanic Politicians of Texas” – Tuesday, October 12, 3:00 pm (live-streamed via Webex)
Dr. Natalie Garza will talk about Tejano political participation and influence during the period between Texas independence in 1836 and the American Civil War. “In nineteenth-century Texas, the political power held by Latinos was significant in comparison to other territories in the Southwest region of the United States, but it was also limited,” says Dr. Garza. “Through the examples of certain prominent political figures – such as Juan Seguin, Lorenzo de Zavala, and Jose Antonio Navarro – a narrative of the successes and historical/geographic limits of Tejano political leadership will emerge.”