Por La Cultura: A reflection on Latino Heritage Month

Latino Los Angeles10/17/2024

1 minute read

Jenny Pulido (uncle’s sister), Jasmine Barbosa (cousin), Selene Martinez (older sister), Alberto Martinez Jr. (older brother), Samara Martinez, Abraham Martinez (little brother), Valerie Pulido (goddaughter). To celebrate Latino Heritage Month, Bears fan services employee Samara Martinez shares her perspective on being Latina and how her grandparents’ pursuit of the American Dream shaped her life in Chicago.

“Echale ganas siempre”

Always work hard. That message of constant encouragement has been passed down through my entire family, starting with my grandparents. Not only was I taught to embrace it in my daily life, but I learned it was the guiding principle for my grandparents — my kita Lucrecia and tata Armando — during their pursuit of the American Dream.

Born in Durango, Mexico, my grandparents left their home in 1974, searching for more opportunities not only for themselves but also for their young children. They settled into the historic city of Chicago — an area far from home, but where opportunity was plentiful.

While moving to the United States brought exposure to a new culture for my grandparents, being immersed in the new country that spoke a completely different language created challenges.