World-Class Latin Culture & Global Roots
Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks
For Macy’s 50th 4th of July and USA’s 250th year of independence, America’s fireworks show is on both the Hudson and East Rivers.
Macy’s didn’t include any Latino entertainers in its celebration, excluding 1 in 5 Americans and 1 in 5 of Macy’s own customers. Does Macy’s deserve our business? More…
Peruvian Parade Paterson 2026 Desfile Peruano is USA's Largest Peruvian Festival
Marinera, huayno, festejo, ceviche, anticuchos, lomo saltado, chica morada, Inca Kola
Peruvian Parade Paterson 2026 Desfile Peruano is USA's Largest Peruvian Festival
Marinera, huayno, festejo, ceviche, anticuchos, lomo saltado, chica morada, Inca Kola
Salsa Sundays at Orchard Beach is a Hot Summer Salsa Dance Party
Salsa on 1, Salsa on 2, Casino, Rueda de Casino, Salsa Caleña
In Shakespeare in the Park, Romeo & Juliet's Love Language is Spanish
An iconic love story with a message for us all
Tribeca Film Festival 2026 Latin Films You Have to See
Killing Castro, Summer of Three/Verano de tres, Sad Girlz/Chicas tristes, Summer War/Guerra de verano, Funk, The Tropic Sun and His Eyes, Mexicanamerican, Jean-Michel, Matininó, Here I’m Alive
Queens Museum Latin Art and Community
About Us: The American Imaginary, Ecuadorian Spring Recital, Sonia Boyce
Karl-Anthony Towns and José Alvarado Lead the Knicks to the NBA Finals
Karl-Anthony Towns “Bodega KAT,” José Alvarado “Grand Theft Alvarado”
George Floyd Changed the World
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota
Toussaint L'Ouverture Led the Haitian Revolution
CAP-HAITIAN, Haiti 🇭🇹
Cuban Independence Day ~ El Grito de Yara Launched the 1st Cuban War of Independence
YARA, Granma, Cuba 🇨🇺
Explore the Boroughs
Manhattan | The Bronx | Brooklyn | Queens | Staten Island | New Jersey
¿What is Latin?
LATIN CULTURE
Latin means many things to many people, but our definition is the mix of Indigenous, European, African, and Asian cultures in the Americas ~ leaning into a Caribbean perspective.
The First Nations of the Americas are Indigenous Peoples who built advanced civilizations including: Mississippian (Cahokia), Ancestral Puebloan (Anasazi), Maya, Aztec, Inca, and more. Outside the U.S., Indigenous culture remains strong. This is the unifying foundation of our concept of Latin.
Then, to quote salsa and Latin jazz legend Eddie Palmieri, “The Spaniard brought the African. The African put everyone to dance. In the States, they took away the drum, and we got the blues.”
The blues is the root of gospel, jazz, and R&B. Those are the roots of country, rock, pop, reggae, soul, Latin soul, funk, salsa, disco, house, rap, and trap; basically the popular music and dances of the U.S. and parts of the Caribbean.
In the Americas, Indigenous or African culture now dominates. Regions that are more Indigenous, remember and respect our African heritage too.
The sum of these traditions influenced the world. Even K-Pop is based on R&B and rap. Many traditions come back and get remixed.
Caribbean
Antiguan and Barbudan, Bahamian, Barbadian, Cuban, Dominican, Garifuna, Grenadian, Haitian, Jamaican, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian, Vincentian
North American
African American, Belizean, Costa Rican, French Canadian, Guatemalan, Honduran, Mexican, Nicaraguan, Panamanian, Salvadoran
South American
GLOBAL ROOTS
European
The horror of the Colonial Era is over, yet it still devils us. On the other hand, European thinkers formed the Enlightenment ~ from Islamic, Native American, and Chinese ideas. Even in Europe, there is no pure anything. We are all mixed.
West African
Africa is Mother, the mother of all humanity. A lot of Latin culture has African origins. That’s equally true of American culture where the Jazz Age defines us. Much of today’s global youth culture has African origins through New York.
Beninese, Bissau-Guinean, Gambian, Ghanian, Ivorian, Guinean, Liberian, Malian, Nigerian, Senegalese, Sierra Leonean, Togolese, Yoruba
Central African
East African
Southern African
Asian
Arab traditions, like the Puerto Rican pandereta, came to the Americas through Africa. After abolition, some Asian communities came as indentured workers. Recent migrations also contributed to regional Latin cultures.
Latin is various blends of all of the above, and New York City is our capital. Latin culture brings people together, and that is what makes New York The Greatest Show on Earth. ¡WEPA!
E-le-le, le-le-le… Ay! San Miguel