IMPACT and the Spanish Club gathered in the cinema room Monday, Oct. 15 to view the hit Disney movie, ‘Coco’, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“I think that watching the movie was a great way to celebrate because it focused on some of the traditions of a Hispanic family,” junior Carisa Brogdon said.

Hispanic Heritage Month spans from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 in tribute of the contributions and influence of Hispanic culture in global and local communities. The viewing was an opportunity for students of all backgrounds to learn more about Hispanic Culture.

“I think that it’s important that we celebrate the diversity of all cultures in the U.S. but as a Spanish teacher, I have to admit that I am a bit partial to Hispanic and Latino heritage and culture,” Spanish teacher Reid Owens said. “Most people are unaware that there are 21 different Spanish speaking countries and over 470 million native speakers in the world.  The U.S. has an estimated hispanic population of 58 million which makes it the second largest racial or ethnic group in the U.S.”

“Coco” left many feeling rejuvenated and grateful for the positive message of the movie. The story follows the journey of a young boy exploring his passion for music on the night of Dia de Los Muertos.

“The movie left me quite emotional at the end, because its moral that it is never too late to forgive hit close to home. But one thing is certain, after watching ‘Coco’ i’ll never be afraid to seize my moment,” junior Amber Fields said.

The event sought to spread cultural awareness and further IMPACT’s initiate to bridge cultural divides.

“Instead of being fearful of our differences in culture, we should strive to learn more about our similarities and shared connections,” Owens said. “I have been excited to see more of an acceptance of the Hispanic culture through modern film, tv shows, music, and food establishments in the last few years and only expect the trend to continue.”

“Coco” also provided an opportunity for many Hispanic students to celebrate and share their culture.

“At Darlington, it is important to recognize Hispanic heritage because we have many students from Latin America and Spain in our school community,” Spanish Club President Jayln Massey said. “Also, a great number of domestic students are in Spanish classes, so I think it is beneficial to have some knowledge of the cultural background behind the language.”