El Paso to be part of ABC News special 'Corazón de América' for Hispanic Heritage Month
Daniel BorundaEl Paso's resiliency two years after the Walmart mass shooting will be highlighted in an ABC News special for Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Soul of a Nation Presents: Corazón de América – Celebrating Hispanic Culture” will air at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17, on Channel 7-KVIA.
Last month, ABC News reporter John Quiñones was in El Paso filming and conducting interviews for the special, two years after a racially motivated mass shooting targeting Mexicans killed 23 people on Aug. 3, 2019.
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"El Paso is a setting where different storylines converge, including the historic scourge of white supremacy, the politics of the border crisis, and the blending of culture with food, faith and family. But El Paso is more than all of that," stated an ABC News press release on the special.
'Corazón de América' hosted by Benjamin Bratt, features other Latinos
The hourlong show, hosted by actor Benjamin Bratt and directed by his brother Peter Bratt, tells stories celebrating the Hispanic community.
The special features an opening monologue by actor John Leguizamo, interviews with 91-year-old civil rights icon Dolores Huerta and Latino athletes, including Mexican boxer Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, and more stories.
Quiñones, who grew up in San Antonio, is no stranger to El Paso.
He filmed a segment of his popular hidden camera show — "What Would You Do?" — in Mac's Downtown restaurant in 2019. The veteran TV newsman also spoke to El Paso Community College students during a Hispanic Heritage Month event in 2017.
National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 annually in recognition of the history, achievements and contributions of Hispanics in the United States.
Why Hispanic Heritage Month exists
Sept.15 marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, often seen as an opportunity to celebrate the lives, culture and contributions of the 62.1 million Hispanics in the U.S.
Why Sept 15? The date is based on Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua each celebrating their national independence on Sept. 15. Mexico celebrates its independence Sept. 16, Chile on Sept. 18, and Belize on Sept. 21.
Hispanic Heritage Month traces its history to 1968, when the observance was just a week long. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill designating the week of Sept. 15 as "National Hispanic Heritage Week," according to the Office of the Historian and the Office of Art & Archives for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at 915-546-6102; dborunda@elpasotimes.com; @BorundaDaniel on Twitter.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
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