ABC News Celebrates Hispanic and Latin American Heritage Month 2024!
ABC News announced dedicated month-long coverage celebrating Hispanic and Latin American (HLA) Heritage Month. The network-wide coverage will celebrate the diverse and unique history and heritage of the multifaceted Hispanic and Latin American community, including the contributions of individuals from multiple origin countries.
The special coverage will culminate with a new, one-hour primetime special, "Latinos in Hollywood: Owning Our Destiny," which will celebrate the resiliency, artistry, and ingenuity of Hollywood's creative Latino community while providing an in-depth look at representation, visibility and creative opportunity both in front of and behind the camera. Reported by award-winning ABC News correspondent and "What Would You Do?" host John Quiñones, the groundbreaking special will illuminate the career experiences of some of the globe's most famous Latino stars, including co-executive producer and titular star of ABC's hit show "Will Trent," Ramón Rodríguez; actress and Hyphenate Media Group co-founder, Eva Longoria; actress and producer Gina Torres; actor and 3Pas Studios co-founder Eugenio Derbez; actor and comedian John Leguizamo; as well as legendary trailblazers Rita Moreno and Edward James Olmos; plus rising Gen Z stars like Xochitl Gomez. "Latinos in Hollywood: Owning Our Destiny" will premiere Friday, Oct. 11, at 8:00 p.m. EDT on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu.
While Latinos have faced typecasting and poor representation since the inception of cinema, a new crop of creatives is transforming the landscape. The primetime special will underscore the importance of top-to-bottom representation and shine a light on a powerful path forward — Latino industry leaders who are making change by seizing executive producer and director roles and launching Latino-owned production companies.
The special will also feature showrunners, producers, and writers like "One Day at a Time" executive producer Gloria Calderón Kellett and "Pose" creator Steven Canals, both of whom have set new standards for inclusive programming in television and streaming. Other interviews include media executive and Hyphenate Media Group co-founder Cris Abrego, Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis, entertainment journalists Jack Rico and Jada Gomez, cultural commentator Rocsi Diaz, Latino studies expert Dr. Jillian Báez, McKinsey & Co. partner Camilo Becdach and founder of USC's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative Dr. Stacy L. Smith.
Additional month-long coverage from ABC News includes the following:
"Good Morning America" celebrates Hispanic and Latin American musicians, authors, and artists, including performances from GRAMMY®-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist Gaby Moreno, singer Pepe Aguilar and singer-songwriter Carin León, as well as interviews with actress Eva Mendes about her new children's book, and actor Josh Andrés Rivera about his new anthology series "American Sports Story." "GMA" will also highlight health and community connection, featuring Dr. Edith Brancho-Sanchez on medical advocacy in the Hispanic community, as well as an interview with the social club "City Señoras" about the viral trend of entering one's "señora era." The Heritage Month will culminate with a Walt Disney World surprise for a deserving family.
"GMA3: What You Need to Know" will highlight Hispanic and Latin American stories throughout the month with a series of engaging segments. The show will offer an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at The Broadway League and the Museum of Broadway's launch of "¡VIVA! BROADWAY," featuring a special chat with Luis Miranda, Lin-Manuel Miranda's father. Beauty pioneer Nadine Ramos will share her remarkable journey from foster care to creating an eight-figure business with Blessed Bananas/Lasio Hair Care. Milly Almodovar will spotlight innovative products founded by Hispanic entrepreneurs, and Diego Luna and Eiza González will discuss their new Spanish-language series "La Máquina," now streaming on Hulu. "GMA3" will also cover the decisive role Latino voters will play in the 2024 presidential election.
ABC News Live, ABC News' 24/7 streaming news channel, will report on Latino voter outreach in the lead-up to the presidential election; the state of multi-status families in the U.S.; the resurgence of a 1930s movement by young Mexican Americans, known as Pachucos; and the life and legacy of iconic singer Celia Cruz as she becomes part of U.S. currency. The streaming news channel will feature Hispanic and Latin American guests, interviews and profiles throughout the month, including singer-songwriter Natalia Lafourcade and music and artistic director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Walt and Lilly Disney chair Gustavo Dudamel, actor Manuel García-Rulfo, Leguizamo, actor Rudy Mancuso, social media star Jesús Morales, Moreno, singer Natti Natasha, and author Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez.
"The View" celebrates the histories, cultures, people and contributions of the American Hispanic and Latino communities and spotlights such topics as education reform, the importance of the vote, and representation. Featured guests on "The View" during the month include actor Wilmer Valderrama, actor and filmmaker Gael García Bernal and Luna, among others.
"Nightline" will air segments that include a piece on Latino voter issues, as well as segments that will profile diverse Latino musical artists and more.
"This Week" will explore the impact and importance of the Latino vote in this election cycle.
ABC News Digital and "Good Morning America" Digital will spotlight key issues and experiences within Hispanic and Latin American communities this month. Coverage includes the NGO Nos Buscamos's efforts to reunite Chilean children adopted in the U.S. with their families, the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on Hispanic and Latino populations, ongoing infrastructure challenges in Puerto Rico during hurricane season, the fight for licensing reforms by New York City street vendors, and how geopolitical crises are affecting conservation in Venezuela and Brazil.
ABC News Audio will release the audio special "Latinos in Hollywood: Owning Our Destiny" and feature regular segments in the award-winning weekly newsmagazine "Perspective," as well as highlights of reporting from other platforms in hourly newscasts.
"World News Tonight with David Muir" will spotlight rich storytelling celebrating Hispanic and Latin American heritage in its "America Strong" segments throughout the month.
The primetime special "Latinos in Hollywood: Owning Our Destiny" is produced by ABC News Studios and is part of ABC News' "Soul of a Nation" portfolio, dedicated to inclusive storytelling. Melia Patria and Eric Ortega are executive producers, and Wendy Krantz and Taigi Smith are senior producers. Mike Kelley is head of ABC News Studios.