We observe Hispanic Heritage Month annually from 9/15-10/15 to celebrate the history & cultural contributions of the 62.1 million Americans with ancestry from Mexico, Central & South America, the Caribbean, and Spain. The Hispanic and Latinx community is the largest minority group in the country.
While we should honor these communities year round, this focused opportunity celebrates the diverse histories, ideas, cultures, and perspectives of 20 Hispanic countries and one territory: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Why does observation begin September 15th?
Observation begins Sept. 15 because it aligns with the Independence Day celebrations of five countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua), followed by Mexico (16th), Chile (18th), Belize (21st), and Did de la Raza in Mexico on October 12, which recognizes the mixed Indigenous and European heritage of Mexico.
“Hispanic” & “Latino” have different meanings.
“Hispanic” refers to someone who comes from or is a descendant of a Spanish-speaking country, whereas Latina/Latino (or the gender-neutral, Latinx or Latine) refers to those who come from Latin America. Some people are both Hispanic and Latinx, and some are not:
Brazilians are considered Latinx, but the native language for most is not Spanish.
People from Spain are considered Hispanic, but are not located in Latin America.
Here are some ways you can celebrate:
Engage with content illuminating current social issues in Hispanic and Latinx communities, such as the podcast Latino USA on NPR, Ted en Español, which discusses topics ranging from disability to art. The audiobook vendor Libro.fm even has dedicated playlists and supports Latinx and Hispanic-owned bookstores with your purchases. Look through Hispanic Heritage Month reading lists online.
Support local Hispanic and/or Latinx restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, & cultural centers. You might even take a cooking, language or dance class! Attend events in your city that not only celebrate this month, but also support local artists, musicians, and restaurants.
Get involved: Advocate for inclusion and representation of Hispanic and Latinx voices and leadership in your community, workplace, & the government. Contact elected representatives encourage them to support legislation that creates pathways to citizenship for our 11 million undocumented immigrants. FWD.us, can help you get started.
Donate to Latinx or Hispanic nonprofits and community organizations such as RAICES or The Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
Check to see if a museum near you is putting on any special exhibitions or events. Check out a few Hispanic and Latinx voices in the arts that our founders love:
Art: Marisol Escobar, Jesus Treviño, Lucia Hierro, Daniel A. Garcia, Elsa Muñoz
Film: Guillermo Del Toro
Poetry: Ada Limon & Gloria Anzaldua
Sources:
https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov
https://nationalcouncilhepm.org
https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/15032398402?ret=True
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/08/improved-race-ethnicity-measures-reveal-united-states-population-much-more-multiracial.html
https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/census-hispanics-declared-largest-minority-group-in-us
https://www.vox.com/2016/8/28/12658908/latino-hispanic-race-ethnicity-explained
https://www.everyaction.com/blog/11-hispanic-and-latino-organizations-everyone-should-know/
https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/how-to-celebrate-hispanic-heritage-month
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