“The Latino community and Latin history are a fundamental part of American history,” said Emily Key, director of education at the Smithsonian Latino Center. “And recognizing and understanding it are the key reasons this month is important.”
Here’s why America commemorates Hispanic Heritage Month and what you need to know.
Instead of starting in early September, Hispanic Heritage Month takes place for 30 days from the 15th, a gesture for national independence anniversaries for several Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all recognize September 15 as the date of their independence, while Mexico’s independence is celebrated on September 16 and Chile celebrates its independence on September 18.
“It was a safe period, when southwestern Chicanos, Mexicans, Latinos across the country demanded greater inclusion and political, cultural, social, and economic representation, all,” said Geraldo Cadava, a history professor. and Latin and Latin Studies at Northwestern University and author of “The Hispanic Republican.”
“It was a demand for greater inclusion, representation and recognition that Latinos play an important role in the United States,” he said.
Representative Esteban Torres, of California, had introduced a bill to expand it and said at the time in statements: “We want the public to know that we share a legacy with the rest of the country, a legacy that includes artists, writers and Olympic champions, and leaders in business, government, film and science. “
Torres’ bill died on a committee, but Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois introduced a similar bill that Reagan signed into law.
The contributions of Hispanics and Latinos to the United States are long and historic: Key noted that the first known colony in America was not Jamestown, but the Spanish colony of St. Augustine in Florida.
“Hispanics or Latinos … have fought in every war since the American Revolution,” he said. “They are business owners and veterans and teachers and public officials.”
He added: “Latinos are American and are part of this American fabric.”
A growing population
But Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for the country to recognize not only the rich history of its diverse Hispanic communities, but also who they are today, said Felix Sanchez, president of the Hispanic National Foundation for the Arts.
“Hispanic Heritage Month gives us the opportunity to update the American people on who Latinos are today,” he said, “to provide a contemporary context to all of our communities that are very different, that are part of the Latin ecosystem “.
Part of this contemporary context is the fact that Hispanics and Latinos make up a growing portion of the global U.S. population.
Between 2010 and 2020, just over half of total U.S. population growth (51.1%) was due to growth among Hispanics or Latinos, according to the Census Bureau.
This growth is just another reason why Hispanic Heritage Month is important, Key said. “If you are about 18% of the population, you should also have representation and we should celebrate and understand these communities that make up a large part of the country’s population.”
Observing the Hispanic Heritage Month
“If that means your local community going to a Mexican independence parade, of which there are many across the country, you should do that,” he said.
Or you can just talk to people in your neighborhood, Key said. “Talk to a friend, talk to a classmate, talk to a neighbor, talk to your grocery store or your local restaurant where you get your favorite tacos,” he said.
“People like to share their culture and their communities. … Find out who they are and why they are in the neighborhoods where they are and find out that we probably share more things in common than we think.”
It is important to keep in mind, according to experts, that you can recognize and recognize heritage at all times of the year, outside of the 30-day period between September 15 and October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month is an “introductory month,” or “entry point,” Key said, to learn more about your neighbors, classmates, and peers and their heritage.
“Ideally, Hispanic Heritage Month would be unnecessary,” Cadava said, adding, “Do you need a month that is essentially American History Month, when Latin Heritage, Hispanic Heritage, and American Heritage meant the same thing? ”
Sanchez echoed that, telling CNN, “Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for the Latino community to bolster its achievements, but also to extend beyond the Latino community, to remember all Americans. that we are Americans. ”