Hispanic Heritage Month returns in the midst of a contentious political climate as the migrant crisis continues here in New York City and elsewhere within the US. Some interesting background about the annual celebration…
Hispanic Heritage Month
- Established in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson
- Was initially one week, expanded to one month by President Regan
- Begins on September 15th – chosen to mark the date when several Latin American countries gained their independence from Spain
- Celebrates contributions made by Latinos/Hispanics in the United States
- Latino vs Hispanic – “Latino” includes individuals with connections to Latin America and the Caribbean irrespective of race whereas “Hispanic” pertains to those with a connection to Spain or the Spanish language1.
- Features multiple events and educational opportunities – visit https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
- Columbus Day is celebrated on October 12th – towards the end of the month (October 15th) – interesting since it was Columbus who brought the Spaniards to the New World.
References:
- National Museum of the American Latino : https://latino.si.edu/hispanic-heritage-month#main-content