09/15/2021
We celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month each year in the U.S. from September 15 to October 15. It's a period for recognition, education, and celebration, similar to Black History Month in February, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, or LGBTQ Pride Month in June.
Within workplaces, it's an opportunity for Hispanic workers to network, take pride in their ethnic background, keep traditions alive, and share their rich history and heritage with co-workers.
Below we've answered some of the most commonly asked questions about the origin of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The first Hispanic Heritage Month was celebrated in 1989.
Originally, Hispanic Heritage Month was Hispanic Heritage Week, started in 1968 under President Johnson. In 1988, President Reagan signed a law to expand the week-long celebration into the 30-day Hispanic Heritage Month.
The celebration was created to recognize the positive impact that Hispanic Americans have had on the country. "Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month...by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America," according to the official U.S. government website.
The dates chosen are significant to the culture, encompassing the independence days of eight Latin American countries. September 15 is when five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—earned their independence from Spain in 1821. Mexico, Chile, and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16th, 18th, and 21st. The month-long celebration also includes Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, on October 12.
The terms Hispanic and Latino/a or Latinx are not interchangeable, although they are sometimes used similarly, and many identify as both. Hispanic is a term used to describe someone of Spanish-speaking origin—including people who trace their ancestry to Spain—while Latino, Latina, and Latinx describe people of Latin American origin—including those from Brazil, who speak Portuguese rather than Spanish. According to the official description, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes those whose roots are from a country that has Spanish as the primary language.
According to 2019 U.S. Census figures, 60.6 million people in the U.S self-identify as Hispanic. As 18.5 percent of the total population, this makes them the largest ethnic minority in the country. These numbers are still growing, with estimates indicating the Hispanic U.S. population could double over the next four decades.
There are few industries in which Hispanic Americans haven't made their mark. Many influential Hispanics include iconic American politicians, singers, actors, artists, writers, astronauts, scientists, fashion designers, athletes, and more.
Fiestas are ingrained into the cultural identity of Hispanic Americans, and many of the celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Day have historically included traditional food, drinks, music, and dancing. Most of these festivities are local, family-focused, and include all ages, from children to community elders.
The pandemic postponed many festivals, parades, concerts, and fairs in 2020, but many people continue to celebrate and appreciate this rich cultural heritage through books, movies, tv shows, art, music, home-cooked meals, and education.
The official website has a list of events plus many resources for learning more about Hispanic culture.
Today, Hispanic Heritage Month is significant as a celebration of one of the many cultures that have contributed to our national history and the diversity that makes America such a rich source of innovation, creativity, and progress. In the era of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the Hispanic community disproportionately in both hospitalizations and economic impact, it's also important to recognize that we are all still involved in critical progress toward true equality.
At Kanarys, we are the diversity, equity, and inclusion people with the data-driven approach. Since 2018, Kanarys has aimed to change the world by creating equitable workplaces where everyone belongs. We guide your organization’s DEI path every step of the way with courage and collaboration. It starts with data, analytics and insights, and continues with recommendations and implementation.
Our mission, as your partner and champion in the ever-evolving DEI journey: Help you understand what it takes to foster lasting, systemic change today and for tomorrow. Because when you succeed with DEI, your employees can thrive—and so can your organization.
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