September marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, a month-long celebration where we celebrate the history, culture, stories and contributions of the Hispanic/Latinx communities. Here, we take a look at the history of Hispanic Heritage Month and the ways in which we can best support and educate ourselves on the issues impacting Hispanic Americans.
The History
National Hispanic Heritage Month was originally National Hispanic Heritage Week, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and sponsored by former Representative George Brown Jr. The week would take place in whatever set of days included Sept. 15th and 16th—the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores, which marked the start the Mexican War of Independence in 1821. From the Mexican War of Independence, countries such as Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Honduras became their own free entities from the Federal Republic of Central America.
In 1988, under President Ronald Reagan, the week-long celebration was extended to a month to honor Hispanic Americans throughout America’s history. This has become increasingly important as Hispanic and Latinx identifying individuals make up the largest ethnic minority in the United States at 19.1% of the total population.
Important Dates
Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from Sept. 15-Oct. 15 annually. During this time, numerous anniversaries and holidays take place that are important throughout the Hispanic community. These dates include:
15: The Independence Days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala.16: Mexico’s Independence Day18: Chile’s Independence Day21: Belize’s Independence Day
Patronizing Hispanic-Owned Businesses
One of the best ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month is by supporting the Latinx- and Hispanic-owned businesses in your community. This can be done by purchasing products in stores or online, or utilizing services from companies owned by Hispanic entrepreneurs.
As of October 2023, the U.S. Department of Treasury reported that there were about 5 million Latinx- or Hispanic-owned businesses across the country. These companies generate over $800 billion in annual revenue and $2.8 trillion in economic output. Supporting Hispanic-owned businesses is not only beneficial to the U.S. economy, but directly supports the creation of jobs and financial security for Hispanic families across the country.
Organizations to Support
There are numerous foundations and organizations that work to provide the Hispanic community with opportunities that might not otherwise be available to them. Some of these include:
This Month’s Media Recommendations
Julio Macias, Danny Ramirez, Jessica Maria Garcia, Jason Genao, Sierra Capri, Diego Tinoco, Brett Gray and Shoshana Bush arrive at the Premiere Of Netflix’s “On My Block” Season 2 at Petty Cash Taqueria on March 27, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic)
Another great way to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month is by engaging with books, television programs, films, podcasts and other forms of media created by members of the Hispanic community. Whether they tell the story of historical figures in the Latinx community, showcase the fictional stories of Hispanic characters or share cultural experiences, here are some titles you can explore this month:
Film: Real Women Have Curves (2002)Film: In the Heights (2021)Film (animated): Encanto (2021)Television series: Lopez vs. Lopez (2022-present)Television series: On My Block (2018-2021)Novel: The House on Mango Street by Sandra CisnerosMemoir: Undocumented by Dan-el Padilla PeraltaShort story collection: Living Beyond Borders by Margarita Longoria
Read more articles for the Hispanic community here.
