As the largest ethnic group in the United States, hispanics have made a significant impact on American culture. From baseball to politics, from food to dance, their contributions are varied. But they share a strong sense of community and family that is rooted in Latin, Spanish and Hispanic traditions.
Hispanic Heritage Month has become a celebration of the diverse cultures and history of more than 60 million people. And while it’s important to remember the past, it’s also a time to think about the future. What does it mean to be a Hispanic today? And how can we ensure that the next generation has access to the full story of its rich, vibrant culture?
In the last few years, a handful of organizations and companies have joined the Hispanic Heritage celebration. Disney, for example, has rolled out live-action versions of the characters Mirabel and Bruno in its Magic Kingdom park, along with bilingual books and a telenovela. A new Smithsonian museum devoted to Latino history is also opening in 2021, thanks to bipartisan legislation passed by Congress. It will open to the public on the National Mall, just a short walk from its sister institution, the National Portrait Gallery.
The new Hispanic Heritage museum will showcase the art, science, culture and histories of Latin America and the Caribbean. It will feature an array of exhibitions, a theater and performance space, and research laboratories. In addition, the museum will feature an educational program that will engage students and visitors of all ages.
While many Americans are eager to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, not everyone is in agreement about how best to honor this rich, historic legacy. One source of conflict is over the use of the word Hispanic itself. For some, using the term erases centuries of pre-Columbian history and culture, and alienates indigenous and Afro-Latino communities that have long rejected colonialism. In addition, the term Hispanic, when used as a general descriptor, tends to be gendered, and some prefer the more inclusive terms Latina or Latino, or even the non-gendered Latinx.
A recent survey by the Pew Hispanic Center found that nearly half of Latinos consider themselves to be U.S. citizens, and eight-in-ten are descendants of U.S. citizen parents or grandparents. This is a remarkable turnaround from 2010, when only four-in-five had citizenship.
A large part of that growth is due to the rising number of children born to U.S. citizen parents who are Hispanic or Latino. But it is also due to the fact that more and more Hispanics are taking the initiative to become U.S. citizens through naturalization, a process that requires an interview and application. With Hispanic Heritage Month upon us, there is no better time to learn about citizenship and civics. And it is never too early to start encouraging young people to pursue their dreams. As they do so, we hope that they keep in mind the values and lessons of their own families’ struggles and triumphs.