With 62 million people who can trace their heritage to Mexico, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean and Central and South America living in the United States, Hispanic Heritage Month is an important time for all Americans to learn about this community’s rich history. The National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, which started as a weeklong event in 1968 and was expanded to a month in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, is the perfect opportunity for people of all ages to explore Latino culture through food, music and art.
The enduring impact of Hispanic heritage on the country can be seen in the wide range of contributions to the arts, science, literature and politics made by Latino Americans — from artists such as Celia Cruz and Roberto Clemente to scientists like Lin-Manuel Miranda and political leaders such as Puerto Rican Rep. José Serrano and Connecticut Sen. Miguel Cardona. Hispanic Heritage Month also serves as an opportunity for all Americans to recognize the role Latinos have played in the development of this nation, including through military service and in industries such as agriculture, business and manufacturing, said Key.
Despite these accomplishments, the legacy of Hispanic heritage is far from complete. In fact, the term Hispanic can be controversial for some because it erases centuries of pre-Columbian history and culture that existed before Spain colonized the Americas, said Ortiz. It can also alienate indigenous and Afro-Latinos, he added. For this reason, many advocates for the Latino community have embraced the use of the gender-neutral term Latina/e/o/x to reflect the diverse backgrounds of this community.
While recognizing and honoring the great achievements of Hispanics and their contribution to this nation, it is also important to remember that many of these accomplishments were only possible because of the hard work, resilience and determination of Hispanics. This is why it is vital that during Hispanic Heritage Month, all Americans take the time to get to know their neighbors, coworkers and classmates who identify as Latina/e/o/x or Hispanic to celebrate the diversity of this community and their many contributions to the United States.
For teachers, National Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to introduce students to the works of influential artists such as Kahlo, who defied societal norms by unapologetically exploring her sexuality in her art, and the many other contributions that Latinos have made in their respective fields. To help teach these lessons, teachers can use resources from the National Endowment for the Humanities (Opens in new tab) on art and history.
Students can learn about Hispanic and Latina/e/o/x culture through films such as “El Norte” (Opens in new tab), an NEH-funded documentary that explores the history of Mexican culture. They can also explore the Smithsonian’s (Opens in new tab) online exhibitions, events and resources on this history — including profiles of Hispanic patriots in American military history. In addition, schools can access a wide variety of pedagogical materials on Latino heritage through the NEH’s Learning with Historic Sites program.