Hispanic heritage is celebrated across the United States in September and October. It’s the country’s fastest-growing racial or ethnic minority, and it encompasses people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. It’s also a month to recognize the impact that Latinas and Latinos have had on the American experience.
Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 as a weeklong commemoration and was expanded to 30 days in 1988. Its start date coincides with the national independence day celebrations of several countries in Latin America, including Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Chile.
Despite the popularity of Hispanic Heritage, there is debate over what exactly it means to be Hispanic in the United States. It is a term that has been adopted by many government entities, and as such, it is often seen as a blanket categorization that excludes those with very different histories and cultures.
“Hispanic” is a limiting label that can exclude the rich diversity of experiences, identities and cultures of this group of Americans. In addition to skin color, there are differences in language, food, music and family structures. “It can be seen as a way of putting people into boxes,” sociologist Cristina Mora explains to NPR. It can also be seen as a political tool used to identify and target voters.
A better way to capture the complexity of Hispanic identity is by using the phrase Latino or the non-gendered terms Latina and Latinx. These terms are more inclusive and reflect a fluid community that spans a geographically expansive region from the Southwestern United States to South America and includes many nations, languages and cultures. People can also choose to identify by their family name or go by the nation of their ancestors.
Educators can help students understand the diverse nuances of this community by providing a variety of resources. The National Endowment for the Humanities has created a set of lesson plans(link is external) focused on Latino art, culture and history, while the New York Times Learning Network (link is external) has lessons about Cuban reggaeton and the life of singer Selena.
Other ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month include listening to Latino music, watching a film festival or attending a local parade. But perhaps the best way to honor Hispanic heritage is by learning about the many achievements of Hispanics and Latinos in our country. The Smithsonian has a virtual exhibition called Nuestra América(link is external) that highlights the contributions of many of these individuals, including activist Helen Rodriguez-Trias who fought for women and children to have more access to healthcare and the artist Judith Baca(link is external), who uses art as a medium for empowerment. This Hispanic Heritage Month, educators should encourage students to learn about these impressive individuals and the contributions they made in a society that is still evolving and expanding. And they should do it in a way that is respectful of the fact that these individuals are complex, dynamic and have much to share.