For many, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to learn more about the cultures and traditions that make up our country’s largest ethnic minority. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the important contributions Latinas and Latinos have made to America.
The observance began in 1968 as a weeklong celebration under President Lyndon B. Johnson, who officially established the Hispanic Heritage Week holiday by signing Public Law 90-48. Congress expanded the observance to a 30-day period by legislation in 1988, which was signed by President Ronald Reagan.
NPR has a long history of covering Hispanic Heritage, and we have celebrated it every year since its inception. But it has taken on a new significance this year as tensions continue to swirl in communities across the nation over whether to use the term Hispanic or Latino.
A growing number of people who identify as Hispanic or Latino are preferring the latter, which is more gender-neutral and reflects an evolution in understandings of Latin American culture. In fact, some advocates have argued that Hispanic is outdated and should be replaced by the term Latinx or Latinx Heritage Month.
While there are differences between the various definitions of Hispanic or Latino, all have in common a shared identity as descendants of the people who settled the American continent. These people forged the foundation for the United States, and their cultures are still very much alive and present in this society.
NPR is proud to recognize Hispanic Heritage Month this year with a series of stories that will explore the richness of the cultures and experiences represented by the people who make up our diverse nation. We invite you to join us on this journey.
Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the contributions of all people with roots in Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean, as well as their influence on our country’s history and future. These individuals are a vital part of the American story and should be honored as such.
The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization that inspires, prepares and connects millions of Latinos in the U.S and Latin America in six areas of focus – education, workforce, social impact, justice, culture, and leadership – through agile, creative, high-profile, innovative programs that have been recognized by The White House, Congress, Fortune 500 companies, the U.S Army and more.
HHF is supported by private foundations, corporations and individual donors, as well as public funds from the U.S. Department of Education.
National Park Service
Hispanic Heritage Month is a great time to visit a historic site or national monument and see what the American Latino experience has meant to this country. Visit the Hispanic Heritage Initiative’s calendar to see a list of in-person and virtual events.
Hispanics are the fastest-growing group of Americans by population and the largest group in our nation’s Gross Domestic Product, but they remain underrepresented at all levels of government. That needs to change.