Hispanic Heritage Month puts diversity and culture first

Large celebrations are expected across the United States for National Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual tradition that showcases the extraordinary diversity and culture of the Latino nation.

Celebrated every year from September 15 to October 15, the month is a chance for many in the U.S. to learn about and celebrate the contributions of Latinos, the fastest-growing racial or ethnic minority group in the country, according to the Census. The group includes people whose ancestors come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

According to the latest census estimates, there are more than 65 million people of Hispanic origin living in the United States.

Cultural Heritage Week celebrates the vast history of Latinos

Before there was National Hispanic Heritage Month, there was Hispanic Heritage Week, which was established by legislation sponsored by Mexican-American Congressman Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and signed into law in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

The week-long celebration was extended to a month two decades later under legislation signed by President Ronald Reagan.

“It was organized around a big celebration for the community,” said Alberto Lammers, communications director for the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute. “It became an opportunity for people to learn about Hispanic cultures, for Latinos to learn more about the community, and for the American public to understand a little bit more about the long history of Latinos in the U.S..”

The month is an opportunity for Latinos to showcase their diversity and culture with government support, said Rachel Gonzalez-Martin, assistant professor of Mexican-American and Latino studies at the University of Texas at Austin.

The date of September 15 was chosen as the starting point to coincide with the anniversary of “El Grito de Dolores,” or “The Cry of Dolores,” published in 1810 in a town in central Mexico that sparked that country’s war for independence from Spain.

The Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica celebrate their independence on September 15, while Mexico celebrates its national holiday on September 16, the day after declaring its demand for independence.

Also as part of National Hispanic Heritage Month, the South American nation of Chile celebrates its independence day on September 18. Indigenous Peoples DayPreviously known as Columbus Day, it is celebrated in the US on the second Monday of October.

The month has grown over the past decade because of a larger Hispanic consumer base in the U.S., Gonzalez-Martin said. Gonzalez-Martin said visible support from the federal government, including a White House celebration, has also made it easier for Hispanics to celebrate.

“Hispanic Heritage Month was a way to be Hispanic and Latino, but with an official blessing,” Gonzalez-Martin said. “It was a recognition of belonging, and it was really powerful.”

Lammers said the goal of the four-week period is to pay tribute to how the Hispanic people have shaped the United States past and present.

“It gives us a chance to acknowledge that Latinos have been part of this nation for so many centuries,” Lammers said. “I think that’s what’s great about it. It’s allowed us to really dig deeper and tell our stories.”

Not everyone who is Latino uses this label

The term “Hispanic” was coined by the federal government for people of Spanish-speaking cultures. However, for some, the label carries connotations of political conservatism and emphasizes a connection to Spain. It is sometimes mistakenly interchanged with “Latino” or “Latinx.”

For some Latinos, it reflects their ties to Latin America. That’s why some celebrations are called Latino Heritage Month or Latinx.

Latinos are not a monolith. There are several identifiers for Latinos, largely based on personal preference. Mexican Americans who grew up in the 1960s during the civil rights era may identify as Chicano. Others may identify by their family’s country of origin, such as Colombian Americans or Salvadoran Americans.

Each culture has its own unique differences in music, food, art and other cultural pillars.

Celebrations are planned for the whole month.

From California to Florida, there will be plenty of festivities. The celebrations will feature traditional Latin food and entertainment, including mariachi bands, folklorico and salsa lessons. The goal is to showcase the cultures of Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and other Latin countries.

Events celebrating Hispanic culture include a quinceañera fashion show in Dallas on September 14, the New York Latino Film Festival on September 17-22, and the Viva Tampa Bay Hispanic Heritage Festival on September 28-29.

The Smithsonian in Washington offers list of activities enhancing Spain’s cultural heritage, including a celebration of the life of Celia Cruz and exhibitions of works of art created in Mexico.

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Associated Press writer Terry Tang contributed to this article.