SEPTEMBER 15 TO OCTOBER 15
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated in recognition of the historical and cultural contributions of Hispanic Americans. This national observance was first established by Public Law 90-498, approved September 17, 1968 by the 90th Congress. Public Law 90-468 authorized the president to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week each year. On August 17, 1988, the 100th Congress enacted Public Law 100-402, which extended the observance from a week to a month. The annual observance is now a 31-day period beginning on September 15 and ending on October 15.
(Source: http://www.diversitystore.com/ds/
The months of September and October cover a wide range of independence days for Latin American countries.
For purposes of this celebration the term Hispanic includes persons with ancestry from the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela. The theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is selected by the National Council of Hispanic Program Managers with the help of a wide variety of contributions from all interested parties.
However, employee groups often include other Latin American countries during the celebration. This is, Caribbean and South American countries such as
(Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope)
"The theme invites us to celebrate Hispanic Heritage and to reflect on how great our tomorrow can be if we hold onto our resilience and hope. It encourages us to reflect on all of the contributions Hispanics have made in the past, and will continue to make in the future. It is also a reminder that we are stronger together" (NCHEPM, 2021)
National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
“Examining our history, we can see that the heritage of Latinos is one, above all, of resilience. Cities that were founded by Latinos centuries ago still stand today as some of America’s greatest and most vibrant. Americans of Hispanic decent have fought for our country, only to find out that we were not always accepted as equal. After centuries of discrimination and second-class citizenship, we fought to claim our rights as Americans, and today we utilize those rights to continue to advocate for our communities. Through it all, we’ve held fast to our heritage and cultures, celebrated our faith and families, and are living embodiments of the American Dream.
“As we pay special attention to Latino accomplishments and heritage this month, let us not forget that our American story deserves to be told all year long. Throughout the 116th Congress, the Hispanic Caucus has advocated for the needs of Latinos in every corner of the United States. We have placed particular attention on the accurate portrayal of Latinos in the media and entertainment — including in film, television, publishing, journalism, and more — as these are the image-creating and narrative-defining industries that shape how all Latinos are perceived.
“Latino Americans are essential and resilient. We are entrepreneurs, farmworkers, astronauts, teachers, doctors, activists, soldiers, members of Congress, and so much more. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we have proven ourselves to be the backbone of American society. This month, we celebrate our heritage of resilience by continuing to fight for a democracy that truly includes us, as we look ahead to one of the most consequential elections of our time — one in which Latino votes are poised to make our biggest impact yet. "
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Joaquin Castro (TX-20)
Resources:
