Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates Hispanic and Latine history and culture and its many contributions to the history and culture of the United States, including advocacy work, art, food and much more. It’s also an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the unique voices and experiences of Hispanic/Latine Americans and recognize their history, journeys, and achievements.
This month-long celebration provides an additional opportunity to explore the impact Latine people have had on the United States for generations. The Latine presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and it’s been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Treaty of Paris that followed the Mexican American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico. This incorporated the people of this area into the United States and further expanded the presence of Hispanic Americans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Latine population in the United States today is over 60 million, making it 18.9% of the total population and the largest racial or ethnic group in the country.
Hispanic Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration in 1968 under President Johnson. In 1988, President Reagan expanded it to a month-long celebration to provide more time to properly recognize the significant contributions Hispanic/Latine Americans have made in the United States. The timeframe of the month – September 15 to October 15 – is significant because many Central American countries celebrate their independence days within these dates:
- September 15: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua
- September 16: Mexico
- September 18: Chile
- September 21: Belize
For more information about Hispanic Heritage Month, you can visit the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino or the Library of Congress.