Hispanic people have had a profound impact on everything American, from the economy and business to politics, culture, and sports. Economically, Latino and Hispanic households earned more than $1.2 trillion in 2019 (the latest data available, per the 2020 census), and paid almost $309 billion in taxes that same year.
Why September 15 to October 15?
Hispanic Heritage month starts September 15, and ends on October 15. When this recognition was originally adopted, these dates were selected because September 15 marks Independence Day for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates Independence Day on September 16, Chile on September 18, and Belize on September 21. The celebration honors the cultures and traditions of American citizens whose ancestors came from not just Central & South American countries, but from the Caribbean and Spain as well.
In total, the Hispanic countries include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
When was this month designated Hispanic Heritage Month?
Originally known as National Hispanic Heritage Month, the celebration began as a commemorative week in 1968 due to the efforts of California Congressman George E. Brown. He represented a region in California that was heavily populated by the Hispanic community, and recognized the important role this demographic was playing in American politics. President Lyndon B. Johnson made Hispanic Heritage Week official, and Ronald Reagan expanded the week to a full month on August 17, 1988.
This month presents an opportunity to pay homage to the vibrancy of Hispanic cultures, and to recognize their unique histories. To help celebrate, here are some ideas to get you started.
- Support a Hispanic-owned business. Here are 83 you can shop right now.
- Read some Hispanic authors. There’s such a rich litany of Hispanic writers, where to begin? With Isabel Allende, Junot Diaz, Julia Alvarez, and the poet, Pablo Neruda.
- Visit a museum that features Hispanic and Latin cultures. If you can’t find one nearby, you can visit them online.
- Go to a Hispanic Heritage Month festival local to you. This month is full of celebrations. Try them!
- Take a virtual tour of the Teotihuacan Pyramid in Mexico, Machu Picchu in Peru, or the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza. Not quite like being there in person, but still fascinating.
- Donate to a Hispanic nonprofit or community organization. RAICES provides resources for refugees and immigrants, while the Hispanic Scholarship Fund helps students complete higher education. There are many more to be found that offer support at the local and national levels.
The list above merely scratches the surface on actions we all can take to celebrate the Hispanic community in the U.S., and help pave the way for its ongoing success.