Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15th marks the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month, where we celebrate the history, culture and contribution of Latin Americans and Hispanic communities in the United States. The first observation started in 1968, when former President Lyndon B. Johnson established Hispanic Heritage Week. The momentum created by the civil rights movement in the 1960s helped the Latinx community push their proposal into legislation. The week would start on September 15th, a significant choice because it’s the anniversary of independence for numerous Latin American countries. Until 1988, presidents would sign the yearly proclamation, highlighting the importance of Hispanic Americans and their contribution to U.S. culture. In August of 1988, Senator Paul Simon of Illinois proposed a bill that would expand Hispanic Heritage Week into a full month. Former President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law, creating National Hispanic Heritage Month. Former President George H.W. Bush then established a 31-day period that would run from September 15 to October 15 that would serve as National Hispanic Heritage Month, noting that, “Not all of the contributions made by Hispanic Americans to our society are so visible or so widely celebrated, however. Hispanic Americans have enriched our nation beyond measure with the quiet strength of closely knit families and proud communities.” Since then, National Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated annually. This month, we celebrate the countless ways Hispanic Americans have shaped American culture for the better while remaining true to themselves.

So, how can you celebrate on campus?

Education

The best thing you can do to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month is educate yourself! Many colleges host keynote speakers during the month of September to share more about Hispanic and Latin American history. The library also holds tons of books on the impact their culture has had on U.S. history.

Host a Movie Night with Friends

Hosting a movie night is also a great way to celebrate. On many streaming services, like Netflix, there are plenty of movies and TV shows filmed in Spanish and set in Latin American and Hispanic countries. Money Heist, Elite and Cable Girls are only a few popular award-winning shows filmed in Spanish that are gaining recognition in the U.S.

Cooking

Likewise, you could always celebrate by cooking! Traditional Hispanic and Latin American dishes are immensely popular in the U.S., so much so that Latin restaurants are almost as common as fast food joints. You can find plenty of recipes online for tacos, enchiladas, arepas and much more, then host a dinner party for your friends to join!

Many Hispanic and Latin American communities across the country face inequities bias that sheds them in a particular light, but we need to recognize the importance of these communities on America’s society. This month, we want to celebrate the cultural richness of the Hispanic and Latin American communities which have contributed our own culture’s improvement.