¡Celebremos!It's National Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebremos means let's celebrate! You don't have to be Hispanic to recognize the great contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States. National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15.

Around 47 million people in the United States are of Hispanic origin. Many of them were born in the United States, but their families came here from different countries. By 2050, census experts predict that the population of the United States could be 60 percent Hispanic.

The Face of America

This special month began as a special week. In 1968, the U.S. government created National Hispanic Heritage Week. That particular week coincided with independence days in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (September 15), Mexico, (September 16), Chile (September 18), and Belize (September 21). In 1988, Hispanic Heritage Week became a monthlong celebration that includes Columbus Day.

This is what President Barack Obama has to say about this occasion, "Hispanics have played a vital role in the moments and movements that have shaped our country. They have enriched our culture and brought creativity and innovation to everything from sports to the sciences and from the arts to our economy."

Who Are Hispanics?The term Hispanic is derived from the Latin word for Spain (Hispania). It describes the different people of Spanish-speaking heritage. It does not define a nationality or race, but a culture. Hispanics come from many races and countries.

Sometimes, Hispanic people prefer to refer to themselves as Latinos or Latinas. That term is often used by descendents of Latin Americans (Mexico, Central America, and South America). People of Mexican descent sometimes refer to themselves as Chicanos or Chicanas or Mexican Americans.

Influences on American cultureHispanic influences can be felt through many aspects of life in the United States. Today, maize-based dishes, such as tortillas and tamales, as well the condiments pico de gallo, salsa, mole, and guacamole, are as American as Mom's apple pie.

Hispanic-American music has also influenced rock, jazz, R & B, pop, and country music. Tejano music refers to folk and popular music originating from southern Texas. Tejano started small, but has been spreading to parts of North America, Latin America, and Europe in recent years.

In language, many words that we commonly use in English originated from Spanish words:

• Hammock – from the Spanish word hamaca
• Barbecue – from the Caribbean word barbacoa
• Banana – entered English from Spanish or Portuguese
• Ranch – from the Mexican-Spanish word rancho
• Alligator – from el lagarto, which means the lizard

Famous Hispanic AmericansSpanish-speaking settlers were among the earliest Europeans to visit the New World. King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I of Spain financed the voyages of Christopher Columbus. Juan Ponce de León, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, Hernando de Soto, and Francisco Vásquez de Coronado are just a few of the many Spaniards who explored areas that later would become parts of the United States. That is why many towns and areas in the southern and southwestern parts of the United States have Spanish names. The names California, Colorado, Florida, and Nevada all come from Spanish words.

Today, Hispanics continue to make an impact on our country. This year, Sonia Sotomayor became the first Hispanic justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Other prominent Hispanic Americans include:

• Bill Richardson – governor of New Mexico
• Alex Rodriguez – baseball player for the New York Yankees
• Carlos Santana – guitarist, first Hispanic American to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Sandra Cisneros – novelist and poet
• Gary Soto – writer, poet, and author of children's books

Hispanic Americans have helped build the U.S. and will certainly continue to do so. Libraries, schools, universities, community centers, and many other organizations across the United States have planned special events for National Hispanic Heritage Month. Find out how your community is celebrating Hispanic heritage, and join in the celebration to honor this rich and diverse culture!

Critical ThinkingWho are some other prominent Hispanic Americans that you know of?

Links

• Evergreen State College – Hispanic Heritage Month
• National Hispanic Heritage Month Proclamation by President Barack Obama
• Smithsonian Education

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