Hispanics are one of the most active and influential communities in the United States. Strong contributions to the economy and great cultural diversity, full of colorful traditions, provide great reasons to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15.
History of the celebration
The official celebration of Hispanic heritage has been organized for over 50 years. However, its history can be divided into two parts:
1968: Hispanic Heritage Week
This annual celebration began in 1968, when then-President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed National Hispanic Heritage Week, which was held for twenty years in mid-September. That week was chosen because it included the independence days of several Latin American countries:
- September 15: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
- September 16: Mexico
- September 18: Chile
Since the establishment of Hispanic Heritage Week, the United States government urged educational entities and civil organizations to celebrate each year by holding cultural activities that recognize the value of the Hispanic community.
1988: Hispanic Heritage Month is proclaimed!
Twenty years later, the duration of the Hispanic Heritage celebration was extended to a month. In August 1988, President Ronald Reagan reiterated the importance of recognizing the great contributions of the Hispanic community to the society, culture, and economy of the United States, for which it was important to prolong the days of celebration. To this end, Congress passed Public Law 100-402, which extended the days of celebration from September 15 to October 15 of each year. Since then, 33 years have passed in which the government, educational institutions, civil organizations, and various businesses have joined together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
The impact of the Hispanic community
The Hispanic community is one of the most influential in American society in various aspects, but its rapid demographic growth, economic impact, and major contributions to culture stand out.
Demographic impact
According to the latest population census, The Hispanic community was the fastest-growing minority in the United States over the past decade. In 2020, there were 62.1 million people of Hispanic origin living in the country, accounting for 18.7% of the total population. This means that the number of Hispanics has increased by nearly a quarter since 2010, when the previous census was conducted, in which we represented 16.3% of the population.
Furthermore, it is a predominantly young community, as the average age of Latinos is just 28 years old. This is why Hispanics are the largest and fastest-growing ethnic minority in the United States.
The Hispanic population is constantly growing; however, there are states where the community is increasing more significantly and its influence can be seen and felt almost everywhere. These states are: California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas. Are you in one of them?
Economic impact
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the pockets of many people in the Latino community, it has not interfered with their desire to get ahead and grow economically. Thanks to this attitude, Hispanics have a strong impact on the country's economy, and as proof we can see everything they have achieved over the past decade:
- Until February 2020, the number of Latino-owned small businesses it increased by 34%, making us the group of entrepreneurs with the highest growth in the United States.
- Businesses owned by Latinos contribute approximately $500 trillion in annual revenue to the country's economy due to their high sales.
- Latino-owned businesses have created more than 3 million jobs, or 5.5% of all jobs in the United States.
- Latinos generate over $2.3 trillion of the country's total economic activity.
- Over the past decade, the purchasing power of Latinos increased by 69%.
- Over the past six years, we have accounted for 75% of the growth in the U.S. workforce.
- If Hispanics formed an independent country, it would be the eighth largest economy in the world!
Cultural impact
The strong impact of the Hispanic community is not limited to its rapid economic growth. Over the past few decades, Latinos have made immense contributions to the great cultural diversity of the United States. Some of the most important are:
The language
Spanish is the language most used by Latinos in the United States; however, in recent years its use has expanded to other population sectors and is currently the second most studied language in the country. This is why it is estimated that by the year 2060, the United States will be the second country with the most Spanish speakers on the planet, trailing only Mexico.
The food
The influence of Latino culture is also felt on the palate, as many of the traditional dishes of Latin American cuisine have become favorites among Americans. The best example of this is tacos—which are increasingly more popular than hamburgers—, but we can also mention the growing popularity of delicious dishes such as arepas, pupusas, empanadas, guacamole, or chicken with rice.
The traditions
Immigrants to the United States try to keep alive the traditions that remind them of and unite them with their countries of origin. In recent years, many of these traditions have become more visible in the media, arousing the curiosity and respect of the general population. Some of these traditions They are the celebration of the Day of the Dead every November 2nd, the sweet fifteen (quinceañera) parties, the use of piñatas at birthday parties, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo, and the organization of posadas every December.
Art
Art is another field where the Hispanic community has had a strong impact in the United States, with an increasing number of artists holding a significant presence in the various artistic disciplines.
One of them is music, as rhythms —such as salsa, reggaeton, or Latin pop— have gained growing popularity in recent decades, something that was demonstrated by the participation of Shakira and Jennifer Lopez in the 2020 Super Bowl halftime show, when they became the first Latina artists to headline said event.
Another discipline where Hispanics have had a significant impact in recent years has been cinema. More and more are actors, actresses and filmmakers that have a strong presence in Hollywood, as demonstrated in the last decade by the triumphs of Mexican directors Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and Guillermo del Toro at the film industry's most important award ceremonies.
How is Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated?
Ever since Hispanic Heritage Month was established, the government has promoted educational and cultural activities that remember and celebrate the contributions of Hispanics to American society throughout history.
Year after year, many educational institutions, social organizations, and large and small businesses have joined the celebration with activities such as Latin music concerts, book presentations by Hispanic authors, plays in Spanish, traditional dance performances, and exhibitions by Latino artists, among others. Some examples of activities that take place are: the Hola Mexico Film Festival, the Exhibition on the Bicentennial of Mexico's Independence, the Hispanic Day Parade in New York, the Hispanic Heritage Awards, and online forums, among others.
How can you join the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month?
If you want to join in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, you can consider some ideas individually, or in your business or community, through social media with your profile picture featuring the flag of your country of origin, sharing articles and videos related to the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, photos of your favorite traditional dishes, organize themed parties, place a flag of your country of origin at the entrance of your home or in a visible place on your car.
At Eagan Immigration, we join this celebration with various activities and promotions, because the most important thing for us is that as many people as possible can fix their paperwork to change their lives and those of their families, so we will have several surprises tied to these dates that are so important for our clients and the general public. Call 202-709-6439 for more information.
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