History of the Celebration of Hispanic Heritage
The official festivities of Hispanic heritage were organized over 50 years ago. Its history can be divided into two parts:1968: Hispanic Heritage Week
The annual celebration began in 1968, when President Lyndon B Johnson proclaimed the first National Hispanic Heritage Week. This was celebrated for 20 years in the middle of September. They chose this week because it included the independence days of various countries in Latin America.- September 15: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica
- September 16: Mexico
- September 18: Chile
1988: Hispanic Heritage Month is Proclaimed
20 years later, the duration of the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration was extended to one month. In August 1988, President Ronald Reagan reiterated the importance of recognizing the great contributions that Hispanic society has made to the United States, both culturally and economically. For this reason, it was important to prolong the length of the celebration. Congress approved Public Law 100-402, extending the days of celebration from September 15 to October 15 each year. Since then, 33 years have passed in which the government, educational institutions, civil and diverse organizations, and companies have united to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.The Impact of the Hispanic Community
The Hispanic community is one of the most influential in American society in many aspects, but what stands out is its rapid demographic growth, its economic impact, and its great cultural contributions.Demographic Impact
According to the last population census, the Hispanic community was the fastest-growing minority group in the United States over the past decade. In 2020, 62.1 million people of Hispanic origin were living in the U.S., representing 18.7% of the total population. This means that the number of Hispanics has increased by nearly a quarter since 2010, when the last census was conducted and Hispanics accounted for 16.3% of the population. Furthermore, this community is predominantly made up of young people, with an average age of just 28 years old. It is for this reason that the Hispanic population is the fastest-growing minority group in the U.S. The Hispanic population is constantly growing; however, there are certain states where the growth is more significant, and its influence is felt in almost every part of the country. These states are California, Florida, Illinois, New York, and Texas. Do you live in one of these states?Economic Impact
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic affected the pockets of many people in the Latino community, it has not interfered with its desires to move forward and grow economically. Thanks to this attitude, the Hispanics have a strong impact on the economy of the country. As an example, we can see what the Hispanic community has accomplished throughout the last decade:- In February 2020, the number of Latino business owners of small businesses grew by 34%, becoming the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S.
- The businesses started by Latinos generate annual revenue of approximately $500 billion, which contributes to the country's economy.
- Latino-owned businesses have created jobs for more than 3 million people, or 5.5% of the total U.S. workforce.
- Latinos generate more than $2.3 trillion in economic activity in the country.
- Over the past decade, the purchasing power of the Hispanic community has increased by 69%
- Over the past 6 years, the Hispanic community accounted for 75% of the growth in the U.S. workforce.
- If the Hispanic community formed an independent country, it would have the eighth largest economy in the world!
Cultural Impact
The strong impact of the Hispanic community is not limited to the rapid economic growth. Throughout the last 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 used most by Latinos in the United States. Therefore, in the last few years, its use has expanded to other populations. Today, it is the second most studied language in the country. Because of this, it is estimated that by the year 2060, the United States will be the country with the second most Spanish speakers in the world, only behind Mexico.The Food
The influence of Latino culture can also be felt on people’s palettes. Many of the traditional dishes of Latin American cuisine have become favorite dishes in the U.S. The mest example of this is tacos – which are even more popular than hamburgers. We can also mention the popularity growth of delicious dishes such as arepas, pupusas, empanadas, guacamole, and arroz con pollo.Traditions
Immigrants in the United States try to continue living the traditions that unite them with their country of origin. In the past few years, many of the traditions have become more visible in our current communication, awaking curiosity and respect from the public. Some of these traditions are the celebration of Día de Muertos on November 2, the celebration of XV years, the use of pinatas in birthday parties, the celebration of 5 de Mayo, and Christmas celebrations in December.The Arts
The arts are one of the areas where the Hispanic community has had a strong impact in the United States, with more and more Hispanic artists having an important presence in different artistic disciplines. One of those is music. The beats – like salsa, reggaeton, or Latino pop – have had growing popularity in the last decades, something that was demonstrated by Shakira and Jennifer Lopez participating in the 2020 Superbowl halftime show. They were the first Latino artists to perform in this event. Another area where Hispanics have had an important impact throughout the years is in the cinema. There are more and more actors and filmmakers that have a strong presence in Hollywood, as demonstrated throughout the last decade through the success of Mexican directors Alfonso Cuaron, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and Guillermo del Toro in the most important awards given in the film industry.How is Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrated?
Since Hispanic Heritage Month was instituted, the government has promoted educational and cultural activities which remind us of and celebrate the contributions of Hispanics to United States society throughout history. Year after year, many educational institutions, social organizations, and large and small companies have joined the celebration with activities such as Latino music concerts, presentations of books by Hispanic authors, theatrical works in Spanish, traditional dance performances, and art exhibits featuring Latino artists, among other activities. Other examples of activities include: the Hola Mexico Film Festival, the Exhibition of the Bicentennial of Mexican Independence, the Día de la Hispanidad Parade in New York, the Hispanic Heritage Awards, forums, and various other events.How Can We Join in the Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month?
If you want to join in on the celebration of Hispanic Heritage month, you can consider individual ideas, or something in your business or community. You can also consider participating through social media by changing your profile photo to the flag of your country of origin, sharing articles and videos related to Hispanic Heritage Month, photos of your favorite traditional dishes, organizing thematic parties, or putting a flag representing your country of origin in front of your house or somewhere visible in your car. In Eagan Immigration, we join in this celebration with many different activities and promotions, because the most important thing for us is that as many people as possible can fix their papers so that their lives and their family’s lives can be changed. We have various surprises awaiting throughout these important dates for our clients and the public in general. Call 202-709-6439 for more information.We specialize in resolving complicated immigration cases. If you would like to obtain work permission, travel permission or permanent residence, call us at 202-709-6439 or leave your information here to schedule a consultation and qualify your case. You can also contact us through WhatsApp.