Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

Adriana Perez

Hispanic and Latino. Both are words that have been used to describe people of Latino-American descent. But what is the difference and why do we celebrate Hispanic Heritage?

Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 in the U.S. and celebrates the culture and history of American citizens whose descendants came from Spanish-speaking countries. While it may seem that Sept. 15 is a random day to start the month, it’s a very significant date since it’s the anniversary of independence for many Latin American countries, such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

What makes someone Hispanic? Well, Hispanic is defined as “a Spanish-speaking person living in the U.S. who may or may not be of Latin American descent. This includes countries like Mexico, Spain, Panama, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Equatorial Guinea and Puerto Rico, plus the countries mentioned above. 

On the other hand, Latino refers to someone who comes from Latin American countries, whether they are Spanish-speaking or not. This includes countries like Brazil, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, Saint Barthelemy and Saint Martin, and would exclude Spain and Equatorial Guinea. 

The terms Hispanic and Latino tend to get mixed due to the overlap of countries that qualify as both, such as Mexico which is primarily Spanish-speaking AND part of Latin America. And while all of these countries are rightfully celebrated throughout this month, it is important to remember the differences between the two terms. 

So what is Hispanic culture and how can we celebrate Heritage Month? While Hispanic culture can’t be defined by one experience due to the variety of cultures that are celebrated within the month, it is usually celebrated throughout the month with activities like parades, performances, programs, and exhibitions, and it is a time to recognize the achievements and contributions that Hispanic people have made to the U.S.. Some examples are civil rights activists Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, who founded the National Farm Workers Association, associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic appointed to the Supreme Court, and artists from all disciplines, like paintress Frida Khalo, Queen of Tejano Music Selena Quintanilla, and actor, composer and writer Lin-Manuel Miranda. I mean, where would we be without “Hamilton”?

On a more serious note, however, it is important to remember the struggles that Hispanics have overcome, along with understanding and learning about these vast and beautiful cultures. This not only increases appreciation of these cultures, but also respect and unity between all members of society; while it is important to focus on the future, we can use this time to look back at our roots and cherish those who have come before and have brought us this far.

You can learn more about Hispanic and Latino cultures at OCSA through clubs like Cultura Mexicana, Latinx Student Union, Folklorico With Friends, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán, and Spanish Honor Society.