Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. This momentous celebration was first instituted as a week-long celebration by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968 before expanding to an entire month by President Reagan in 1988. As of 2024, Hispanic/Latino Americans comprise nearly 20% of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
For us Latinos, Latinas, and Latines, Hispanic Heritage Month is a heartfelt embrace of culture, art, ancestry, gastronomy, immigration, and language. It’s also about everlasting diversity in terms of race and sexual orientation.
We’re undoubtedly living in bleak times with our nation demonizing immigrants, legal and illegal, regressing to a vitriol against Hispanic migrant workers, and allowing ICE agents to racially profile and target those of us who speak Spanish or even speak English with an accent. During these times, it’s essential to acknowledge Hispanic immigrants who have been in this country and have contributed to it as early as the 17th century.
For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to appreciate my culture, family, and especially my mom, who immigrated to America when she was 20. I’m half-Colombian, and I will always be proud of my background and the cultural traditions that shaped my personhood. I love how diverse my family is: some of my relatives have much lighter complexions, while others have darker complexions like mine. I have cousins who are queer and proud of their queerness while keeping their Colombian pride intact.
What Hispanic Heritage Month also symbolizes is a resistance to stereotypes and “third-world” antagonism thrust onto Latin American countries. I’ve had instances where I would tell people about the times I’ve traveled to Colombia and gushed about visiting Bogotá and Barranquilla, only for them to respond with “Isn’t it super dangerous there?” or “Aren’t you scared of the drug cartels there?” That, to me, was a striking realization of how uninformed people are about our diverse culture, our history, and our language.
The Spanish language itself is intricate and conveys a great deal in poetry, prose, music, and colloquialisms. I can understand Spanish perfectly, but I’m not that confident of a speaker. Even so, as I continue to work on my Spanish, I fall more in love with the language through music from reggaeton to indie rock to folklore.
Coming to a predominantly white institution (PWI) like Moravian, I was pleased to see Hispanic culture represented in clubs, cultural celebrations, study abroad fairs that play cumbia loudly, and a center dedicated to inclusive excellence. Meeting exceptional Latina leaders here, such as Michelle Rios-Araque, has taught me that Hispanic culture and heritage can always have a place to exist and thrive within academic communities.
Talking with other Hispanic students also helped me appreciate how widespread cultural wholeness is and why the younger generations need a Hispanic Heritage Month.
“To me, Hispanic Heritage Month means honoring my roots and finding my place in the world as someone who comes from multiple ethnicities,” said Yzabella Velazquez, biology major, ‘28.
Wendy Funez, communication sciences and disorders major, ‘26, said, “To me, Hispanic Heritage Month means celebrating the importance of Hispanic culture, especially in this country. It’s easy to lose cultural ties here, but Hispanic Heritage Month is a great way to honor our ancestors who came to this country, sacrificing so much just for the opportunity to improve their lives. It’s also the perfect way to celebrate the diversity of our cultures and spread cultural awareness! I’m personally so proud to be of Hispanic descent because I love my Central American culture!
