Hispanic Heritage Month is unique in that it runs between two months every year, from September 15 to October 15. Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 to coincide with the independence celebrations of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, and Chile. It is a time to honor the rich “traditions, cultures, and contributions of Latino and Hispanic people in the United States.”
Although we recognize the celebration as Hispanic Heritage month, it celebrates the contributions of all Hispanics and Latinos to the United States. There is a slight difference: Hispanic refers to those people who come from Spanish-speaking countries. This includes Spain, but would exclude Latin American countries like Brazil, which speak Portuguese. Latinos refers to those people from Central and South America. This does include Brazil but does not include Spain. Also, whether we are talking about Hispanics and/or Latinos, many times the Caribbean islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic are not included in the conversation, even though they are definitely part of the Hispanic and Latino diaspora.
Hispanic and Latino people have had a profound impact on American society, contributing to various fields such as food, music, sports, and fashion. Hispanic and Latino cuisines have become integral to American culture, introducing dishes, flavors, and traditions that are widely celebrated and enjoyed. Chefs such as Jose Andres, who is originally from Spain, have played such an important part in introducing the substance of our culture through food, with restaurants in Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Orlando, and Washington, D.C. but also through his nonprofit World Central Kitchen, delivering meals during the pandemic here in Arkansas and across the United States, as well as across the world during other natural disasters and famine.
Music is also an important part of the culture. Latino and Hispanic artists have influenced and enriched the American music scene, such as Cuban-born Celia Cruz, the “Queen of Salsa,” but also other genres like reggaeton, mariachi, and Bachata, which have become popular in the United States. Also, we have Puerto Rican-American Tito Puente, the “King of the Timbales,” who is well known for his mambo and Latin Jazz music.
Hispanic and Latino athletes have excelled in sports, becoming icons in baseball, soccer, boxing, and other disciplines. And Hispanic and Latino designers and cultural influencers have shaped trends in fashion, bringing vibrant styles and traditions to the forefront. They are also members of their communities answering the call for public service, including teachers, doctors, first responders, etc. All of these contributions reflect the significant impact of Hispanic and Latino communities on the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the United States. Hispanic and Latino leaders “embody the possibilities of our Nation and the dreams of those who work every day to build a better future for their children, grandchildren, and beyond.”
To learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month, visit the National Hispanic Heritage Month or the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. For events in Central Arkansas, visit Hispanic Heritage Events in Pulaski County or the NWA Hispanic Heritage Festival to learn about this festival taking place in the northwest part of our state later this month.