I think that many know that we Hispanics love to celebrate, which is why they didn’t give us one day or one week but 30 days to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.
From September 15th until October 15th, many organizations, restaurants, and businesses take the opportunity to commemorate the culture and history of Hispanic communities. In 1988, under former President Ronald Reagan, Public Law 100-402 was enacted. Since then, the contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America have been celebrated.
The one question I often get is, what is the difference between Hispanics and Latinos? Hispanic refers to a person from a Spanish culture or origin regardless of race, while Latino refers to people who are from or descended from people from Latin America. Therefore, a Hispanic person may also be Latino. However, a person from Spain would be Hispanic, but not Latino, because even though Spain is a Spanish-speaking country, it is not located in Latin America. Also, “Hispanic” is not a race but an ethnicity. Interesting, right? You might also be surprised to know that the most spoken language in South America is Portuguese and not Spanish. So, Brazil being the largest country in Latin America is not Hispanic.
If you are wondering what is happening locally, check out your town events. Remember that when Hispanics and Latinos get together to celebrate, everyone is welcome and recognized. So go and have fun and be prepared for food fairs and delightful and danceable music.
Cinthia Kettering
(A Hispanic and Latino Neighbor)
