What is National Hispanic Heritage Month?

What is National Hispanic Heritage Month? National Hispanic Heritage Month is a monthlong celebration in the United States honoring the history, contributions, and achievements of Hispanic Americans. Unlike celebrations such as Black History Month or Pride Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month does not correspond to one of the twelve months. Instead, the celebration lasts from September 15 to October 15, a period of time chosen to include the Independence Days of numerous Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, Mexico, and Chile. The month also overlaps with Día de la Raza, a Latin American holiday that replaces Columbus Day to celebrate those of Indigenous and European heritage. Initially, National Hispanic Heritage Month was much shorter. In 1968 Congress passed a bill authorizing the president to declare the week of September 15th as National Hispanic Heritage Week. Almost two decades later, Representative Esteban Torres proposed a new resolution to extend the celebration to a full month in 1987. Although that bill did not leave committee, a similar one was passed soon after, leading to the first celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month in 1989. Since the celebration’s inception, the United States’ Hispanic population has grown rapidly, from 9.1 million Hispanic Americans in 1970 to approximately 62.5 million in 2021. Notable Hispanic Americans such as Sonia Sotomayor and Roberto Clemente have made important contributions to politics, sports, culture, and other areas. Today National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated with festivals, art shows, community gatherings, and more to commemorate the achievements of Hispanic Americans throughout the country’s history.