Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 to October 15, and it is a great time to learn more about the diverse experiences and cultures of Hispanic and Latino people.
According to the National Hispanic Heritage Month website, before there was National Hispanic Heritage Month, there was Hispanic Heritage Week, created through legislation sponsored by Mexican American Rep. Edward R. Roybal of Los Angeles and was later signed into law in 1968 by then-president President Lyndon B. Johnson.
For many first and second generation hispanics, being bilingual is a complex topic. Many immigrant parents in the US don’t teach their children Spanish in fear that they will endure prejudice because they have an accent. Recent studies have shown that the share of Latinos who speak Spanish at home declined from 78% in 2000 to 68% in 2022.
“I don’t really know Spanish, so it makes it difficult for me to communicate with some of my family members,” said senior Bella Serrano.
Not being fluent in a heritage language doesn’t mean you aren’t connected to your culture. Many U.S.-born hispanics like Serrano face the pressure and expectation to speak fluent Spanish. But many factors, including English dominance and language discrimination, make maintaining Spanish difficult for many people. Even though language can sometimes be complicated, one topic that never is is food.
Meals are often a time for family and friends to come together and spend time with one another, and food is an important part of this socializing.
“My favorite dish is definitely Mole,” said sophomore Melissa Lebreros Perez. “Mole is a brown paste made of dried chiles, nuts, seeds and sometimes, chocolate. It’s put over chicken and served on rice.”
Mole is traditionally served at family gatherings, important holidays, and Quinceañeras.
Quinceanñeras are a Mexican tradition that is held when a girl turns 15; it is a big birthday celebration that consists of a series of dance sequences with the Quince court that is made by a choosing of friends. The quinceanera wears a big and beautiful traditional gown, while her damas (female part of the court) wear shorter but still just as extravagant dresses. Chambelanes (male part of the court) wear suits.
“I love the friendship that it brings on because most of the time you’re meeting new people.” said sophomore Manney Velasquez on his experience of being a chambelan. “I also just like the challenge of learning a new dance.”
People often think of the word “stereotype” in a negative context. However, there are also instances of positive stereotypes.
“I think stereotypes can be pretty mean, as long as you’re not jumping to conclusions then they’re fine.” said junior Heriberto Vargas
Again and again, Latinas are often stereotyped as being loud and hot-tempered. Stereotypes like those feed into the “spicy Latina” narrative, making us appear emotionally and mentally unstable — as well as violent. Latino men are often given the stereotype of individuals who are quick to get into fights. It’s unfair to be perceived or judged for the quirks, flaws or even the achievements of others, be it their families, ethnic groups, profession, gender, nationality, etc.
With that being said, the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month for many hispanics and latinos is to keep them connected to their roots and identities as part of a larger community. It is also to help recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanics heroes who have inspired others to achieve greatness.
“My hero is my dad, he sacrificed so much by coming here and doing all the hard work for us,” said sophomore Stephanie Vasquez Sanches. “He’s changed our whole family’s lives.”
