Why is Hispanic Heritage Month Celebrated in the Middle of the Month?

A brief overview of Hispanic Heritage Month and the culture's impact on the U.S.

Unlike Black History Month and Asian/Pacific Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month does not align with the beginning and ending of the month cycle.

Instead, the timing for Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with celebrations of independence for several Latin American countries, starting on September 15th with the Independence Day for 5 Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico declared independence from Spain on September 16th while Chile declared independence on September 18th and Belize on September 21st.

Initially, President Nixon, President Ford, President Carter, and President Reagan, issued yearly proclamations to honor Hispanic Americans as a week-long acknowledgment. But after Representative Esteban E. Torres from California proposed the expansion of these observations to a 31-day period stating that it would allow more time for the nation to “properly observe and coordinate events and activities to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement,” a bill was submitted and successfully passed by Congress and signed into law on August 17, 1988.

Since 1988, Hispanic Heritage Month has become a staple in the calendar, allowing the nation to celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Hispanic Americans with ancestors from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Each year is aligned with a theme to help facilitate thought-provoking conversation and understanding of the multi-faceted Hispanic community - giving everyone a new peek inside the culture.

The 2023 theme is “Latinos: Driving Prosperity Power and Progress in America” and with the U.S. Hispanic population estimated at 63.6 million in 2022, the theme is not only fitting but also a deep portrayal of how Hispanics have contributed to the U.S. culture.

Hispanics/Latinos Contributions in the U.S

With a 50.5 million increase in the U.S. Hispanic population from 2010, the Hispanic population is faster than the nation’s eight percent growth rate, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. As of 2022, four in five Latinos/Hispanics are U.S. citizens with seventy-two percent ages five and older speaking English proficiently.

Boosting an increase in population, English proficiency, and advanced education (forty-five percent of U.S Hispanic adults ages 25 and older had at least some college experience in 2022, with twenty percent holding bachelor’s degrees or higher.) Hispanics have also contributed to the workforce labor shortage in industries like agriculture, construction, and healthcare. According to the New American Economy - after reviewing the U.S. Census data of 2017 - Hispanics earned “more than $1 trillion and paid more than $250 billion in taxes in 2017 alone.” After taxes, Hispanic households held more than $780.7 billion in spending power. While some Hispanics are filling the labor shortage in specific industries, others are creating jobs for their communities through entrepreneurship and small business creation. According to the New American Economy, twelve percent of all Hispanics worked their own business in 2017, making them 24.5 percent more likely to have their own business than the overall U.S. population.

In 2017, there was a total of almost 2.3 million Hispanic entrepreneurs in the U.S.

The biggest contribution Hispanics have is to the political landscape. In some states, Hispanics are capable of wielding considerable electoral power. According to the New American Economy, Hispanics make up 12.5 percent of eligible voters, while in others, they make up a significant share of the electorate. In New Mexico, 42.7 percent of all eligible voters are Hispanic, while in California they make up 30 percent and 29.8 percent in Texas. An average of eighty percent of registered Hispanics vote in presidential elections. According to the Pew Research Center, Latinos are projected to account for 14.3 percent of all eligible voters as of November 2022.

Walter Tejada, a political analyst and president of the Virginia Latino Leader Council, said that the community, especially young people, is becoming aware of the importance of making their voice heard through voting, and noted that the Latino vote is strong and growing, according to El Tiempo Latino.

Outside the economic landscape, Hispanics have contributed to the U.S. through film, music, food, and newly adopted traditions. Here are a few resources to learn more about the dynamic Hispanic/Latino culture: National Hispanic Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month through the U.S. Department of State, Hispanic Heritage Month, and PBS articles Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month.