National Hispanic Heritage Month

About Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15 and ends October 15 of each year. Within this period, several Latin American countries celebrate their days of independence, with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua celebrating on September 15, Mexico on September 16, and Chile on September 18. The first celebration of Hispanic Heritage Week began under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, but it was later expanded to a 30-day period under President Ronald Reagan in 1988.

The theme for Hispanic Heritage Month 2024 is ¡Viva la Gente Que Lucha! roughly meaning “Long Live the People Who Fight.” The inspiration for this year’s theme comes from the continued call of Hispanic and Latine/x populations to struggle for justice and equity in all spaces they occupy. Within that struggle, it is important for us to begin by naming and honoring the indigenous peoples who have communed with this land before and after the effects of colonization. These groups continue to inspire, create, and push us to remember their legacies of innovation and community, while also reminding us of the interconnectedness we all have with each other and our world. 

In remembering the histories and peoples that came before us, we must note the effects colonization has had on our land, peoples, cultures, languages, and traditions. The history of this oppression is cross-continental. In Spain, France, and Portugal, there persisted a sentiment of anti-Blackness among peoples who have African ancestry, and criticism of those who resembled African peoples in skin color, hair texture, and spoken language. We also reflect on the monolingual ideologies that have been used to harm our cultures and peoples by working to erase our languages. As Gloria Anzaldua argues “I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself” and in this way, we work to reclaim/claim who we are as peoples through language, race, culture, and nuestras familias.

The Hispanic and Latine/x populations have a powerful legacy of standing up against oppressive forces and unjust systems. Estamos haciendo historia ahora! From the influential Chicano Civil Rights Movement to the impactful efforts of Kent State’s Spanish and Latine Student Association (SALSA) and other Latine/x initiatives, the community has made significant strides in advocating for themselves and supporting marginalized groups. Notable organizations in this space include Proyecto Raices, Esperanza, Young Latino Network (Cleveland Branch), and the Ohio Commission of Latino Affairs.

Check out the calendar of events below to participate in our variety of programs, educational sessions, and events for Hispanic Heritage Month.

References:

• Boderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza - Gloria Anzaldua
• Translanguaging: Language, Bilingualism and Education - O. Garcia, L. Wei
• Soldaderas in the Mexican Military: Myth and History - Elizabeth Salas
• The Power of Latino Leadership, Second Edition, Revised and Updated: Culture, Inclusion, and Contribution (2023)
• The Young Lords: A Radical History by Johanna Fernández
• Learning to Be Latino: How Colleges Shape Identity Politics (2018)
• Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino” by Héctor Tobar (2023)
• Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age by Juana Bordas (2012)

Feature your events on the Hispanic Heritage Month website

1. Submit your events to the University Events Calendar
2. Tag it with Signature Programs and Hispanic Heritage Month to ensure it is featured in the list of events below.