Here's why Hispanic Heritage Month starts in the middle of September

FLYOVER. ALL RIGHT, KURT. TIME NOW 649. AND HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND, IT’S THE START OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. NEW ORLEANS AND ITS SURROUNDING AREAS IS HOME TO HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF HISPANICS WHO READY TO BRING THEIR CULTURE TO YOU? THIS WEEKEND? THERE’S SEVERAL FESTIVALS TO KICK OFF THE MONTH. WDSU REPORTER ANUM SIDDIQUI HAS A PREVIEW. ANUM IMAGINE THERE’S A LOT OF FOOD, FUN AND TONS OF FESTIVITIES GOING ON TO CELEBRATE. OH, YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. AND I SPOKE WITH THE FESTIVAL ORGANIZERS. THEY SAY THEIR GOAL IS TO FILL YOUR TUMMIES WITH YUMMY FOOD. BUT ALSO, YOU. NIGHT, THE HISPANIC AND NEW ORLEANS COMMUNITY, THE SOUNDS OF HISPANIC COUNTRIES AND THE SMELLS OF TRADITIONAL DISHES IS WHAT’S BEING CELEBRATED ACROSS THE METRO AREA IN HONOR OF HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH. THIS IS FRERET. WE CELEBRATE THE INDEPENDENCE OF CENTRAL AMERICA, THE CARIBBEAN AND MEXICO. RAPHAEL SAADI IS PUTTING ON THE FIFTH ANNUAL BALADA FESTIVAL IN THE WEST BANK. 18 VENDORS WILL BRING THEIR OWN VERSION OF THE BALADA, INCLUDING SABORES DE MI IN KENNER DO IT AND THAT’S HOW YOU DO IT. THERE YOU GO. IF YOU HAVEN’T ALREADY GOTTEN TO TRY A BALADA IS A BIG YUMMY FLOUR TORTILLA WITH REFRIED BEANS, EGGS, STEAK, WHITE CHEESE AND CREMA. YES, THE FEST IS A CHANCE FOR YOU TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO HISPANIC EZINES, BUT ALSO LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT CULTURES. WELL, WHEN THE COMMUNITY GROWS SO FAST, LIKE THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY, THE MELTING POT GOES TO THE SIDE. NOW WE ARE AFFECTING SOCIETY AND THEREFORE I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY OF INTEGRATING INTO SOCIETY, CELEBRATING THROUGH FOOD, MUSIC AND FAMILY IS A BIG VALUE TO THE CULTURE. THE FRENCH MARKET AND ECOS, LATINO HOPES TO BRING THOSE TRADITIONS TO THE HISPANIC HERITAGE FEST IN THE MARKET. I’M VERY PROUD AND VERY EAGER TO TO SHARE WHO WE ARE. ARTISTS PERFORMING AT THE FEST TELL ME, CONNECTING WITH MUSIC ALLOWS THEM TO TELL THEIR STORIES. FOR CARLOS VALLADARES FROM HONDURAS, HE SAYS THERE’S NO PLACE MORE WELCOMING THAN NEW ORLEANS. LATIN AMERICA IF YOU PAY ATTENTION TO IT. IT’S VERY CREATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO COLORS, FLAVORS, AKERS AND RHYTHMS. AND IT’S SO RICH, SO DIVERSE, SO WHEN YOU COME TO NEW ORLEANS, IT’S A MELTING POT OF SO MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES AND PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD RESULT OF IT. IT’S AMAZING. THAT’S WHY THE RELATIONSHIP IS SO STRONG. AND FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE FUN GOING ON THIS MONTH, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE. THAT’S WDSU DOT COM, REPORTING LIVE IN THE FREN

National Hispanic Heritage Month began last week and will run through Oct. 15, giving the United States an opportunity to recognize and celebrate members of our communities and their ancestors who hail from Mexico, parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America and Spain."The Latino community and Latino history is a fundamental part of American history," said Emily Key, director of education at the Smithsonian Latino Center. "And recognizing that and understanding that are key reasons why this month is important."Here's what you should know about Hispanic Heritage Month.The historyRather than starting at the beginning of September, Hispanic Heritage Month takes place over 30 days starting on the 15th — a nod to the anniversaries of national independence for a number of Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all recognize Sept. 15 as the date of their independence, while Mexico's independence is celebrated Sept. 16 and Chile celebrates its independence Sept. 18.Hispanic Heritage Month traces its history to 1968, when the observance was just a week long. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill designating the week of Sept. 15 as "National Hispanic Heritage Week," according to the Office of the Historian and the Office of Art & Archives for the U.S. House of Representatives.In the inaugural proclamation, he wrote of the "great contribution to our national heritage made by our people of Hispanic descent — not only in the fields of culture, business, and science, but also through their valor in battle.""That was a period for sure, when Chicanos in the Southwest, Mexican Americans, Latinos across the country were demanding greater inclusion and representation politically, culturally, socially, economically — everything," said Geraldo Cadava, professor of history and Latina and Latino Studies at Northwestern University and author of "The Hispanic Republican.""It was a demand for greater inclusion and representation and acknowledgment that Latinos play an important role in the United States," he said.It wasn't until nearly 20 years later that Hispanic Heritage Week was lengthened to an entire month under President Ronald Reagan.Rep. Esteban Torres of California had submitted a bill to expand it, saying in remarks at the time, "We want the public to know that we share a legacy with the rest of the country, a legacy that includes artists, writers, Olympic champions, and leaders in business, government, cinema, and science."Torres' bill died in committee, but Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois submitted a similar bill that Reagan signed into law.The contributions of Hispanics and Latinos to the United States are long and storied: Key pointed out that the first known colony in America was not Jamestown, but the Spanish colony of St. Augustine in Florida."Hispanics or Latinos ... have fought in every war since the American Revolution," she said. "They are business owners and veterans and teachers and public servants."She added, "Latinos are Americans, and they form part of this American fabric."A growing populationBut Hispanic Heritage Month is a chance for the country to acknowledge not only the rich history of its diverse Hispanic communities, but who they are today, said Felix Sanchez, chairman of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts."Hispanic Heritage Month gives us an opportunity to update the American people as to who Latinos are today," he said, "to provide a contemporary context for all of our communities that are very different, that are part of the Latino ecosystem."Part of that contemporary context is the fact that Hispanics and Latinos make up an increasing portion of the overall U.S. population.The 2020 U.S. Census showed that Hispanics and Latinos make up a fast-growing, multiracial group: In 2020, 62.1 million people identified as Hispanic or Latino — 18% of the U.S. population. That number had grown 23% since 2010. Comparatively, the U.S. population not of Hispanic or Latino origin grew just 4.3%, census data shows.Between 2010 and 2020, just over half of the total U.S. population growth — 51.1% — was due to growth among Hispanics or Latinos, per the Census Bureau.This growth is just another reason why Hispanic Heritage Month is important, Key said. "If you're 18% or so of the population, then you should also have representation, and we should celebrate and understand these communities that make up a large portion of the country's population."Observing Hispanic Heritage MonthThere are lots of ways to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month, whether it's engaging with books, films, documentaries — suggestions from Cadava include PBS' documentary series on Latino America or the podcast "Latino USA" — or live programming related to Hispanics and Latinos and their history in the United States."If that means in your local community, going to a Mexican Independence parade, of which there are many across the country, you should do that," he said.Alternatively, museums like the Smithsonian have events and online learning resources for families to use as guided learning on Latinos and their communities, including profiles of Latino patriots in military history. People can also visit local museums, she said, that have Latino content and collections.Or you can just speak with people in your neighborhood, Key said. "Talk to a friend, talk to a classmate, talk to a neighbor, talk to your grocer, or your local restaurant where you get your favorite tacos," she said."People like to share about their culture and their communities. ... Learn about who they are and why they are in the neighborhoods they're in, and discover that we probably share more in common than we think."It's important to note, experts said, that you can recognize and acknowledge that heritage at all times of the year, outside of the 30-day period between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. Hispanic Heritage Month is a "month of introduction" or an "entry point," Key said, to learn more about your neighbors, classmates and colleagues and their heritage."Ideally, Hispanic Heritage Month would be unnecessary," Cadava said, adding, "Do you need a month that is essentially American History Month, when Latino heritage, Hispanic heritage and American heritage meant the same thing?"Sanchez echoed that, telling CNN, "Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for both the Latino community to reinforce its accomplishments but also to extend beyond the Latino community, to remind all Americans that we are American."

"The Latino community and Latino history is a fundamental part of American history," said Emily Key, director of education at the Smithsonian Latino Center. "And recognizing that and understanding that are key reasons why this month is important."

Here's what you should know about Hispanic Heritage Month.

The history

Rather than starting at the beginning of September, Hispanic Heritage Month takes place over 30 days starting on the 15th — a nod to the anniversaries of national independence for a number of Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all recognize Sept. 15 as the date of their independence, while Mexico's independence is celebrated Sept. 16 and Chile celebrates its independence Sept. 18.

Hispanic Heritage Month traces its history to 1968, when the observance was just a week long. President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill designating the week of Sept. 15 as "National Hispanic Heritage Week," according to the Office of the Historian and the Office of Art & Archives for the U.S. House of Representatives.

In the inaugural proclamation, he wrote of the "great contribution to our national heritage made by our people of Hispanic descent — not only in the fields of culture, business, and science, but also through their valor in battle."

"That was a period for sure, when Chicanos in the Southwest, Mexican Americans, Latinos across the country were demanding greater inclusion and representation politically, culturally, socially, economically — everything," said Geraldo Cadava, professor of history and Latina and Latino Studies at Northwestern University and author of "The Hispanic Republican."

"It was a demand for greater inclusion and representation and acknowledgment that Latinos play an important role in the United States," he said.

It wasn't until nearly 20 years later that Hispanic Heritage Week was lengthened to an entire month under President Ronald Reagan.

Rep. Esteban Torres of California had submitted a bill to expand it, saying in remarks at the time, "We want the public to know that we share a legacy with the rest of the country, a legacy that includes artists, writers, Olympic champions, and leaders in business, government, cinema, and science."

Torres' bill died in committee, but Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois submitted a similar bill that Reagan signed into law.

The contributions of Hispanics and Latinos to the United States are long and storied: Key pointed out that the first known colony in America was not Jamestown, but the Spanish colony of St. Augustine in Florida.

"Hispanics or Latinos ... have fought in every war since the American Revolution," she said. "They are business owners and veterans and teachers and public servants."

She added, "Latinos are Americans, and they form part of this American fabric."

A growing population

But Hispanic Heritage Month is a chance for the country to acknowledge not only the rich history of its diverse Hispanic communities, but who they are today, said Felix Sanchez, chairman of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts.

"Hispanic Heritage Month gives us an opportunity to update the American people as to who Latinos are today," he said, "to provide a contemporary context for all of our communities that are very different, that are part of the Latino ecosystem."

Part of that contemporary context is the fact that Hispanics and Latinos make up an increasing portion of the overall U.S. population.

The 2020 U.S. Census showed that Hispanics and Latinos make up a fast-growing, multiracial group: In 2020, 62.1 million people identified as Hispanic or Latino — 18% of the U.S. population. That number had grown 23% since 2010. Comparatively, the U.S. population not of Hispanic or Latino origin grew just 4.3%, census data shows.

Between 2010 and 2020, just over half of the total U.S. population growth — 51.1% — was due to growth among Hispanics or Latinos, per the Census Bureau.

This growth is just another reason why Hispanic Heritage Month is important, Key said. "If you're 18% or so of the population, then you should also have representation, and we should celebrate and understand these communities that make up a large portion of the country's population."

Observing Hispanic Heritage Month

There are lots of ways to acknowledge Hispanic Heritage Month, whether it's engaging with books, films, documentaries — suggestions from Cadava include PBS' documentary series on Latino America or the podcast "Latino USA" — or live programming related to Hispanics and Latinos and their history in the United States.

"If that means in your local community, going to a Mexican Independence parade, of which there are many across the country, you should do that," he said.

Alternatively, museums like the Smithsonian have events and online learning resources for families to use as guided learning on Latinos and their communities, including profiles of Latino patriots in military history. People can also visit local museums, she said, that have Latino content and collections.

Or you can just speak with people in your neighborhood, Key said. "Talk to a friend, talk to a classmate, talk to a neighbor, talk to your grocer, or your local restaurant where you get your favorite tacos," she said.

"People like to share about their culture and their communities. ... Learn about who they are and why they are in the neighborhoods they're in, and discover that we probably share more in common than we think."

It's important to note, experts said, that you can recognize and acknowledge that heritage at all times of the year, outside of the 30-day period between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. Hispanic Heritage Month is a "month of introduction" or an "entry point," Key said, to learn more about your neighbors, classmates and colleagues and their heritage.

"Ideally, Hispanic Heritage Month would be unnecessary," Cadava said, adding, "Do you need a month that is essentially American History Month, when Latino heritage, Hispanic heritage and American heritage meant the same thing?"

Sanchez echoed that, telling CNN, "Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity for both the Latino community to reinforce its accomplishments but also to extend beyond the Latino community, to remind all Americans that we are American."

Here's why Hispanic Heritage Month starts in the middle of September

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