Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is the annual celebration of the history and culture of Hispanic people. Hispanic Heritage Month lasts from September 15th to October 15th. Throughout the months, people hold festivals, art shows, conferences, and so many more community events.

Hispanic Heritage Month was first introduced in 1968 by Congressmen George E. Brown. The population of Hispanic people in the US had increased throughout the 1960’s, leading to growing awareness towards multicultural identities. Brown grew up in East Los Angeles, where a large portion of the population was Hispanic. With the Civil Rights movement being at its peak, he found it necessary to recognize Hispanic people as well.

On September 17th, 1968, Congress passed Public Law 90-48 which led to the public marking of Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1987, Senator Paul Simon submitted a similar bill that was passed by Congress. This bill declared that Hispanic Heritage Week was going to be extended to a 31 day period.
It is important to understand and learn about the many accomplishments Hispanic people have achieved, as many have been overlooked.