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Recognizing
Hispanic Americans
The Largest and Fast-Growing U.S. Population
As of July 1, 2022, the U.S. Hispanic population held as the largest racial or ethnic minority group in the country, with 19.1% of the total population – 63.7 million people. According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. population grew by 23.1 million and Hispanics made up 52% of that increase from 2010 to 2021, with 13 states having one million or more Hispanic residents – Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, the Latino population is projected to hit 111.2 million, or 28% of the U.S. population, by 2060.
Latino/a or Hispanic?
Both the Hispanic and Latino communities observe Hispanic Heritage Month, united by their shared language – Spanish. In fact, one of the biggest and most indelible contributions of both groups is the spread of Spanish across the U.S. Today, almost 42 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish as their first language, while 15 million more speak it as a second language. After Mexico, the U.S. is second on the list of countries where Spanish is spoken the most. According to Forbes, one in three people in the U.S. will speak Spanish by 2050.
United by
the Spanish Language
To show your support of Hispanic Heritage Month, download a virtual meeting background at
What You
Should Know About Hispanic Heritage Month
¡Bienvenidos! Here’s what everyone should know about Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated each year between September 15 and October 15.
What is Hispanic
Heritage Month?
Amidst the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, recognizing the contributions, histories and diversity of the Hispanic American and American Latino communities gained traction. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Twenty years later, President Ronald Reagan extended it to a month-long celebration, designating September 15 as the start of the celebration. A law officially recognizing the month was passed August 17, 1988.
Additionally, each president, beginning with Johnson, has issued a presidential proclamation for what started as Hispanic Heritage Week and is now Hispanic Heritage Month.
The purpose of Hispanic Heritage Month is to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans who trace their roots to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay and Venezuela.
September 15 was set as the start date because five of those countries – Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua – celebrate their independence on that day. Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence during the month – September 16 and September 18, respectively.
We Are All,
We Are One
In December 2020, Congress passed legislation to create a new Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., dedicated to Latinos. The National Museum of the American Latino will showcase Latino contributions to U.S. art, history, culture and science. The project is underway and is expected to take 10-12 years to complete. In the meantime, the first iteration can be found in the Molina Family Latino Gallery, inside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. The gallery’s premiere exhibition, “¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States,” introduces key concepts, moments and biographies that illuminate U.S. Latinos’ historical and cultural legacies. The exhibition also tells the stories of Latinas and Latinos who have shaped the U.S., including César Chávez, Roberto Clemente and Celia Cruz. The exhibit will be on view until December 1, 2024. You can also visit the website that features select oral histories, 3D objects and historical biographies.
The National Museum
of the American Latino
Littler Celebrates Hispanic Heritage - 2023 | Littler Mendelson P.C.
Even though many people use the terms “Latino/a” and “Hispanic” interchangeably, the terms technically convey slightly different connotations. “Latino/a” refers to (almost) anyone born in or with ancestors from Latin America and living in the U.S. “Hispanic” is generally accepted as a narrower term that includes people only from Spanish-speaking Latin America, including those countries/territories of the Caribbean or from Spain itself. However, this is also an imperfect categorization, as there are many indigenous peoples from Spanish-speaking countries who do not identify with Spanish culture and do not speak the dominant language.
In general, the U.S. government does not differentiate between the two groups. The term “Hispanic” was first recognized by the government in the 1970s, after it began collecting population data at the request of Mexican-American and Hispanic organizations. “Latino” first appeared on government documents in 1997.
Each year, the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers selects the annual theme and image to be used for Hispanic Heritage Month. The theme for this year’s National Hispanic Heritage Month is: “Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One.” The 2023 theme and accompanying image reflect how each of these cultures contribute unique perspectives that strengthen the fabric of the U.S. and demonstrates the power that comes from being a united community.
Through the recognition and celebration of each unique culture, individuals are able to truly define their identity, embrace their heritage, and celebrate their customs. When people embrace their authentic selves and bring their distinct perspectives and backgrounds to the table, we become stronger as one nation.