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Littler Celebrates Hispanic Heritage - 2024 | Littler Mendelson P.C.
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. The exhibit will be on view until November 30, 2025. You can also visit the website that features select oral histories, 3D objects and historical biographies.
The National Museum
of the American Latino
Each year, the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers selects the annual theme for Hispanic Heritage Month. The 2024 theme, “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together,” pays tribute to the spirit of innovation demonstrated by Hispanic and Latin American entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and numerous others, who have enriched our nation and continue to focus on a more inclusive future. This year’s theme highlights that Hispanic and Latin Americans have always been trailblazers, embracing and shaping the future, with no limit to what these communities of people can do and offer to the world.
Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together
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 where Spanish is spoken the most, and by 2050, it's projected that one in three people in the U.S. will speak Spanish.
United by the Spanish Language
Even though many people use the terms “Latino/a” and “Hispanic” interchangeably, the terms technically convey slightly different connotations. “Latino/a/x” 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 used in the 1970 Census, after it began collecting population data at the request of Mexican-American and Hispanic organizations. “Latino” was first added to the 2000 Census questions.
Latino/a/x or Hispanic?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. Hispanic population held as the largest racial minority group in the country with just over 65 million people – making up 19.5% of the total population. Between 2022 and 2023, the Hispanic/Latino population accounted for just under 71% of the overall growth of the U.S. population, driven primarily by births. Currently, 13 states have one million or more Hispanic residents: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. The Census Bureau predicts that the Hispanic population will continue growing and will make up 27.5% of the U.S. population by 2060, compared with 17.8% in 2016.
The Largest and Fast-Growing U.S. Population
Amidst the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, recognizing the contributions, histories and diversity of the Hispanic and Latin American 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, which was enacted into law on 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.
Recognizing Hispanic and Latin Americans
The purpose of Hispanic Heritage Month is to recognize and celebrate the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean.
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.
What is Hispanic
Heritage Month?
Here’s everything you need to know about this special month and why it’s important to celebrate.
Why Do We Recognize Hispanic Heritage Month?
