WTS-Boston DEI in Motion - Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated between September 15 to October 15 in the United States to recognize the contributions, history, and influence of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.[1] The dates of Hispanic Heritage Month are significant since they include the anniversaries of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, in addition to the independence days of Mexico and Chile. The theme of the month for 2023 is “Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America,” which reflects the significant strides of Hispanics in the economic, political, and social growth of the U.S.[2]
The term ‘Hispanic’ is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as an ethnicity, not a race, since Hispanics can be of any race.[3] It includes people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.[4] The term ‘Latino’ is sometimes used interchangeably to refer to the same group, though there is controversy surrounding both terms since these labels refer to such a wide variety of people.
The Latino population is growing in the US, representing a large share of the national vote[5], represented by politicians like Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Robert Garcia, and Representative Marie Perez, among others.
The Latino community has made significant strides in the transportation industry. Nuria Fernandez became the first Senate-confirmed Afro-Latina to lead the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) in 2021. Victor Mendez served as Federal Highway Administrator from 2009 to 2014, during which he implemented the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).[6]
There are many ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the Boston area, including:
- Hispanic Heritage Breakfast
- Music & Fun for Children through the Boston Public Library
- Hispanic & Latino 5K
- Latinx Heritage Night at the Museum of Fine Arts
- Hispanic Celebration at the Boston Red Sox
[1] https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about.html
[2] https://hispanicstar.org/toolkit/
[3] https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/09/15/who-is-hispanic/
[4] https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about.html#:~:text=Each%20year%2C%20Americans%20observe%20National,and%20Central%20and%20South%20America.
[5] https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/10/12/key-facts-about-hispanic-eligible-voters-in-2022/
[6] https://medium.com/destinations-by-dot/latinos-leading-the-way-in-transportation-history-8ac09843b52b