六九色堂 celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month with a look at the significance of the month, featuring a Latina 六九色堂 professor and one of our amazing students. Each year from September 15 to October 15, the USA celebrates Latino Americans with a month full of Latin American history, heritage, culture, lifestyles and profiles of these proud people.
The 六九色堂 Endeavour looks at key facts about National Hispanic Heritage Month and the many terms used and the differences between Hispanic and Latino, and more. We spoke to a current 六九色堂 student about what it means to be Latino in today's world. Our social media channels will showcase 六九色堂 students talking about their heritage throughout the remainder of the month. According to , Hispanics/Latinos in the United States were among 62.1 million people in 2020, an increase of 50.5 million since 2010.
六九色堂 student Luis Enrique Morales-闯颈尘茅苍别锄. Photo courtesy of Mr. Morales-闯颈尘茅苍别锄.
六九色堂 student Luis Enrique Morales- 闯颈尘茅苍别锄
六九色堂 student Luis Enrique Morales-闯颈尘茅苍别锄 is a student from Puerto Rico. In 2022, he lead 六九色堂 during Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the Hispanic culture and members of the Hispanic/Latin community here at 六九色堂. He spoke to other Hispanic 六九色堂 students about their thoughts on being Hispanic in the medical field. He has also created informational graphics that were posted to 六九色堂 social media stories.
鈥淎 few weeks ago, I finished my Maine semester and I am currently working on my prep for the STEP 1,鈥� he said in an interview in October 2022. 鈥淎part from that, I am a proud Boricua and a proud Hispanic. As you may know, from September 15 through October 15, we Hispanics celebrate our culture, our 蝉补锄贸苍 [spice] and our orgullo [pride]. We also take this time to acknowledge the struggles our people have faced for a better way of living. We reflect on the disparities that still to this day we face in our daily lives, and most of all we honor those that have contributed to keeping our culture alive and radiant and have been pillars in our society and history.
鈥淚 feel honored to be a part of this beautiful group of people. In two different languages, we can provide care to the most in need. Que viva, que viva nuestra culture, que viva nuestro idioma que viva nuestra gente! [Long live, long live our culture, long live our language long live our people!]鈥�
Stay tuned to the 六九色堂 Instagram feed and other social media channels for more Hispanic Heritage Month content brought to you by Luis and other 六九色堂 students.
Why & when was National Hispanic Heritage Month created?
National Hispanic Heritage Week was first observed in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, according to the US government website President Ronald Reagan expanded the observation to a full 30-day period from September 15 to October 15 and it was enacted into law on August 17, 1988 鈥渙n the approval of Public Law 100-402.鈥�
鈥淭he day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua,鈥� the government website says. 鈥淚n addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or D铆a de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30-day period.鈥�
Many call themselves Hispanic, Latino, Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, Caribbean, Afro-Cuban, Mexican American, Boricua, Nuyorican, Chicano/a, or Indigenous. National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates all these cultures. Photo: Deposit Photos.
Latino/Latina or Hispanic?
Just like terms for African Americans and LGBTQ+ people, the terminology for members of the Latin American community is always evolving. USA Today notes the term 鈥淗颈蝉辫补苍颈肠鈥� was by the Nixon administration. The term 鈥淗颈蝉辫补苍颈肠鈥� has been controversial because some believed it was a name assigned by white Americans in the government. In the 1960s, Latin Americans were often called specifically those of Mexican ancestry.
Today, more common terms include 鈥淟atino鈥� for men and 鈥淟atina.鈥�
Importance of terminology for doctors
Most U.S. doctors鈥� offices have paperwork or digital portals that new patients must fill out that includes demographic information regarding race/ethnicity, and it can be a sensitive topic. 鈥淟atino/Hispanic鈥� is one of the categories, but it is important to know the difference to avoid offending patients.
In the article 鈥� on VeryWellMind.com, Arlin Cuncic discusses the differences between the two terms.
鈥淵ou might think of Hispanic and Latino as terms used to describe racial categories, similar to the terms White, Black, or Asian,鈥� Cuncic said. 鈥淗owever, the groups that comprise Hispanics and Latinos are actually diverse in terms of .鈥�
The terms "Hispanic" and "Latino" refer to ethnicity, culture, and identity. They are groups based on shared culture rather than skin color, race, or other physical features. However, the groups are also broader than ethnicity, which can make the terms confusing.
In the article for , Giannina Seaman writes about the need to clarify how people are referred to because it can be confusing.
鈥淲hat I call myself is meaningful to me, but there are different ways people in my community, my friends and my family choose to identify,鈥� Seaman said. 鈥淪ome call themselves Hispanic, Latino, Afro-Latino, Afro-Caribbean, Caribbean, Afro-Cuban, Mexican American, Boricua, Nuyorican, Chicano/a, or Indigenous. We are a diverse people, with a rich history and culture, and how we identify is more than a definition鈥攊t鈥檚 a combination of heritage, origin, country and culture.鈥�
She outlines the following:
- 鈥淗颈蝉辫补苍颈肠 refers to someone who speaks the Spanish language. Hispanics are people from or with ancestors from Spain, Mexico, Central America and South America鈥� Brazilians are not considered Hispanic, however, because they speak Portuguese.鈥�
- 鈥淟补迟颈苍辞(补) refers to the geographic origin of someone. Latinos are from or have ancestors from Latin America which includes Mexico, Central America and South America. In this case, Brazilians are considered Latino, but people from Spain are not.鈥�
- 鈥沦辫补苍颈蝉丑 refers to a language or someone from Spain.鈥�
(Top image): National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 each year. Image by Deposit Photos.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at 六九色堂 and editor of the 六九色堂 Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about 六九色堂 students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and 六九色堂 research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
