Mes de la Herencia Latina| Latino Heritage Month

Latino Heritage Month  |  Mes de la Herencia Latino
September 15 - October 15

Background

• Latino Heritage Month started in 1968 as Latino Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988.

Did you know?

• Latinos students make up about 19% of all students and are about 10.5% of residents in Minneapolis.
• Latinos have long resided in Minneapolis, have moved from other states and many are recent immigrants from more than 25 countries and speak many languages, including: Spanish, Portuguese, Quechua, Mayan languages, Guaraní, French, Aymara, Nahuatl, and Italian.
• The term Latino or Latino refers to people from Central America, South America, Puerto Rico or other Spanish cultures, regardless of race.
• On the 2010 Census form, people of Spanish, Latino or Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or "another Latino, Latino, or Spanish origin."
• According to the 2010 Census, 50.5 million people or 16% of the population are of Latino or Latino origin. This represents a significant increase from the 2000 Census, which registered the Latino population at 35.3 million or 13% of the total U.S. population.
• September 15, the first day of Latino Heritage Month, is also the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence during this month.

Resources

• www.hispanicheritagemonth.org
• http://hispanicheritagemonth.gov
• http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/heritage_month/hhm/
• http://www.pbs.org/specials/hispanic-heritage-month/