Hispanic Heritage Month – Highlighting the Past, Preparing for the Future

By: Pete P. Gallego

September 16th – or 16 de septiembre – is Mexico’s Independence Day. Here at home, it is the official kickoff to Hispanic Heritage Month. Hispanics are an important and growing part of this multicultural mosaic known as the United States of America.

Whatever our background and culture, we should embrace and appreciate it. My own cultural heritage is Hispanic, though I often get asked whether I’m Italian or Portuguese. Sometimes, people call the office to ask my ethnicity. Ethnicity can be controversial – but I believe the cultures, traditions and backgrounds of our parents and grandparents make us who we are.

Sometimes people ask, “What is the significance of Hispanic Heritage Month?” I enjoy explaining why we celebrate it over two months (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) and what exactly it entails. The Hispanic Heritage Month website, http://hispanicheritagemonth.gov/,

summarizes it as follows:

“The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.”

The observation of Hispanic Heritage Month began in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson. It originally began as Hispanic Heritage Week but 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.

As a kid in West Texas, views of Hispanics – and opportunities for Hispanics – were limited. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that anyone ever advocated for things like segregated schools. The prevailing sentiments of those days have changed, but it took courageous people to change them. I use these 30 days to highlight those who broke the doors down and created opportunities for younger Hispanics. They set an example for others to follow.

People like Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez who served for 38 years in the House of Representatives and was a founding member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus;

Dr. Hector P. Garcia, who founded the American G.I. Forum as a place where Hispanic veterans could join together as one voice to advocate for their fellow service members; or Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who grew up in the projects of the Bronx, getting by with her family through her late father’s Social Security pension.

The list goes on. And, there are many who deserve recognition. I’ll be highlighting a few of these individuals over the course of the next few weeks. I invite you to visit my Facebook and Twitter pages as I take to social media to underscore the contributions of some talented, yet courageous people. You can access those pages by visiting www.gallego.house.gov.

My hope is that, through these posts and Tweets, we can remember and relive the sacrifices and successes of the many Hispanics, Latinos and Latinas, who came before us. They are our people. Our traditions. Our way of life. They are our story.

I’m proud to be an original co-sponsor of the Congressional Resolution honoring and celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. We must honor our community’s past. At the same time, we must reaffirm our dedication to improving our nation for the next generation of Americans, Latino and non-Latino alike.

Hispanics are now about 17 percent of the country’s population. By 2050, Latinos will make up almost 30 percent of the country’s population. And though we celebrate our heritage, we must also address the issues that disproportionately impact our families. Disparities in health, education, economic opportunity, voting rights – these are all issues that affect Latinos and their ability to achieve the American Dream.

I came to Congress to find common ground and fight for ALL families across the 23rd District and Texas and that includes the unique needs of the Latino community.

I never really met any Latino doctors, lawyers, architects or engineers as a kid growing up in Alpine. The first Hispanic lawyer I ever met was my sister. Today, I see a country that is more diverse, unique and complete. It is truly a country of great opportunity and potential for all.

The future is bright for America and the entire Hispanic community. I see it everyday. And, everyday, I am even more proud to be an American.

Enjoy Hispanic Heritage Month. To learn more about it, visit http://hispanicheritagemonth.gov/.