National Hispanic Heritage Month kicked off on September 15 and is slated to run through October 15.
The “month” is celebrated as a time to explore and honor Latino culture and heritage.
It started in 1968, through a mandate from Congress, reported WCAX.
“Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates a growing segment of the American population and culture. Today, there are more Hispanics in the United States than there are in Spain. Mexico and Colombia are the only nations with larger Hispanic populations than the U.S.,” it noted.
“The 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,” added the month’s official website.
“In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.”
Check out some quotes and sayings below.
1. “The Latina in me is an ember that blazes forever.” -- Sonia Sotomayor
2. “I’m proud of being Hispanic.” -- Lisa Guerrero
3. “No community values entrepreneurship and small business more than the Hispanic community.” -- Marco Rubio
4. “I think Hispanic community--the values that resonate in our community are fundamentally conservative. They are faith, family and patriotism. Do you know the rate of military enlistment among Hispanics is higher than any demographic in this country? And they are also hard work and responsibility.” -- Ted Cruz
5. “‘Hispanic’ is English for a person of Latino origin who wants to be accepted by the white status quo. ‘Latino’ is the word we have always used for ourselves.” -- Sandra Cisneros
6. “The Hispanic community understands the American Dream and have not forgotten what they were promised - that in the U.S., a free market system, allows us all to succeed economically, achieve stability and security for your family and leave your children better off than yourselves.” -- marco Rubio
7. “No particular race is the enemy. Ignorance is the enemy.” -- George Lopez
8. “Everyone has a Latino inside them.” -- Paulina Rubio
9. “Every single immigrant we have, documented or undocumented, is a future American.” -- Junot Diaz
10. “My mother gave me one piece of advice that stuck with me. She said don’t forget where you came from.” -- Eva Longoria
11. “ I am trying to teach my children to feel a responsibility for their fellow human beings and a sense of connection with ... the world around them. ” -- Gloria Estefan
12. “Don’t let anyone call you a minority if you’re black or Hispanic or belong to some other ethnic group. You’re not less than anybody else.” -- Gwendolyn Brooks
13. “I am a product of affirmative action. I am the perfect affirmative action baby. I am Puerto Rican, born and raised in the south Bronx. My test scores were not comparable to my colleagues at Princeton and Yale. Not so far off so that I wasn’t able to succeed at those institutions.” -- Sonia Sotomayor
