By Michael Kaminski, President, Argonne Hispanic-Latino Club
National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed yearly from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. It may seem odd to begin the observance in the middle of the month, but there is a historical reason for this.
Sept. 15 is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their independence days during this period. Many Latin American countries also commemorate Día de la Raza — Day of the Race — on Oct. 12.
What began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week was expanded to a month-long observance by federal law in 1988. The focus of the commemorations has always been to celebrate and bring awareness to the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2015, was 56.6 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or racial minority.
The term Hispanic or Latino, refers to Puerto Rican, South or Central American or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race. On the 2010 Census form, people of Spanish, Hispanic and/or Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban or “another Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin.”
Hispanics and Latinos have deep roots in the United States and have made many contributions to American life in many fields including science, literature, politics, athletics, music, art and more. I invite you to learn more about these Americans and National Hispanic Heritage Month 2016 at:
National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month (collection of federal government resources)
The Creation and Evolution of the National Hispanic Heritage Celebration
Here at Argonne, the Hispanic-Latino Club celebrates and brings awareness to these cultures year round. In addition to social networking at the lab, the club offers services to the Hispanic-Latino communities of greater Chicagoland. This includes contributing to charitable organizations, providing speakers to local schools, hosting career day booths and serving as mentors for youths.
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016, the club will host its 12th annual Hispanic/Latino Educational Outreach Day. Students from Evergreen Academy Elementary School in Chicago will participate in a full day of tours and hands-on activities. This event gives students the chance to learn more about science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers and to see these careers are open to people of all ethnic backgrounds and genders.
For more information on the Hispanic-Latino Club and its activities, visit our website or contact me at [email protected] or ext. 2-4777.
