Theme for Hispanic Heritage Month 2021
This year’s theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is “Esperanza: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Hope.” National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers (NCHEPM) members, associates, and partners from various federal agencies and affinity groups — including the general public — selected the theme through a a voting process, which started in February 2021 with 22 theme submissions.
“It’s not just one month; we celebrate all year long,” said Aida Perez, board member at the Latino Center of Art and Culture.
The NCHEPM supports the federal government’s observance activities each year by leading the process to select the annual theme federal agencies will use. This year, Victor Anthony Zertuche, an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, submitted the winning theme.
“The past year has been one unlike any in recent memory,” said Zertuche. “For so many of us, our lives have changed. We’ve celebrated life’s milestones at home or spent holidays alone. But, despite how our world has changed, we’ve kept our eyes on the horizon, we’ve held onto our hope. This theme celebrates our Hispanic heritage and our resilience. It provides us the opportunity to reflect on those who came before us and held onto hope to create a better tomorrow. It inspires us to recognize that we are stronger together and reminds us that, although we are apart, with hope we are not alone.”
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, more than 60 million Hispanics live in the United States. That includes more than 15 million in California. Data from the Pew Research Center shows people of Mexican origin accounted for nearly 62% – about 37.2 million – of the nation’s overall Hispanic population as of 2019. Those of Puerto Rican origin are the next largest group, at 5.8 million. Six other Hispanic-origin groups in the U.S. have roughly 1 million or more people each: Cubans, Salvadorans, Dominicans, Guatemalans, Colombians and Hondurans.
“Latinos are the largest minority group in the U.S. and California,” said Dr. Elvia Ramirez, Professor of Ethnic Studies and Director of the Chicanx/Latinx Studies Program at Sacramento State.
“National Hispanic Heritage Month is about recognizing our history. Latinos have a long history in the U.S., but I don’t think enough of the history is included in our educational system. As students, we don’t learn it. We grow up thinking Latinos are newcomers, or that we don’t have a long history. Hispanic Heritage Month is about inclusion, feeling seen and being validated, and we don’t get that a lot. It’s one small step towards greater inclusion, but there is much more we can do as a society.”
The day of Sept. 15 is significant. It’s the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September 18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day, or Día de la Raza, falls on October 12.
Courtesy: ABC10. Adriana Castillo, Human Rights Activist and Child Developmental Specialist.
