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*The History of Hispanic Heritage Month

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                     The History of Hispanic Heritage Month

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Responding to the growing demands for recognition by many Hispanic organizations, a Joint Resolution (H.J. Res. 1299) was approved September 17, 1968 by the U.S. Senate and House of  Representatives, 90th Congress.(l) The resolution was passed by 'voice vote' indicating obvious solid support, not requiring a vote count.(2)

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Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress  assembled, That the President is hereby authorized and requested to issue annually a proclamation designating the week including September 15 and 16 as "National Hispanic Heritage Week" and calling upon the people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.(3)

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The time period was selected to tie in with the celebrations of Mexican Independence Day and other Latin American Independence Day celebrations commemorated in our country during September 15 and 16. (4)

Since 1968, presidential proclamations have been published, honoring Hispanic Heritage Month, On September 4, 1974, Gerald R. Ford proclamation begun: "Our country's Hispanic heritage reaches back more than four centuries.  When the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock, Hispanic civilization was already thriving in what is now Florida and New Mexico. Since then the Hispanic contribution to America has been a consistent and vital influence in our country's cultural growth." (5)

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Unfortunately, asking the educational community to observe Hispanic Heritage in the middle of September when most schools are beginning a new semester resulted in very limited promotion. Teachers were too busy counting heads and distributing books. In 1974, President Ford proclamation expanded the call encouraging those organizations concerned with the protection of human rights to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.(6)

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August 17, 1988, twenty years after the first resolution Public Law 90-498 was passed, Public Law 100402 was passed, again by 'voice vote' expanding Hispanic Heritage Week to Hispanic Heritage Month. (7)

September 13, 1988, President Ronald Reagan spoke at the Rose Garden at the White House, remarking on the signing of the National Hispanic Heritage Week proclamation. "We have all been enriched by the contributions of Hispanics in every walk of American life. " In addition to the noted Hispanic leaders in attendance, he gave special recognition to Colonel Gil Coronado.". .. I'm honored to welcome Colonel Gil Coronado (USAF). Due to his efforts, we're not just here to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week but to announce that in 1989 the period between September 15th and October 15th will be Hispanic Heritage Month. It's an honor well-deserved. And you can thank Colonel Coronado, who's been a stout defender- of his Hispanic heritage and the United State of America." (8)

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President George Bush has embraced Hispanics with great understanding and warned, "We must never take our friends for granted." (9) "We are rural and urban; native-born and foreign-born; Hispanic and non-Hispanic, brown, black, white - but most of all, we are Americans. " (1O)

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Confusion about the Hispanic historical presence is understandable. Most textbooks gloss over the period of Spanish colonization, preferring to concentrate on the history of the formation and development of the United States. The Black and Indigenous historical interaction and presence within the boundaries of the fledging United States are well documented, via government and private records. Hispanic records are also available, but have not been as accessible. In addition to those Hispanics already occupying what became the United States, Hispanic migrations into the continental United States have continued from all parts of the world, bringing unique cultural variations on Spanish language-heritage individuals, Hispanics.

President George Bush expressed his respect for Hispanic contribution in a series of messages on the observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month: "Perhaps no single ethnic group has had as profound an impact upon our Nation as Hispanic America. From the days of the first explorers in what is now Florida, Texas, and California, the Hispanic peoples have played a major role in taming this vast country and developing its abundant resources." (113 ".. . The values passed from generation to generation in Hispanic American families are values central to the American experience. " (12) We need to let the people understand that "What's good for Hispanic America will be good for the United States." (13)

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"While our Nation's history bears ample evidence of our Hispanic heritage, we cannot view that great heritage solely in terms of the past. Rather it is a living legacy. "(14) We ourselves as Hispanic Americans need to know who we are and share insight with the world, en herencia unidos. "Common cultural roots enable us all to seek a shared destiny for our hemisphere, for ourselves. "(15) It is indeed a challenge, but as President George Bush stated: "... Hispanic America is at her best when the challenge is the toughest." (16)

President Reagan September l3, I988 closed with a borrowed phrase, "If only we are faithful to our past, we shall not have to fear our future." (17)

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Footnotes: (1) "With regards to 1968, the major sponsors of the bill appeared to be Rogers (D-Colorado) in the House, and Montoya (D-New Mexico) and Mansfield(D-Montana) in the Senate." Fax correspondence, July 17, 1998 from Dr. John R. Hébert, Senior Specialist in Hispanic bibliography, Hispanic Division, Library of Congress. Extracted information from references to the National Hispanic: Heritage Week supplied by Barbara Salazar of the Congressional Research Service.

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(2) Dr. John R. Hébert, July 16, 1998, phone interview.

(3) Public Law 90-498. Approved September 17, 1968 by 90th Congress.

(4) Senator Montoya (D-New Mexico), Congressional Record, September 12, 1968.

(5) Gerald R. Ford, Proclamation 4310, National Hispanic Heritage Week, 1974 September 4, 1974.

(6) Ibid.

(7) Op. Cite. Hébert, "In 1988, the major sponsors were Byrd (D-West Virginia) and Pressler (R-South Dakota)  in the Senate and McCloskey (D-Indianaj, Torres (D-California), Richardson (D-New Mexico), Myers (R-Indiana), and Dymally (California) in the House with a reference to Colonel Gil Coronado, who according to Mr. Richardson, : I especially want to complement Col. Gil Coronado, who apparently is the original inciter of this outstanding idea and passing it on to the gentleman from California (Mr. Torres)" (August 8, 1988) Congressional Record- House

(8) President Ronald Regan, Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, September 13, 1988.

(9) President George Bush, Remarks to the United States Chamber of Commerce in New Orleans, Louisiana,  September 8, 1989.

(10) President George Bush, Remarks to Members of the Hispanic-American Community in Los Angeles, 
April 25, 1989.

(11) President George Bush's message on the Observance of National Hispanic Heritage Month 1989, 
September 11, 1989.

(12) Ibid.

(13) President George Bush, Remarks at the Annual Convention of the United States Hispanic Chamber 
of Commerce in Chicago, Illinois, September 20, 1991.

(14) President George Bush, Proclamation 6488 National Hispanic Heritage Month, 1992, September 2, 1992.

(15) Op. Cit. Bush, September 20, 1991

(16) Op. Cit. Bush, September 8, 1989

(17) Op. Cit. Reagan, September 13; 1988

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Updated March 29th, 2021 by Mimi Lozano