Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month, whose roots go back to 1968, begins each year on September 15th, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Whatever the current political climate and the desire to build huge walls, immigration has always played an important role in the history of the United States. And Latinos in particular are not becoming Americans like the immigrants who came before them... They have always been neighbours and share a long history with the U.S.
Until recently, Hispanic Americans were the fastest growing minority group in the United States, accounting for over half (54%) of the overall population growth in the US since 2000. By 2035, Latinos will represent 35% of the U.S. population.
"They’re the focus of the immigration debate. But across the nation, Latinos are rising to power and offering a glimpse of what’s ahead."
Read the stories and see the images of Americans of Hispanic origins in the National Geographic by HÉCTOR TOBAR article How Latinos Are Shaping America's Future. Roxanne Frias, co-chair of Democrats Abroad France Diversity Caucus provided us with this enlightening article that highlights how Latinos from a variety of countries are positively reshaping the United States. This story appeared in the July 2018 issue of National Geographic magazine.
“The nation’s Latino population has grown sixfold since 1970, reaching an estimated 57.4 million in 2016, or nearly 18 percent of the population, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In most places where the locals say a community “feels” different from what it did a generation ago, Latinos are the reason: They account for more of the nation’s demographic changes than any other group...
...What “Latino” means, more than anything, is that you are part of a story that links you to other people with roots in a southern place: Ecuador or El Salvador, for example. Or maybe an old Southwestern town founded by Spaniards, such as Española, New Mexico. More than likely this story involves the journey a migrant made in search of work and opportunity.”
This article inspired the research for Roxanne’s documentary film, Latino: The Changing Face of America in 2016. In researching, writing, and directing this film, Roxanne wanted to find out to what extent Latino influence had already changed the identity and economic structure of the country.
As we celebrate the Latinx community in the US this month, Roxanne offered these thoughts:
“Donald Trump’s presidency has not only adversely impacted Latinos in the U.S. but has been deadly for thousands of men, women and children fleeing violent and corrupt countries from Mexico and Central America. We should be celebrating diversity, not fearing it.”
Interested in participating in the Democrats Abroad France Diversity Caucus? Join our group on Facebook.
You can join the DA Global Hispanic Caucus here. This caucus is made up of DA members from around the world who are willing and able to advocate on issues important to the Hispanic community within the United States of America and those living abroad.
More about Roxanne Frias: Roxanne wrote and directed, the documentary film, “How Latinos are Shaping America’s Future.” This film was produced and broadcast on ARTE, and shown on television in many other countries during a remarkable year in the U.S. Roxanne has made a number of documentaries on the U.S., among them Made in Chicago, The Making of Barack Obama.