The Meaning of National Latino Heritage
By Dr. Cristóbal Rodríguez
Cristóbal Rodríguez is the Associate Dean of Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement and Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy studies at Arizona State University. His research, teaching and service advocates for equity and access across the P-20 pipeline for dual language learners, Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities, families and children.
Foremost, we celebrate our ethnic identity year around, especially as it is who I am all the time. Celebrating national Latino Heritage Month is more of an opportunity for our nation, organizations, and spaces to celebrate their communities and recognize the contributions of individuals that contribute to our society and this great nation. And like other monthly cultural celebrations, it is also a period of time devoted to learning and understanding histories that matter for our communities.
For example, we begin this celebration on September 15 as it marks the beginning of independence from Spanish rule for the region that covers Latin America and the US southwest. It is also important to recognize our intersectionality and solidarity as this also marks a pivotal beginning for ending slavery in the Americas. More specifically, because of general Vicente Guerrero from the Mexican war for independence, who is Afro-Mestizo (of mixed indigenous, African, and European ancestries) and the second president of Mexico, Mexico declares the end of slavery. This critical moment in time influences in a manner that contributes greatly to what The United States is today. Given that, this demonstrates the importance of celebrating this month as a way to show solidarity and celebrate inclusion for our Latino communities as organizations, in our schools, and government and federal agencies. Moreover, it is also a way to show solidarity and celebrate all other monthly cultural celebrations. We end the month in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day as a way to also recognize the Indigenous roots of the Latino community.
In the end for me specifically, it is a moment to reflect on my Afro-mestizo roots, and to also learn about the significant contributions over our nation's history by Latina/o/x/é leaders, scholars, and pioneers. People like Franklin R. Chang Diaz who was the first Latino in space during the 80s and 90s, as well as Ellen Ochoa the first Latina in space, and the first Latina/o/x/é Director and second female director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. We celebrate amazing individuals like these not only because of who they are but also for what they do in leading this great nation. That is why celebrating Latino Heritage Month is important for both the Latino community and for all in the fabric of our society.
