National Hispanic Heritage Month 2020

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NATIONAL HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

A CAMPAIGN THAT MARKS AN IMPORTANT STEP TOWARDS CREATING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE EVERYDAY REALITY SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS WITHIN MINORITY COMMUNITIES.

“WE HAVE TO BE VISIBLE. WE SHOULD NOT BE ASHAMED OF WHO WE ARE.WE HAVE TO SHOW THE WORLD THAT WE'RE NUMEROUS.THERE ARE MANY OF US OUT THERE”

Sylvia Rivera Puerto Rican American transgender activist

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Latinx Heritage Month Feature: It’s Not Just Hate: Discrimination Against Latinos is About Privilege, Apathy, Ignorance and Access Casa Central: Hispanics Serving The Community Project Vida

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“It's important, as a trans woman, as a trans woman of color, being in community with other people that identify as trans or gender non-conforming, we are resisting a system that tells us that we shouldn't exist.â€? ~Jennicet GutiĂŠrrez

The main purpose of Hispanic Heritage Month is to recognize the contributions and vital presence of both Hispanic and Latin Americans to the United States and to observe their native heritage and contributing culture.

An Overview

July 2020

A BEGINNING...

T he main purpose of Hispanic Heritage Month is to recognize the contributions and vital presence of both Hispanic and Latin Americans to the United States and to observe their native heritage and contributing culture.

The history of Hispanic Heritage Month has deep roots in the United States, the month long observation began in 1968, and always begins in the fall of each year.

WHAT IS HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH—AND WHO CELEBRATES IT? By Jonathan Borge

While you never have to wait for an annual event to take pride in your ethnic background, National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time for Americans with roots in the countries involved (or in Puerto Rico's case, the territory involved), to honor their respective cultures and the history behind them.

In 2020, it kicks off on Tuesday, September 15, and ends on October 15.

Hispanic Heritage Month is a period meant for recognition, education, and celebration, similar to Black History Month in February, or LGBTQ Pride in June. And you can expect to see Latino celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Bad Bunny, Shakira, Maluma, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Eva Longoria, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor pay tribute to those who came before them. But how do we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and why is it recognized in the first place? Here's some essential facts to know.

WHAT DOES HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH MEAN & WHO STARTED IT? The celebration was created to recognize the positive impact that Hispanic Americans have left on the country. "Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America," according to the official government website. It takes place from September 15October 15 every year.

President Lyndon B. Johnson first introduced National Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968.

Congress expanded it from a week to a month long beginning in 1989, after it was amended into public law in 1988 during Ronald Reagan's presidency.In Presidential Proclamation 3869, available via the Library of Congress, President Johnson wrote, “Wishing to pay special tribute to the Hispanic tradition, and having in mind the fact that our five Central American neighbors celebrate their Independence Day on the fifteenth of September and the Republic of Mexico on the sixteenth, the Congress by House Joint Resolution 1299, has requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating the week including September 15 and 16 as National Hispanic Heritage Week.�

In addition, the following government institutions honor Hispanic Heritage Month: The Library of Congress, National Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Park Service.

WHICH COUNTRIES ARE INVOLVED & WHY IS IT CELEBRATED ON SEPTEMBER 15?

That’s the date when five Latin American countries—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua—earned their independence from Spain in 1821.Mexico, Chile, and Belize became independent on the 16th, 18th, and 21st from Spain and the United Kingdom, respectively.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the month honors “the culture and traditions of those who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.”

So while Hispanic and Latino are used interchangeably by many—Hispanic is a term used to describe someone of Spanish-speaking origin, while Latino, Latina, and Latinx are used to describe a person of Latin American origin— the celebration, according to the official description, recognizes those whose roots are from a country that speaks Spanish as the primary language. A person the Latin American country of Brazil may consider themselves Latino but not Hispanic, since Brazilians speak Portuguese and not Spanish.

HOW DO PEOPLE CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH?

The official government website typically keeps a calendar of highlighted activities hosted throughout the United States, from concerts to book and art festivals and parades. A majority of the festivities held throughout the United States are family-friendly and occur at the local level— and many are free. In October 2019, for instance, the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., hosted a screening and Q&A for the documentary Exiled, America’s Deported Veterans. Official tourism sites for cities such as Miami and Miami Beach have also offer neatly-curated lists for how to celebrate.

In 2020, however, most of those events will likely be virtual due to the coronavirus pandemic. If you're staying close to home, you might consider getting festive with a menu full of Latin American dishes. You can also make it a point to support Latina-owned businesses. And there's never been a better time to relax with a good book by a Spanish-language author that takes you into someone else's experience—such as these immigration stories largely by Latinx authors.

Dedicated Web Sites National Archives and Records AdministrationNational Endowment for the Humanities National Park Service Smithsonian Education – Hispanic Heritage Month Courtesy: The Oprah Magazine

It’s Not Just Hate: Discrimination Against Latinos is About Privilege, Apathy, Ignorance and Access

By Anjali Joshi

The origins of the anti-Hispanic sentiment were birthed in the EnglishSpanish rivalry and furthered by the leaders of New America like Thomas Jefferson who aspired to “civilize” and gain the Hispanic countries “piece by piece”. Ever since, racism and discrimination has not just been about hate crimes but also how certain populations are associated with being uncivilized, criminal, and regressive. They were considered not human enough, not rational enough and hence worthy of conquest and domination.

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Historically, Non-White Americans were pushed into segregated communities, occupying fringes literally and socially.

Yet there has been a stubborn unwillingness to understand and destigmatize. Racism is not just about conscious or intended hate but about privilege, ignorance and access. This National Hispanic Heritage month, it’s important to unlearn the biases entrenched in our sensibilities.

Microagressions are the most common and distressing forms of it. Racial bias in communication can look like:

“Where are you actually from?”

Feeling like aliens in their own land is no news for people with Hispanic descent.

While this may seem like a harmless question, Latino people are more often than not asked this, even if their family has been American residents for generations. A question like this may make someone feel like they are not American enough or a foreigner, just because they are not White.

“I am not racist, I have a lot of Latino friends”.

Having Latino friends is not a free pass for racism. Chances are that they may have felt silenced and discriminated even when you didn’t intend it. Claiming “color-blindness” or refusing to see racism is a form of gaslighting and denies people’s experiences of discrimination.

“Why are you people so loud?”

The assumption that the cultural identities and communication values of White culture are normative is inherently discriminatory. Idealising White culture insists on uniform assimilation and erasure of one’s cultural identity.

“Why can’t you speak in English?”

Showing contempt when someone speaks in Spanish or their native language is an act of aggression. It’s like saying that your cultural identity has no place in America, one that seems to be quintessentially represented by Whiteness.

Taking Latino people to be service workers works with the underlying assumption that non-White people are workers in the service of White people and cannot occupy socially powerful positions. Even at workplaces people of Hispanic origin face interrogation about their culture with reductive assumptions about their intelligence.

Imitation of accents and dialects, which is often used as a comic device in popular culture is also deeply offensive and problematic. These “subtle” gestures are not only normalised but also celebrated and are set as benchmarks for cultural standards.

What is White Privilege?

Here’s a Checklist For You!

Here’s a checklist by Peggy Macintosh that can help us understand our privilege: I can if I wish to arrange to be in the company of people of my race most of the time.

If I should need to move, I can be pretty sure of renting or purchasing housing in an area which I can afford and in which I would want to live.

I can be pretty sure that my neighbors in such a location will be neutral or pleasant to me.

I can go shopping alone most of the time, pretty well assured that I will not be followed or harassed.

I can turn on the television or open to the front page of the paper and see people of my race widely represented.

When I am told about our national heritage or about "civilization," I am shown that people of my color made it what it is.

Whether I use checks, credit cards or cash, I can count on my skin color not to work against the appearance of financial reliability.

I can arrange to protect my children most of the time from people who might not like them.

I do not have to educate my children to be aware of systemic racism for their own daily physical protection.

I can go home from most meetings of organizations I belong to feeling somewhat tied in, rather than isolated, out-of-place, outnumbered, unheard, held at a distance or feared.

I am not made acutely aware that my shape, bearing or body odor will be taken as a reflection on my race.

I am not made acutely aware that my shape, bearing or body odor will be taken as a reflection on my race.

I can travel alone or with my spouse without expecting embarrassment or hostility in those who deal with us.

I will feel welcomed and "normal" in the usual walks of public life, institutional and social.

We Need Accomplices, Not Allies!

Having laid the foundation for understanding privilege and microaggressions that inflict the typical American sensibility even today, I should have led you towards an exaltation of allyship. However, that is not enough anymore. As elucidated in the writings at the Indigenous Action blog, the ally-industrial complex is rife with appropriation, hierarchy and is increasingly commodified.

The need of the hour is a shift from allies to accomplices, who recognise themselves as a part of the system and acknowledge their role within the power struggle. The process of decolonization and deconstructing your privilege is extremely personal and can be painful. The first step is to acknowledge and recognise your privilege but the road is longer. It is also important to articulate our relationship with the land we occupy, the people whose labour we bank on and pay attention to our surroundings. To not be gatekeepers but listen with respect and hold space. To be accountable and empathetic. And maybe then, we can reimagine and realise an equal world!

CASA CENTRAL: HISPANICS SERVING THE COMMUNITY Casa Central is the largest Hispanic social service agency in the Midwest. Since 1954, Casa Central has delivered evidenced based, award winning programming in response to the needs of the Hispanic community.Through comprehensive, familycentered programming, Casa Central is the conduit through which thousands of individuals build hope for the future while equipping themselves to achieve a sustainable, higher quality of life for the benefit of self, family, community and society.

Mission Casa Central transforms lives and strengthens communities, with a special focus on Hispanics. Our network of social services propels a diverse population of all ages toward self-sufficiency and a higher quality of life.

Vision Casa Central will be a leader in the Chicago Metropolitan area delivering culturally responsive, cross-generational, evidencebased services to vulnerable populations. We will be nationally recognized for our expertise in providing family centered services.

To know more about the work they are doing visit: Casa Central: Hispanics Serving The Community

PROJECT VIDA Project VIDA was founded in 1992 to address the urgent needs of racial and ethnic minorities. Initially, the agency provided HIV education through street outreach services to area youth. Now, Project VIDA has expanded its community scope by initiating a variety of programs: direct services for people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS and various prevention education programs.

Their mission is to improve quality of life and reduce health disparities in underserved communities by promoting self-empowerment and providing holistic health education and direct services.

Public Benefits Social Services Risk-Reduction Counseling Prevention Services Prevention Workshops HIV/STI testing Condom Distribution for the Community Acupunture Massage Therapy Individual and Group Behavioral Health Counseling To know more about their exciting work check out their website: Project Vida

LIFE 4 ALL Founded on the belief that it takes only ONE person to save another human life. With the support of every single one of you, we can succeed no matter your sexual orientation, race, or age. The bullet that is health disparities aims at all and it is our goal to provide support for all to receive the services they deserve. So, until the disparities face by communities with unfair access to appropriate primary and mental health services, we vow to be a leader in brining health equality and resources to the disenfranchised by breathing education and prevention services in our communities, thus creating a clear path for a more unified, stronger, and healthier future.

“WE ARE NOT ASHAMED, AND WE ARE NOT AFRAID.”

Isa Noyola, Latina transgender activist