Latinos “have been part of this nation for so many centuries”
Hispanic Heritage Month, which kicks off this week and is celebrated through Oct. 15, is a month-long observance honoring the culture, history and accomplishments of the Latino communities that help make up America. While this observance has been celebrated in various iterations for nearly six decades, it has never been more important in light of anti-immigrant and bigoted policies that have targeted Latinos regardless of their legal status.
@tusk81.bsky.social: "And it’s a very fitting time to remember that Latino communities have always been here – and will always be here."From coast to coast, Latino communities are coming together to celebrate their culture and lift up their stories.americasvoicecnn.substack.com/p/hispanic-h…
— America's Voice (@americasvoice.bsky.social) 2026-09-15T20:51:02.608Z
GROWING STRONG IN EVERY CORNER OF AMERICA
In Tennessee – where the Latino population nearly tripled from 2000 to 2014 – Memphis residents said that the start of Hispanic Heritage Month “offered an opportunity to celebrate the city’s Latino community, even as some families face uncertainty following recent immigration enforcement in Memphis,” WREG reported. This includes a shocking proposal – since blocked by a court – that would have required reporting hundreds of critically ill or severely disabled children to authorities.
“There’s a lot of people that I wish were here today,” resident Michell Sunny Diaz said at the “United Festival: Cumbia en el Río” festival, which helped kick off the area’s celebrations. “There’s a lot of people that have been unfortunately deported, people who are just hard workers wanting the best life for their families and they deserve to be here.”
“Memphis has always been a center of hope,” she continued. “Memphis has always been very resilient and I think that resides deep within all of the cultures that reside here.”
STANDING UP FOR LATINOS – AND ALL IMMIGRANTS
That resilience was recognized last week in Minnesota, where the state’s residents received the Hispanic Heritage Award – past recipients of the award have included Gloria Estefan, Bad Bunny and legendary entertainer Rita Moreno – for their efforts coming together to protect their communities against last winter’s chaotic, deadly Operation Metro Surge. “Latino businesses offer free delivery for residents too fearful to leave home amid immigration operation,” as one Dec. 2025 headline read.
“We can’t ever allow a feeling of helplessness to become a feeling of hopelessness. And Minnesotanos are neither helpless nor hopeless,” said Hispanic Heritage Foundation president Antonio Tijerino. “They are an embodiment of solidarity, unity, resourcefulness, strength, brilliance, faith, bravery and ganas. And that’s why we’re here.” Notably, the Minneapolis ceremony marked the first time that the gala had been held outside of Washington, D.C., as MPR News noted.
“The whole nation was inspired by how this community came together when it was under siege by ICE and the Trump administration, with thousands of agents on the street trying to pick up kids and their parents,” said Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro, who received the Public Service Award. “And so to have [the Hispanic Heritage Awards] here this year is very fitting.”
LATINO HISTORY IS AMERICAN HISTORY
And it’s a very fitting time to remember that Latino communities have always been here – and will always be here.
“The Latino presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and they have been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War,” said the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino. “Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Treaty of Paris that followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico. This incorporated the people of this area into the United States and further expanded the presence of Hispanic Americans.”
“Today, the Latino population in the United States today is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau,” the museum continued. “This makes up 18.9% of the total population and is the largest racial or ethnic group. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and much more.” According to one recent study, the total economic output of Latinos ranks higher than a number of major economies around the world.
Further celebrations throughout the coming weeks are ensuring these contributions are recognized. In New York – where Latinos make up nearly one-fifth of the state’s total population – events are set to take place across all five of New York City’s boroughs. “From savoring traditional dishes at local restaurants to participating in lively dance performances that showcase cultural heritage, each experience is an invitation to connect with the rich narratives that have been woven into the fabric of the city,” as HOLA! reported.
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@mayor.nyc.gov) 2026-09-15T13:43:58.943Z
— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@mayor.nyc.gov) 2026-09-15T13:43:58.944Z
In California – where a mammoth 41% of residents are Latino – Calle 24 Latino Cultural District’s annual Fiesta de Las Américas drew thousands of Bay Area residents this past weekend. “Cultural heritage months are not about ‘This is the only month we exist, or should be honored,’” said Calle 24 Latino Cultural District Executive Director Susana Rojas, “but this is a month where we should be taking advantage to highlight and have other people fall in love with who we truly are.” KQED has a guide to ongoing local events here.
FROM COAST-TO-COAST, LATINOS MAKE AMERICA GREAT
In the nation’s capital, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino is opening the month with “Corazón y vida: Lowriding Culture,” an exhibition celebrating the decades-long history of lowriding. Celebrations are set to be held all over the nation through October, including in Denver, Colorado; Miami, Florida; Iowa City, Iowa; Detroit, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; Portland, Oregon; Greenville, South Carolina; San Antonio, Texas; and even the happiest place on Earth.
“It’s an honor to be part of this celebration and to share all the magia that happens when we come together as one,” Latin Grammy-winning superstar Luis Fonsi said from Disney World’s ¡Celebración Encanto! musical show. “As a Puerto Rican, I’m incredibly proud of my roots and of the opportunity to celebrate our culture with families from around the world.”
America’s Voice will be lifting up Hispanic Heritage events and stories throughout the month, not only to provide moments of joy during these difficult times, but also to continue reminding that Latinos belong here and “have been part of this nation for so many centuries,” as Alberto Lammers, director of communications at the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, said last year. “I think that’s what is great about this. It has allowed us to really dig deeper and a chance to tell our stories.”
