By: Abi Lenze
What if I told you that the story of America could not be told without the stories, traditions, and voices of Hispanic people? Roughly 20.5% of American citizens are Hispanic, coming out to about 68 million people– from civil rights leaders and astronauts to actors, musicians and writers, Latino Americans have helped shape our country into what it is today. Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to recognize these contributions and highlight the culture that continues to influence our lives today.
Hispanic Heritage month began as a week-long celebration in 1968, and was extended to be a month long under president Ronald Reegan in 1988 to allow for more time to properly recognize contributions made by the Hispanic community. Today, Hispanic Heritage month begins on September 15th and ends on October 15th; this time frame may seem unordinary, but is actually intentionally set to include as many Hispanic independence days as possible. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, and Belize all celebrate their independence days during the United States Hispanic Heritage month.
Hispanic Americans have made major contributions in media and entertainment. Pedro Pascal is a Chilean-American actor best known for his roles in The Mandalorian, Gladiator II, and The Fantastic Four and has earned 4 Primetime Emmy nominations, 1 Golden Globe nomination, 1 Screen Actors Guild win, and multiple MTV Movie & TV Awards. He was also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor for his role as Joel in The Last of Us in 2023 and 2025, being the first Latino to be nominated for the category since 1999. Other influential Hispanic actors and actresses include Jenna Ortega from Wednesday, Rita Moreno from West Side Story, Edward James Olmos from Stand and Deliver, and Oscar Isaac from Star Wars. Lin-Manuel Miranda is also a popular figure in the entertainment industry as a songwriter, actor, and producer. He is most known for his musicals Hamilton and Into the Heights, as well as his work on the musical production of Moana, Encanto, and the live action remake of The Little Mermaid. Bad Bunny and Shakira are two incredibly popular Hispanic musicians, both introducing listeners worldwide to Spanish culture.
Hispanic Americans have also made large strides in the scientific community, with many winning Nobel prizes for their contributions. Mario Molina won a Nobel prize after he discovered how chlorofluorocarbons damage Earth’s ozone layer and Severo Ochoa for discovering the synthesis of RNA. Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman in space, serving on a 9-day mission aboard Discovery and later became NASA’s Johnson Space Center’s 11th center director in 2013.
For 30 days, Hispanic Heritage Month gives people an opportunity to recognize these important contributions– but the stories and accomplishments extend far beyond one month. Hispanic figures continue to inspire people today, and recognizing their stories helps us appreciate the impact diversity has had, and will continue to have, on America.
