More than 65 million people in the United States identify themselves as Hispanic. Known by many different names, this group includes people with ancestry from Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. National Hispanic Heritage Month, held annually from September 15 to October 15, is a time to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans and celebrate their rich culture.
Hispanic Heritage Month is also an important opportunity for students to learn about the diversity of Latino cultures and experiences. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino offers resources on how to do just that, including a virtual exhibit and a collection of Latino stories. You can also explore resources on the New-York Historical Society’s Nueva York website, (Open external link) a comprehensive curriculum guide for teaching about Hispanic history in our region.
In addition to highlighting the many ways in which Hispanic and Latino communities have shaped our country, National Hispanic Heritage Month offers an important opportunity to discuss the meaning of terms like “Hispanic,” “Latino/a,” and “Latinx.” These terms can be confusing and even misleading to those not familiar with the cultures they represent. The term Hispanic, for example, refers to language—the fact that someone speaks or has spoken Spanish in the past. However, a person’s race—White, Black, Indigenous, Asian, etc.—is not part of what makes them Hispanic.
These differences are reflected in how the term Latino/a/x is used. Some people use the term to describe themselves, while others feel it erases their own identity or that of a larger community. In light of the complexity of these issues, Teaching Tolerance has created a collection of lessons on Hispanic Heritage and Latino/a/x that can help students examine the issue in depth and explore its impact.
Whether they are musicians, scientists, athletes, or activists, Hispanic and Latino Americans have made an incredible impact on our nation’s history and future. Several of these individuals are featured in this video from the Library of Congress, which shares their first-person narratives about how their careers and experiences have influenced their personal and professional lives. You can also explore the National Park Service’s Hispanic Heritage page, (Open external link) which features a variety of resources and essays on different eras and topics in the United States, along with Telling All Americans’ Stories: American Latino Heritage from the Library of Congress.
Hispanic Heritage Month is also a great time to introduce students to the work of historians and other social scientists, many of whom are Hispanic or Latino. Using the NEH’s History Classroom, you can help them discover some of these fascinating career paths and how they have shaped our world today. You can also encourage them to visit The National Educator’s Association’s (NEA) (Open external link) Hispanic Heritage Month Resources, which features a collection of lessons curated by grade level. The NEA’s Hispanic Heritage Month Resources are available in English and Spanish. The NEA’s History Classroom also provides resources on other subjects and eras in the United States.