Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

September 15 to October 15

In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson obtained authorization from Congress to proclaim a week in September as National Hispanic Heritage Week. In 1988, the observance was expanded by President Ronald Reagan to a month-long commemoration, beginning September 15 and ending October 15, making 2007 the 19th annual celebration. During this month, America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and Spanish-speaking nations in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.

September 15 was chosen as the starting date for the celebration because it marks the independence anniversary of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence days in September. Hispanic Heritage Month also includes October 12, known as Columbus Day in the U.S. and as El Día de la Raza in Latin American countries.

Who is Hispanic?

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “Hispanic” refers to people in the United States of any race who trace their origin to Mexico, Puerto Rico, and other Spanish-speaking countries in Central and South America and the Caribbean. More than 44.3 million people identified themselves as Hispanic in the Census’ 2006 population estimate – approximately 15 percent of the population of the United States. People of Hispanic origin are the nation’s largest ethnic or race minority. As the Census chart below indicates, the Hispanic population has almost doubled since 1990.

Facts about the U.S. Hispanic Population

(According to the U.S. Census)

- About half of all people added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006 were Hispanic. Over that period, 1.4 million Hispanics were added to the U.S. population, a growth rate of 3.4 percent.

- By 2050, the U.S. Census projects that there will be 102.6 million Hispanics in the U.S., or 24 percent of the population.

- In 2005, the U.S. Hispanic population ranked third in Hispanic populations worldwide. Only Mexico (106.2 million) and Colombia (43 million) had larger Hispanic populations.

- Sixty four percent of the U.S. Hispanic population is of Mexican background. Nine percent are of Puerto Rican background, 3.5 percent are Cuban, 3 percent are Salvadoran and 2.7 percent are Dominican (2005 American Community Survey).

- Nearly half of the Hispanic-origin population lives in California or Texas. California is home to 13.1 million Hispanics, and Texas is home to 8.4 million. The Hispanic population is at least half a million in 15 states and constitutes the largest minority group in 22 states.

Hispanics by the Numbers Highlights

Business: 1.6 million Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002.

Families: 23 percent of the Hispanic population is under the age of 5.

Language: 32.2 million U.S. residents age 5 and older speak Spanish at home.

Income: $37,800 median income for Hispanics in 2006.

Education: 12 percent of Hispanics 25 and older held a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2006.

Work: 24 percent of Hispanics 16 or older work in the service industry.

Armed Forces: 1.1 million veterans are Hispanic.

Hispanic Political Participation

Hispanics accounted for half of the population growth in the United States between the 2000 and 2004 elections but only one-tenth of the increase in the total votes cast, according to a Pew Hispanic Center analysis U.S. Census data. This gap between the very substantial growth of the Hispanic population and much more modest growth in Hispanic electoral clout has been developing for a generation but has widened considerably in recent years.

It is primarily the result of the two key demographic factors that distinguish Hispanics from other racial and ethnic groups: a high percentage of Hispanics are either too young to vote or are ineligible because they are not citizens. As a result, a population increase of 5.7million Hispanics between 2000 and 2004 yielded only 2.1 million new eligible voters.

Hispanic voter participation rates lag those of whites or African Americans. The combination of demographic factors and participation rates meant that 18 percent of the total Hispanic population (adults as well as children, citizens and non-citizens) went to the polls in 2004, compared with 51 percent of all whites and 39 percent of all African Americans.

Despite these factors, however, the Hispanic population has been growing at such a strong rate that it still has led to an increase – albeit a small one – in the Hispanic share of the overall electorate. In November, 2004, Hispanics accounted for six percent of all votes cast, up from 5.5 percent four years earlier. During this same period, the Hispanic share of the population rose from 12.8 percent in 2000 to 14.3 percent in 2004.

Population Categories of Political Participation for Hispanic and Total Populations, 2004

Hispanics in Public Office

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus of the 110th Congress is comprised of 21 members of Hispanic descent. Seven members, including Chairman Joe Baca, D-San Bernadino, are from California.

In California, the California Latino Legislative Caucus has 26 members of Hispanic descent who serve in either the state Assembly or Senate. There are also more than 41 former members of the caucus, some of whom graduated to even more prominent positions in politics, such as Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres.

The caucus is chaired by Joe Coto, D-San Jose. State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez is also a member.

Famous Californian Hispanic Americans

How well do you know Hispanic Heritage?

Desi Arnez... Spanish-American War... Cinco de Mayo... Cesar Chavez...

How good is your knowledge of Hispanic heritage? Test it out with this free quiz.

Here's one piece of important Hispanic history to get you started. Do you know who this is?

According to Wikipedia, this man was a Mexican American farm worker, labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became United Farm Workers of America. Supporters say his work led to numerous improvements for union workers, and he is considered a hero for farm laborers. Chavez opposed both legal and illegal immigration to help keep wages higher and improve work safety rules. He is hailed as one of the greatest American civil rights leaders after Martin Luther King, Jr. His birthday has become a holiday in four U.S. states, including California, and many parks, cultural centers, libraries, schools and streets have been named in his honor. Born near Yuma, Ariz., he died in 1993 at the age of 66.

Still don't know? It's Cesar Chavez!

Local Hispanic Resources on the Web

Young Latino Leaders: Redwood City-based non-profit empowering Hispanic youth.

El Concilio: Burlingame-based non-profit coalition improving the quality of life for the San Mateo County Hispanic community.

Chicana/Latina Foundation: Burlingame-based non-profit empowering Hispanic women.

Mexican American Community Services Agency: San Jose-based non-profit that promotes health, culture and education in the Mexican American community.

Mexican Heritage Plaza: San-Jose based Hispanic cultural center; one of the largest in the nation and the organizer of the annual San Jose International Mariachi Festival.

El Centro de Libertad: Redwood City-based drug and alcohol treatment center with services in English and Spanish.

La Raza Centro Legal: San Francisco-based non-profit providing free legal and advocacy services for the Hispanic community.

Latino Issues Forum: A non-profit public policy and advocacy institute focused on Hispanic interests with offices in San Francisco, Fresno and Los Angeles.

Join the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration!

If you're a teacher, visit Scholastic's Dream in Color for lesson plans and ideas about how to bring Hispanic Heritage Month alive in the classroom.

Local public radio and television station KQED has a wealth of programming related to Hispanic heritage in September. Visit their Web site for complete program listings and additional resources.

To experience Hispanic heritage in person, don't miss out on San Jose's 16th annual International Mariachi Festival, presented by the Mexican Heritage Plaza. The festival runs Sept. 26 to 30.

To see what the President of the United States, George W. Bush, has to say about Hispanic Heritage Month, read his official proclamation from the White House.