{"id":1320,"date":"2022-09-27T18:15:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T18:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/porthouston.com\/hispanic-heritage-month\/"},"modified":"2023-01-17T15:46:38","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T21:46:38","slug":"hispanic-heritage-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/porthouston.com\/hispanic-heritage-month\/","title":{"rendered":"All About Hispanic Heritage Month at Port Houston"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by: Caitlin Perry, Port Houston Internal Communications Specialist<\/em><\/p>\n

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Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The day of September 15th is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16th and September 18th, respectively.<\/p>\n

Hispanic Heritage Month is important at Port Houston because it honors the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions, who have inspired others to achieve success. We recognize that Hispanic\/Latinx people make up a significant portion of our region\u2019s population, enriching the culture of the greater Houston area with traditions, diverse origins and unique perspectives. We celebrate the innumerable contributions of Hispanic\/Latinx leaders, authors, artists, politicians, doctors, activists, mothers, fathers and more, this month and beyond.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Understanding Hispanic\/Latinx Identity<\/h3>\n

Although the national recognition of \u201cHispanic Heritage Month\u201d does not specifically include related terms like \u201cLatino\u201d or \u201cMexican,\u201d understanding the multifaceted nature of these identities is important. These terms refer to ethnicity, origin, and identity, based on shared culture rather than skin color or other physical features.<\/p>\n

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  1. Hispanic:<\/em> Typically refers to a citizen or descendent of Spain or a Spanish-speaking country. This is primarily a reference to the shared language of Spanish, so country of origin can vary. A person from Mexico and a person from Chile may both refer to themselves as Hispanic.<\/li>\n
  2. Latino\/Latina\/Latinx:<\/em> Typically refers to a citizen or descendant of Latin America, including South America, Central America and some parts of the Caribbean. As illustrated in the graphic above, there is overlap between Hispanic and Latinx identities, because the language and geography overlap. It is also worth noting that \u201cLatino<\/em>\u201d and \u201cLatina<\/em>\u201d are gendered terms for male and female, respectively, while \u201cLatinx<\/em>\u201d is used as a gender-neutral term.<\/li>\n
  3. You may also encounter the term \u201cChicano<\/em>,\u201d which is sometimes used to refer to someone born in the United States to Mexican parents or grandparents. \u201cMexican<\/em>\u201d can also refer to a descendent or citizen of Mexico, just like \u201cGuatemalan<\/em>\u201d would refer to a descendent or citizen of Guatemala.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you are ever unsure what term to use, it\u2019s best to ask the person what their preference is. This can help you avoid an awkward moment and give you a chance to learn about another person\u2019s heritage!<\/p>\n

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    Regional & Historical Fun Facts<\/h3>\n