Happy Hispanic Heritage month!
This month, from September 15th to October 15th, we strive to recognize the sundry, laudable cultures stemming from Spain, Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbeans. But first, what exactly makes the 15th so significant? Historically, September 15th marks the anniversary of independence for a multitude of countries from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, to Costa Rica, and is thus a day of significance to many. It is then pivotal to acknowledge that as a country, American culture (as we know it today) has been immensely influenced and shaped by the aforementioned Hispanic cultures and communities. From food to music, we can all think of almost surface-level ways this may be so; however, impacts stem from much deeper roots that we may not acknowledge nearly as often as we should. In relation, we can foreground a few noteworthy Hispanic Americans that have truly made their marks on American culture. For starters, we honor Sylvia Rivera, a paramount activist for gay and transgender rights who was known for her participation in the Stonewall riots, along with her creation of STAR in 1971. We also honor actress Rita Moreno, best known for her role in West Side Story. Cesar Chavez, a civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association. Big, more contemporary names like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Shakira, Dolores Huerta, Sofia Vergara, Sylvia Mendez, and Stephanie Beatriz, among others, continue to shape American history and culture.
When speaking to Suzie Beza, a member of the Hispanic Latinx Student Union, they had this to share about the significance of this month to them: “Hispanic Heritage Month is a great opportunity to bring awareness to the variety of cultures and people in the Hispanic community. As one of the smallest demographics of students at UMBC, the Hispanic Latinx Student Union believes celebrating our Hispanic/Latinx population during Hispanic Heritage month is especially important and welcomes all who resonate with this group or have an interest in our culture to join us and find their family away from home!”
From the SGA, we honor the Hispanic Latinx communities who deserve to be uplifted for the many contributions they have made (and are making) to our world that often goes unnoticed. We are dedicated to lifting up their names and continuing to approach our work in such a way that bleeds beyond this month and flows into the work we do within the UMBC community on a daily basis.
Yours in service,
The UMBC Student Government Association
Mehrshad Fahim Devin, SGA President
Joshua Gray, Executive Vice President
Nailah-Bena Chambers, Vice President for Student Organizations
Ayah Aligabi, Treasurer
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