Events

Latino, Latina, Latinx History: Let’s Celebrate!

What was once known as Hispanic Heritage Week, began in 1968 when Civil Rights Activisms were reshaping the United States.  The California Congressman from East Los Angeles, George E, Brown pushed for more recognition of the culture and history of Latinx peoples in the United States.  Today, the United States celebrates Latinx Heritage for a month from September 15- October 15.

U.S. Representative George E. Brown

Baruch will celebrate Latinx Heritage Month starting today.  Here are some fun facts that will kick off our 30 Days of Latinx History:

  • National Hispanic Heritage Month begins on September 15 because it coincides with the national independence days for many Latin American countries, including Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. Mexico’s national independence day follows on the 16th, while Chile’s occurs on the 18th, and Belize’s is on the 21st.
  • The U.S. Latinx population reached 60.6 million in 2019, according to Pew Research Center.   It will  reach 110 million by 2060.
  • Americans of Mexican origin account for more than 60 percent (37 million people) of the nation’s overall Hispanic population as of 2018, per Pew Research Center. The next largest group are Americans of Puerto Rican origin with 5.8 million people.
  • Oscar Hijuelos, author of Mambo Kings, is  first Latinx writer to win a Pulitzer Prize.
  • Ellen Ochoa is the first Latinx woman astronaut to go into space.
  • Mario Molina, a Mexican immigrant to the United States, won the Nobel Prize for his crucial work in elucidating the threat to the Earth’s ozone layer of chlorofluorocarbon gases.
  • Before Plymouth, Massachusetts, these Hispanic cities were founded: Augustine, Florida, and Sante Fe, New Mexico.