Hispanic Heritage Month has now begun, and runs from September 15th through October 15th. This month is a time to celebrate the important presence of the Hispanic Americans and Latino Americans in the United States. The significance of the start date (September 15th) is the Independence Day of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The countries of Mexico, Chile and Belize also celebrate their Independence Days during this month of celebration. This important event began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson, and was expanded in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan to encompass a full month.
It’s important for our country to understand the diversity that is our country. According to this year’s Census, 50.5 million people, or 16% of the U.S. population, are of Hispanic or Latino origin. Latino Americans now are arguably more vital to the U.S. than they have ever been before, as they represent the fastest-growing minority group in the country and hold positions of power in everything from government to business to sports and entertainment.
Please join us in recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the achievements of Hispanic Americans and Latino Americans, and please remember to appreciate and respect their contributions to the success of the United States not just during this month of celebration, but to also recognize those achievements throughout the year. At Costello & Mains, we represent people of all backgrounds who have suffered employment discrimination on the basis of their ethnicity, country of origin or perceived nationality, and we are proud that we have had the opportunity to represent so many Hispanic Americans and protect their civil rights.
