Reflecting on Hispanic Heritage Month

By Selene Borbolla Contreras

From generations of tradition to the music, food, and stories that bring people together, Hispanic Heritage Month highlights the beauty and diversity of Hispanic culture.

The celebration recognizes the histories, cultures, and contributions of people with Hispanic heritage. This includes those from areas such as South America, North America, Central America and the Caribbean.

According to the  National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers, Hispanic Heritage Month has a designated theme, and this year’s theme introduces a sense of  community and connection: “Unidos, Somos Más” or “Together, We are More.” 

Leonel Perez, South Gate High’s newest social studies teacher, asserted that “Unidos somos mas is not about an individual or one person, it's really about us as a community.”

In addition to this year’s specific theme, the overall purpose of celebrating Hispanic heritage resonates with a variety of South Gate High’s staff members. 

English Teacher Jackelline Morales said, “This month is significant because we, as a whole, have been subjected to repeated injustices and cruelty, but we have pushed ourselves to be resilient.” 

This past month has encouraged the Hispanic community to celebrate its resilience and perseverance by honoring its unique cultural backgrounds through an array of cultural events and activities. 

Food and Cooking 

For many Hispanic communities, food plays an important role in connecting people with their cultures. 

“I'm Guatemalan, so one of the biggest dishes we do is the Tamal on the hoja de plátano and masa de arroz,” said Magnet and AVID counselor Teresa Sutuc. 

The tamal is a staple food in many Hispanic cultures, with a wide variety of styles and ingredients. These dishes differ in name, preparation, and flavor across countries. For example, the Guatemalan tamal are called “chuchitos” while the Nicaraguan Tamale is referred to as “nacatamal.” Traditional Mexican Tamales include tamales de puerco, de pollo, con queso, and dulces. 

Senior Ashley Mena Segura reminisced, “I grew up with pupusas ever since I was a kid. I feel like for every event, every occasion, we always have pupusas and it's always been something very representative of my [Salvadorean] culture” 

Pupusas are thick handmade flatbread made from either corn or rice flour and stuffed with fillings such as refried beans, cheese, or meat fillings like pork. It is always accompanied by a tangy and lightly fermented pickled cabbage relish dubbed curtido and a runny red salsa. 

Cultural Appreciation Through the Arts  

In keeping with this month’s theme of community, music allows people to celebrate their culture individually while also connecting across generations. 

Freshman Emanuel Venegas Montes connects to Juan Gabriel's song "Amor Eterno," while senior Edward Vasquez points to Maná's song "Me Vale" as a reminder to stay true to yourself, no matter what others say.

Juan Gabriel and Maná were also mentioned by school staff members. 

 "It's crazy to me to think that some music like that transcends generations even today,” said Sutuc. 

This cross-generational interest in the same artists emphasizes the power of music and why it remains such an important part of different cultures.

Beyond music, senior Chelsea Carias connects with her culture through the bright and colorful embroidery she bought during a summer trip to Guatemala. 

Morales also honors her culture by celebrating María Félix. Morales described Félix as a strong and confident Mexican actress and singer who stood her ground in a time where women were expected to follow strict traditional gender roles.

History 

The start of Hispanic Heritage Month is significant because September 15th marks the anniversary of independence for five Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. 

Mexico celebrates its independence the following day, while Chile on September 18th. Día de la Raza (Day of the People) is celebrated on October 12 and aims to encourage  pride in Latin America identity and heritage.

Hispanic Heritage was not always a month. California congressman George E. Brown introduced the idea of commemorating the Latino community for their hard work and contributions to American society. 

Under President Lyndon B. Johnson, beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Week was established to recognize the people of Hispanic heritage. Through observation, it was deemed that one week to celebrate was not enough, so California representative Esteban E. Torres, proposed the elongation of the celebration to 31 days. The proposal was passed by congress and signed into law by president Ronald Reagan in 1988. 

President George H. W. Bush was the first to publicly recognize the 31 day period of Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15th to October 15th. 

To this day, many community members still feel the significance of a full month's dedication to the Latino people. 

History teacher Ramiro Nevarez said, “We deserve it. A lot of latinos and all of us have been in this country for hundreds of years and we have the right to be represented, respected, and admired. We need to understand that, show it, appreciate it, and share it with everybody and be proud of it.” 

Although Hispanic Heritage Month is coming to an end, taking pride in one’s culture and individual background can still be a daily practice. 

Senior Christopher Camacho said,“I feel we are slowly losing our heritage and cultural renditions that derive from there as I see more people starting to lose the language and such”

This is a reminder of the importance of  preserving the past to empower and educate future generations. By embracing our individual cultural backgrounds, we can inspire, enlighten, and learn from each other.