Hispanic Heritage Month & Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Celebration Amid Contradiction

“Seeing the humanity in others is not passive work—it is an active practice of humility, empathy, and accountability.” Anonymous                                                                           

By: Elvia Bueno, Annabell Joya, and DonYeta Villavaso-Madden

In America, we have a paradoxical way of celebrating the rich cultures of people from all over the world while simultaneously degrading or excluding them for not being born here. Civil Rights activist Sylvia Mendez’s words—“Ignorance is the root of oppression”—remind us that our national amnesia about history is not accidental. It is a choice.

In 1944, Sylvia’s parents challenged racial segregation in California schools through the landmark case Mendez v. Westminster (1947), which ended school segregation seven years before Brown v. Board of Education. Their courage laid the groundwork for racial equity in education. Yet, nearly 80 years later, we continue to struggle with exclusion, ignorance, and fear—particularly toward immigrants, Indigenous people, and people of color.

What Is Hispanic Heritage Month—and Why These Dates?

Each year from September 15 to October 15, the United States celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestry traces back to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Established initially as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, it was expanded to a whole month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 and became law on August 17, 1988 (Public Law 100-402).

The timing is intentional:

• September 15: Marks the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (1821).
• September 16: Celebrates Mexico’s independence (1821).
• September 18: Commemorates Chile’s movement for independence—initiated in 1810, formally declared in 1818, and officially recognized by Spain in 1844.
• October 12 (Día de la Raza): Honors the diverse Indigenous and multi-ethnic identities across Latin America. First proposed in 1913 by Faustino Rodríguez-San Pedro to celebrate the shared heritage between Spain and its former colonies, Argentina officially became the first nation to observe it in 1917.

What Does “Hispanic” Mean?

The term “Hispanic” generally refers to people from Spanish-speaking countries or those with ancestry linked to the Spanish language and culture.

Latino/Latina/Latinx, on the other hand, refers to people from Latin America—including Brazil (which is Portuguese-speaking) and excluding Spain. It is important to note that Hispanic refers to language and LatinX refers to geography.

Both terms are used in the U.S., though some prefer Latinx or Latine as more inclusive of nonbinary and gender-fluid identities. The term “Latino” first appeared on the census form in 2000. (WA State Office of Financial Management) (Sources: Pew Research Center, 2023; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022)

Thriving Amid Contradiction: The State of Hispanic America

The Hispanic and Latinx population is the largest ethnic population group in the U.S., representing 19% of the total population—over 64 million people (U.S. Census Bureau, 2023). Hispanic Americans are among the nation’s fastest-growing contributors in business, education, arts, and public service.

Areas of Growth and Resilience

• Entrepreneurship: Hispanic-owned businesses grew by over 44% from 2012 to 2022, compared to 4% for non-Hispanic firms. (Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative, 2023)
• Education: High school graduation rates for Hispanic students increased from 61% in 2000 to 86% in 2021. (U.S. Dept. of Education)
• Workforce Impact: Hispanic and Latinx workers comprise nearly 18% of the U.S. labor force, contributing over $3.2 trillion to the country’s GDP annually. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)

Persistent Barriers and Disparities

• Poverty: About 18.3% of Hispanic Americans live below the poverty line compared to 9.8% of non-Hispanic whites.
• Wealth Gap: The median wealth of Hispanic families is roughly one-fifth that of white families. (Federal Reserve, 2023)
• Immigration Enforcement: Latinx immigrants, especially those without documentation, remain among the most surveilled and deported populations under ICE.
• Healthcare: Nearly 1 in 4 Hispanic adults lacks health insurance, the highest rate of any major U.S. group. (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2023)

This coexistence of celebration and struggle mirrors a broader American contradiction: we praise cultural richness while sustaining systems that marginalize those same communities.

Reclaiming Truth: Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the Lie of Discovery

For generations, children were taught that Christopher Columbus “discovered” America in 1492—ignoring that Indigenous nations thrived here for millennia before European contact. Indigenous Peoples’ Day was established to reject that false narrative and honor Native resilience, sovereignty, and survival. The first official Indigenous Peoples’ Day was celebrated in Berkeley, California, in 1992, during the 500th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival.

“Columbus did not discover a new world—he invaded one that was already flourishing.”
– Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States (2014)

The Red Power Movement

Red Power Movement emerged in the late 1960s through the 1970s as part of a broader wave of civil rights and liberation movements across the United States.

It was led primarily by Native American youth and activists who sought self-determination, cultural pride, and sovereignty for Indigenous nations after centuries of oppression, forced assimilation, and government neglect.

Key Goals of the Movement:

• Reclaim Native identity and pride
• Assert tribal sovereignty and treaty rights
• Demand control over education, housing, and social programs
• Expose systemic racism and government abuses against Native communities
• End termination and relocation policies that attempted to dissolve tribal nations

In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a proclamation honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Today, over 200 U.S. cities and 20 states officially recognize it.

The Ongoing Disenfranchisement of Native Communities

Despite centuries of endurance, Indigenous peoples in the U.S. continue to face disproportionate poverty, displacement, and data erasure:

• Poverty: 1 in 4 Native Americans live below the poverty line—more than double the national average. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2022)
• Health: Native Americans experience diabetes rates three times higher than white Americans and have the highest suicide rate among all racial groups. (Indian Health Service, CDC, 2023)
• Land Rights: Native tribes control less than 2.9% of their original land base, with much of it environmentally degraded or exploited for resources. (U.S. Geological Survey, 2021)
• Education: Only ~74% of Native American students graduate from public high school within four years of starting, compared to ~89% nationally. (National Center for Education Statistics, 2023)

Indigenous Peoples’ Day is a call to truth-telling and reparation—to move from acknowledgment to accountability.

Areas of Growth and Resilience

Despite centuries of systemic oppression and erasure, Indigenous peoples continue to demonstrate profound leadership, innovation, and cultural resurgence across every sector of society. Here are a few examples and do your research to learn more about the accomplishments and progress of Indigenous People and understand that each tribe is different and may not practice the same things.

• Education, Health, and Leadership: Record highs in higher ed: 1,000+ Native students earn doctorates each year; Degree growth: Native college graduates have more than doubled since 2000; Self-governed institutions: 30+ Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs) led by Native nations; Transforming academia: TCUs and Indigenous scholars center sovereignty and self-determination in teaching and research; Whole-person care: Indigenous-led orgs blend traditional medicine with modern healthcare to transform community wellness’; Trauma-informed services: Programs like the Seattle Indian Health Board and Strong Hearts Native Helpline deliver culturally grounded support.

• Economic and Policy Achievements: Business growth: Native-owned firms up 30%+ since 2010, generating $50B+ annually and employing Native & non-Native workers; Community reinvestment: Tribally owned enterprises fund housing, education, and healthcare nationwide; and Land Back progress: Tribes have regained millions of acres of ancestral land—including The National Bison Range returned to the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes (2021).

• Political and Environmental Stewardship: U.S. leadership: 300+ tribes lead climate adaptation—restoring forests, salmon runs, and shorelines; Tribes are increasingly co-managing national parks, rivers, and conservation areas, expanding real-world self-governance; The Yurok Tribe launched the first tribally run carbon credit program, merging sustainability with cultural stewardship; The 118th Congress includes 6 Native members; 120+ Native legislators serve across 23 states.

Education, Health, and Leadership: Record highs in higher ed: 1,000+ Native students earn doctorates each year; Degree growth: Native college graduates have more than doubled since 2000; Self-governed institutions: 30+ Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs) led by Native nations; Transforming academia: TCUs and Indigenous scholars center sovereignty and self-determination in teaching and research; Whole-person care: Indigenous-led orgs blend traditional medicine with modern healthcare to transform community wellness’; Trauma-informed services: Programs like the Seattle Indian Health Board and Strong Hearts Native Helpline deliver culturally grounded support.

The ICE Paradox: A Celebration in Conflict:

As banners wave and hashtags trend, Latinx and Indigenous migrants continue to face deportations, family separations, and workplace raids. Many flee violence, climate crisis, and economic instability—only to find themselves detained, vilified, or made invisible.

At Columbia Legal Services (CLS), our advocacy for undocumented immigrants centers on humanity, not politics. We fight for migrant workers and families torn apart by enforcement. To celebrate heritage while criminalizing identity is to participate in erasure.

The struggle to see and honor the humanity of others—especially those who look, sound, or pray differently—continues to challenge those with privilege and power. Equity demands courage: to relinquish advantage, confront bias, and act in realistic solidarity that resists the need to reinforce an artificial caste system and race and ethnic hierarchy over humanity. People are never illegal – especially on stolen land.

Individual Reflection

1. What does Hispanic or Latinx identity mean to me—and how do I honor its complexity?
2. How has privilege shaped my view of who “belongs” in America?
3. What stories about Columbus, immigration, or belonging were I taught—and what truths am I ready to unlearn?
4. How can I use my voice, vote, or platform to advocate for justice for immigrants and Indigenous peoples?

Collective & Organizational Reflection

1. How do our policies and practices perpetuate or challenge inequity?
2. Do we amplify the voices of impacted communities, or speak on their behalf?
3. How can we integrate anti-racism, decolonization, and targeted universalism into our strategies?
4. What does genuine reparation—land return, wealth redistribution, or policy reform—look like in our context?

Let Us Celebrate Fully, Truthfully, Boldly

• To honor culture while ignoring suffering is to participate in oppression.
• To celebrate contributions without dismantling barriers is to maintain injustice.
• Hispanic Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples’ Day offer a shared invitation: to celebrate joy and resilience while committing to repair.
• May our celebration be matched by courage, advocacy, and action—toward a more truthful, equitable America.

References

Pew Research Center (2023). Who is Hispanic? https://www.pewresearch.org; U.S. Census Bureau (2023). Hispanic Population and Origin by State; Stanford Latino Entrepreneurship Initiative (2023). State of Latino Entrepreneurship Report; U.S. Department of Education (2022). Condition of Education Report; Federal Reserve Board (2023). Survey of Consumer Finances: Wealth Gaps by Race and Ethnicity; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024). Labor Force Statistics by Race and Ethnicity; Kaiser Family Foundation (2023). Health Coverage of Immigrants and Hispanic Populations; Indian Health Service (2023). Health Disparities Data; Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (2014). An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States; National Center for Education Statistics (2023). Status and Trends in Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups.