Hispanic heritage month

Hispanic Heritage Month was created decades ago in order to celebrate the contributions made by immigrants from Latin American countries in the United States.

For the federal government and in several states where significant Hispanic communities live, the celebration is a major one. Tribute is paid to those Hispanics who have made special contributions to the history of this nation. The whole month is full of activities to celebrate.

Unofficially the month begins with the Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16. Consuls from Mexico and many other countries that celebrate their independence around the same date hold similar festivities, but El Grito ceremony is of particular interest given its emotional call to say Viva Mexico! — a revival of Father Miguel Hidalgo’s cry for better government.

The celebration began half a century ago when President Lyndon B. Johnson launched the Hispanic Heritage Week, and it expanded two decades later to a 30-day celebration under President Ronald Reagan.

Over these 50 years, Latino celebrities along with other Hispanics who have made a difference and contributed to the betterment of our communities have been recognized at the White House and at thousands of venues from Anchorage to Miami and from San Diego to New York.

Music, cultural arts, health, environment, space, education, business and many other areas have been positively impacted by the contributions of Latinos. The names of those contributors can be piled up and get as big as a skyscraper.

While many presidents, governors, mayors and lawmakers have highlighted the significant actions of our people, this year and for the next two years Hispanic Heritage Month has a more relevant meaning than ever.

Due to the attacks, bullying and harassment launched three years ago by a then presidential candidate towards our people, the White House’s pretentious attempt to celebrate this special month translates into vile sarcasm.

Since taking office the White House occupant has had our communities under threat by initiated anti-immigration actions that, ironically, have even affected some of those who supported the Republican candidate.

One of the most recent actions was to deny passports to American citizens living near the southeast border under the presumption of being born from a clandestine immigrant mother. That is just another example of how the federal administration has kept our communities under fire. Because of this, Hispanic Heritage Month is more important than ever.

This month must turn into a period of joy for what we have brought to the United States — from our food, our music, our language, our values, our fears and our aspirations of a better life.

We and only we can show that America has been great for what our predecessors have built, but also and especially in recent years because of what our brown hands had done as well. True, there are bad apples, but these are not exclusive of a specific race. Most of us Latinos are good people — and we deserve our place here.