Hispanic Heritage Month, Blah


 

I'm going to say it, I'm not a fan of "group" month observances. I know many people believe our nation is far worse off than it was during the Jim Crow era when it comes to diversity relations, but honestly I think that's absolutely laughable.

I believe it's incredibly important to celebrate diverse groups, but to the extend that they've added to our national fabric. You don't need a month for that. When you force people to "celebrate" something, you're tying its value to the time you're celebrating. I want to be celebrated as an American who happens to be of Hispanic heritage, who's family brought their unique culture and added it to the spices of our melting pot, as part of my day-to-day life. I want to celebrate others who's families brought their unique flavors to our nation, on a day-to-day basis as well.

Having said that, if you're going to have a Hispanic Heritage Month, then at least do it right. Make it meaningful.

Hispanic Heritage Month is like the Wednesday of recognition months. September 15th through October 15? Like, who does that?

Far newer groups which have had far less of a positive impact on our nation have garnered full regular months for recognition. Some, more than one.

But for Hispanic Heritage Month, because of its awkward time-frame, it's just sort of forgotten. 

Some supervisor or diversity officer remembers a few weeks in, puts one of the Hispanics in their office in charge of a last minute event, has them set up a food tasting luncheon, a local dance group, and a guest speaker nobody's ever heard of to say things nobody will remember 10 minutes later. Everybody takes an extra plate of food home from the leftovers and we call it a day.

There's far more to the positive impact Hispanics/Latinos have had on our nation all the way back to the Revolutionary War than tacos and a 10 minute dance performance. Our people have bled and sacrificed lives for the red, white, and blue. And our recognition is to be the Wednesday of national observances?

Not a fan.

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