Hispanic Heritage Month 2022
RESOURCES
History and Culture
Hispanic Heritage Month Family Festival
Friday, September 16, and Saturday, September 17
Each year, people across the United States observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 by celebrating and reflecting on the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. While Hispanic Heritage Month is only 30 days, the museum’s curators, researchers, and educators work with communities across the country to document and share Latino histories every day of the year.
As part of the museum’s commitment to sharing Hispanic and Latino history, the museum has updated its Latino History topic page, where you can find even more exhibitions, programs, museum collections, and resources that reflect the richness and diversity of Latino history in the United States.
Our mission as a national public history institution is not only to tell complex stories but also to use history to empower people to create a just, compassionate, and equitable future. In an increasingly divided country, it is more important than ever to learn about and stand in solidarity with Latino communities.
Cada año las personas en Estados Unidos observan el mes de la herencia hispana desde el 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre celebrando y reflexionando sobre la historia, cultura y contribuciones de las personas que rastrean sus orígenes a España, Méjico, el Caribe, y América Central y Sur. Aunque el mes conste de solo 30 días, los/las curadores/as, educadores/as, investigadores/as trabajan con comunidades a lo largo de todo el país para documentar y compartir las historias de Latinos/as cada día del año.
Como parte del compromiso del museo de compartir y diseminar estas historias, el museo ha actualizado su página Latino History topic page, en la cual pueden encontrar exhibiciones, colecciones, programas y recursos educativos que reflejan la rica , diversa y complicada historia de las comunidades Latinas en los Estados Unidos.
Nuestra misión como entidad de historia publica no es solo compartir historias complejas sino que apuntamos a utilizar la historia como herramienta de empoderamiento de las personas para crear un futuro con equidad y compasión. Frente a un país tan dividido, es más importante que nunca aprender acerca de las comunidades Latinas y brindar solidaridad.
The National Museum of the American Latino recently debuted the Molina Family Latino Gallery, located within the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian’s first gallery dedicated to the Latino experience. The inaugural exhibition ¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States illuminates U.S. Latinos’ historical and cultural legacies.
Two days of public events will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month in celebration of the gallery’s opening and commemorate 25 years of Latinidad at the Smithsonian. The program will include an evening dance party on Friday, September 16, and a Latino Heritage family day and cooking demonstration (details below) on Saturday, September 17, at the National Museum of American History. For more information, go to latino.si.edu.
Objects Out of Storage
Celebrating 25 years of Latinidad with the National Museum of American History Collections
Saturday, September 17; 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
1 West
Curators with knowledge and expertise about the rich diversity of Latino history will engage in informal conversations with visitors while telling stories related to artifacts in the museum collections. Guests will have a unique opportunity to ask questions about the objects, the stories, and how they came to be part of the national collections.
Batter Up! Demonstration with Juan Baret
Saturday, September 17; 11:30 a.m.
Southwest Mall Terrace
Juan Baret’s passion for baseball spans his entire life, from his childhood in the Dominican Republic, to cheering for the Yankees when he migrated to the Bronx as a young man, to his time in the U.S. military. Join Baret as he channels his love of the game into the craftsmanship of bats. This program is in conjunction with the exhibition, ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas which is currently on display until January 2023 at the National Museum of American History and will travel across the country through 2025 with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services.
Cooking Up History
Celebrating Comida Chingona & the Low-Rider Lifestyle
Saturday, September 17; noon–1:00 p.m.
Coulter Plaza, 1 West
The National Museum of American History continues its popular series of live cooking demonstrations for Hispanic Heritage Month. Guest Chef Silvana Salido Esparza made her mark on the U.S. food scene with the comida chingona, or “badass food,” that she serves at her Phoenix-based restaurant, Barrio Café. She draws inspiration from her Mexican heritage with the restaurant’s offerings, which honor her family’s 800-year-old gastronomic legacy with a twist. Chef Esparza is not only passionate about putting her own spin on Mexican food, but also about cars, specifically lowriders. Chef Esparza will explain the lowrider tradition during this cooking demonstration and conversation and the food culture connected to the lowrider lifestyle in Phoenix. Chef Esparza will prepare a dish illuminating Mayan barbecue, providing insights into this important, but often overlooked, culinary tradition. Visitors are encouraged to view Dave’s Dream, a lowrider from Chimayo, New Mexico.
This program is produced in collaboration with the National Museum of the American Latino.
A Conversation with Linda Alvarado
Saturday, September 17; 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Coulter Plaza, 1 West
Dr. Margaret Salazar-Porzio, curator of the Smithsonian’s ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas exhibition, will interview Linda Alvarado, owner of the Colorado Rockies, about her life and career. In 1991, Alvarado became the first Latino owner—male or female—of a Major League Baseball franchise. She is a nationally recognized speaker who extends her passion for breaking barriers to motivating and encouraging young Latinas and women of all ages to achieve their dreams.
Dr. Salazar will sign copies of her book following the onstage conversation.
¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas is currently on display until January 2023 at the National Museum of American History and will travel across the country through 2025 with the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services.
Selected Exhibitions
Dave’s Dream, Lowrider, 1992
Ongoing
First Floor, Center
“Dave’s Dream” is a modified 1969 Ford LTD known as a “lowrider” and named for David Jaramillo of Chimayo, New Mexico who began customizing this car in the 1970s. After his death, Jaramillo’s family and local artisans completed the modifications that he had planned, and the car often won “first” or “best in show” in area competitions. Lowriding is a family and community activity with parades, trophies, and other events celebrating cars and paying homage to their power and beauty. Artistic paint schemes and custom upholstery make each lowrider unique and culturally significant. Hydraulic lifts enable lowriders to hop, making them seem alive and animated.
¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas
Ongoing; closes January 2023
2 East
This bilingual exhibition takes audiences on a journey into the heart of American baseball to understand how generations of Latinas/os have helped make the game what it is today. For nearly a century, baseball has been a social and cultural force in Latino communities across the United States. From hometown baseball teams to the Major Leagues, the exhibit shows how the game can bring people together and how Latino players have made a huge impact on the sport. Explore the ¡Pleibol! exhibition online.
Many Voices, One Nation
Ongoing
2 West
How did we become US? Many Voices, One Nation explores how the many voices of people in America have shaped our nation. The exhibition explores many Latino stories, including the Indigenous peoples of Spanish New Mexico and the Pueblo Revolt; the incorporation of Mexican California; the U.S. acquisition of Puerto Rico; Mexican neighborhoods in Chicago and Los Angeles; immigration and the southwest borderlands; and Cuban migration.
¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States
Molina Family Latino Gallery
1 East
The inaugural exhibition by the Smithsonian’s newest museum—the National Museum of the American Latino—introduces visitors to key concepts, moments and biographies that illuminate U.S. Latinos’ historical and cultural legacies. Hosted at the National Museum of American History, also the largest object lender to the exhibition, the 4,500 square foot gallery is an interactive space where multigenerational and cross-cultural visitors can celebrate and learn about Latino history and culture year-round. Learn more about ¡Presente! online.
Educational Resources
“The Resplendent Quetzal Bird”
History Time video
How do people earn money? What is money made of? Elementary school students can practice their “See, Think, Wonder” routine by observing the resplendent Quetzal bird, whose long tail feathers were used as money in Central America. Watch the video.
Becoming US
Becoming US is a suite of resources for educators to present more accurate and inclusive immigration and migration narratives. There are five units organized by a theme, each with three case studies for in depth learning. Within the theme of Borderlands, we have resources on the Mexican American War. Nested in the theme of Belonging is a case study on Mexican Repatriation, and within Policy is a case study about DACA. The case studies include standards of learning, key questions and terms, primary sources, and teacher- and student-facing documents.
History Explorer
For more Latino History materials to use in the classroom, please visit our Hispanic Heritage Month themed landing page on History Explorer, the museum’s home for K-12 resources.
Exhibitions
Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas
Girlhood (It’s complicated)
See more exhibitions
From Our Blog
To explore the history of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the museum’s Undocumented Organizing Collecting Initiative reached out to three undocumented organizers to share their reflections from inside the movement.
According to Gus Arriola, creator of the comic strip Gordo, “my main goal was to maintain a positive awareness of Mexico through all the years, every day, without being political. When I started [in 1941], words like ‘burrito’ were unknown in the United States.”
See more blog posts
Rescources for Hispanic Veterans
ODVA Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 through Oct. 15), the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs will be sharing stories from the state’s and nation’s military and cultural history, including profiling individual Hispanic American veterans and family members.
There are an estimated 560,000 Hispanic Americans living in Oregon today — and more than 60 million — across the United States. They represent a rich and diverse cultural heritage — as well as a proud history of service in our nation’s military — dating to some of our earliest conflicts.
Spanish-American War
April-December 1898
Col. Theodore Roosevelt and the “Rough Riders.”
Several thousand Hispanic volunteers, mostly from the southwest, fought with distinction in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Capt. Maximiliano Luna and others comprised a portion of the famous 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry — better known as “The Rough Riders” — which fought in Cuba under the command of Col. Theodore Roosevelt, who had resigned his position as assistant secretary of the Navy to join the volunteer cavalry.
The Rough Riders saw action at Las Guásimas, a village three miles north of Siboney on the way to Santiago and became the stuff of legend for their courage during the Battle of San Juan Hill. Sgt. George Armijo, another Rough Rider, later became a member of Congress and served on the school board and city council in his hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
World War I
1914-1918
In May 1917, two months after legislation granting United States citizenship to individuals born in Puerto Rico was signed into law, and one month after the United States entered World War I, a unit of volunteer soldiers was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone.
Another Act of Congress was passed in 1917 to obtain needed manpower for the war effort, and the Hispanic community was eager to serve its country. They included both native-born service members, mostly of Mexican descent, and new immigrants from Latin America, Mexico and Spain. In June 1920, the unit was redesignated as the 65th Infantry Regiment and served as the U.S. military’s last segregated unit.
Hispanic soldiers like Nicholas Lucero and Marcelino Serna served with great distinction and were among the most decorated service members from WWI. Lucero received the French Croix de Guerre (roughly the equivalent of the U.S. Bronze or Silver Star) during World War I for destroying two German machine gun nests and maintaining constant fire for three hours, while Serna became the first Hispanic to be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military decoration of the U.S. Armed Forces.
While serving in the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Serna also destroyed a German machine gun nest that had killed a dozen American soldiers. Even though his helmet was hit twice by bullets, Serna was able to get close enough to throw four grenades into the nest — leading to the surrender of the remaining combatants.
The courageous actions that earned Serna the Service Cross occurred on Sept. 12, 1918, when he shot and wounded a German sniper, then followed the wounded soldier to a trench. Singlehanded, he threw three grenades into the trench, which resulted in the death of 26 enemy soldiers and the capture of 24.
World War II
1939-1945
The Arizona National Guard’s 158th Infantry Regiment, better known as the “Bushmasters.”
In January 1943, 13 months after the attack on Pearl Harbor that marked the entry of the United States into World War II, the 65th Infantry Regiment again deployed to the Panama Canal Zone before being redirected overseas.
Despite relatively limited combat service in World War II, the regiment suffered casualties defending against enemy attacks, with one Distinguished Service Cross, two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars and 90 Purple Hearts being credited to the unit.
In total, approximately 500,000 Hispanic service members served in the U.S. Armed Forces during WWII, including the Arizona National Guard’s 158th Infantry Regiment, the “Bushmasters” — which Gen. Douglas MacArthur declared “one of the greatest fighting combat teams ever deployed for battle.” The regiment was composed of many Hispanic Soldiers.
The Bushmasters’ motto was “Cuidado” — Spanish for “Take Care” — and comprised mainly of soldiers of Mexican American descent and North American Indian descent from 20 tribes. The regiment became one of the few to complete the trail from Australia to Japan, fighting day after day in critical battles to open the Visayan passages for Allied shipping in the Pacific.
The merciless campaign lasted two months in terrain laced with tank traps, wires, mines and bamboo thickets.
A total of six Hispanic Americans were flying aces in World War II and the Korean War. Approximately 200 Puerto Rican women served in the Women’s Army Corps and served in the critical role of Code Talkers to avoid enemy intelligence.
Korean War
1950-1953
When the Korean War broke out, Hispanic Americans again answered the call to duty as they, their brothers, cousins, and friends had done in World War II. Many of them became members of the 65th Infantry Regiment, which was still an all-Hispanic unit and fought in every major campaign of the war.
The 65th was nicknamed “The Borinqueneers,” a term originating from the Borinquen — one of the native Taino names for the island of Puerto Rico. Many members of the 65th were direct descendants of that tribe.
Fighting as a segregated unit from 1950 to 1952, the regiment participated in some of the fiercest battles of the war, and its toughness, courage and loyalty earned the admiration of many, including Brig. Gen. William W. Harris, who later called the unit’s members “the best damn soldiers that I had ever seen.”
Vietnam War
1959-1973
More than 80,000 Hispanic-Americans served with distinction in the Vietnam War, from the Battle for Hue City to the Siege of Khe Sanh. Among them were 1st Sgt. Maximo Yabes, the only known Hispanic American Medal of Honor recipient with a link to Oregon.
In February 1967, Yabes’ company was assigned to provide security for a team of Army engineers who had been tasked with creating a clear zone of land between Cu Chu, a small hamlet northwest of Saigon, and a plantation to keep enemy snipers from using the thick jungle as cover.
1st Sgt. Maximo Yabes.
Yabes moved into the bunker and covered several of his troops, using his own body as a shield. Despite being struck painfully numerous times by grenade fragments, Yabes moved to another bunker and fired on the enemy with a grenade launcher he retrieved from a fallen comrade — singlehandedly halting the enemy’s advance.
Yabes went on to assist two fallen soldiers to a safe area where they could receive medical aid before seeing an enemy machine gun within the perimeter that threatened the whole company. Alone and undefended, Yabes charged across open ground toward the enemy machine gun, killing the entire crew and destroying the weapon before being mortally wounded himself.
He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the United States’ highest military decoration, which was credited to Colorado, where Yabes and his family were residing at the time. A memorial was also built to honor Yabes in his original hometown of Oakridge.
On March 18, 2014, President Barack Obama presented 24 service members of Jewish or Hispanic American descent with the Medal of Honor in one of the largest Medal of Honor ceremonies in history.
Each of these soldiers’ bravery had been previously recognized by the award of the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest award; that award was upgraded to the Medal of Honor upon further Congressional review.
Gulf War-Modern Era
1990-Present
Approximately 20,000 Hispanic servicemen and women participated in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in 1990 and 1991. According to Defense Manpower Data Center statistics, Hispanics comprised 4.2 percent of the Army representation in the Persian Gulf theater during the war.
And, during the most recent wars and campaigns in the Middle East, thousands of men and women of Hispanic heritage answered the call to serve in the Global War on Terror, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and they continue to place their boots on the ground in more than 120 countries around the world.
Now representing more than 16% of the nation’s active-duty military, the Hispanic community continues its selfless sacrifice in bringing freedom to people in other countries, making major sacrifices, and risking their lives to bring justice to those who commit or plan evil against the United States and lay a foundation for a sustainable peace.
Whether their heritage can be traced to Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, or one of dozens of other Spanish-speaking countries or cultures, Hispanic Americans have, time and time again, answered the call to duty, defending America with unwavering valor and honor.
Mental Health, Health, Housing, Education
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Many SDOH have a major impact on the health, well-being, and quality of life of Hispanic/Latino communities, such as: 
- Safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods
- Racism, discrimination, and violence
- Education, job opportunities, and income
- Language barriers and literacy skills
SDOH also contribute to wide health disparities and inequities. For example, people who don’t have access to grocery stores with healthy foods are less likely to have good nutrition, which can raise their risk of health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Use this page to learn more about the SDOH affecting Hispanic/Latino communities and to find helpful resources from OMH’s partners to share with your communities, patients, and organizations.
Visit Health People 2030 to learn more about SDOH, learn about federal efforts to address SDOH, and explore research related to SDOH.
Visit the CDC’s website to find tools for putting SDOH in action.
Economic Stability
Economic stability refers to a person’s ability to find and maintain a steady income, as well as earn enough money to afford things that help them live a healthy lifestyle. Being a homeowner, working in a safe environment, having access to affordable childcare, and having financial savings can help increase economic stability. When a person is economically stable, they can afford steady housing, healthy food, and health care.
According to a 2020 report from the Joint Economic Committee, there are an estimated 29 million Hispanics in the U.S. workforce, making up 18 percent of all workers. The unemployment rate for Hispanic Americans is higher than overall unemployment rates but has been dropping steadily. Latinos are more likely to hold jobs in industries that have above-average risks of injury and exposure to harmful chemicals, such as construction, agriculture, and hospitality.
Hispanics in the U.S. tend to have lower-paying jobs than non-Hispanics. In 2018, the median income for Hispanic households was nearly $20,000 less than the median income for non-Hispanic white households. The pay gap is even larger for Hispanic women.
Despite lower wages and less financial capital, Hispanics are more likely than any other group to become new entrepreneurs. As of 2017, experts believe there are at least four million Hispanic-owned businesses in the U.S., contributing over $700 billion annually to the American economy.
Want to learn more about how economic stability impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.
MyMoney.gov: A one-stop shop for federal financial literacy and education programs, grants, and other information. The website is also available in Spanish.
SUMA Wealth: The leading financial technology company devoted to increasing prosperity, opportunity, and financial inclusion for young U.S. Latinos. The website is also available in Spanish.
SUMA Academy: A wealth-building digital platform that aims to help young Latinos with personal finance through creating culturally relevant, easy-to-digest material.
Education Access and Quality
Research shows that the more education a person has, the more likely they are to live a healthy lifestyle. Children are more likely to be academically successful when they have access to high-quality education and safe school environments free of violence and bullying. Individuals are more likely to have higher paying jobs if they have a high school diploma, and even more so with a college degree.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of Hispanic students enrolled in schools, colleges, and universities has increased substantially between 1996 and 2016, growing from 8.8 million to 17.9 million students. This trend applies to all levels of education, ranging from nursery school to higher education institutions.
College enrollment has more than tripled for Hispanics in the United States. Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, a larger percentage of Hispanic college students (over 40 percent) attend two-year colleges rather than four-year colleges.
According to the Pew Research Center, education levels for recently arrived Latino immigrants (defined as living in the United States for five years or less) are high as well. In 2018, the percentage of recently arrived Hispanic immigrants who completed high school was 67 percent, while in 1990, this number was 38 percent.
Despite these positive trends, the percentage of young adult Hispanics who have not completed high school and are not enrolled in school is higher than non-Hispanics. Hispanics aged 25 – 34 also have the lowest percentage of graduate school enrollment compared to white, Black, and Asian Americans.
Want to learn more about how education access and quality impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.
National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy (HHS)
National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy (HHS): A national action plan that envisions a restructuring of the ways we create and disseminate all types of health information to ensure that all children graduate with health literacy skills that will help them live healthier throughout their lifespan.
White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics
College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education): This online tool was designed with direct input from students, families, and their advisers to provide the clearest, most accessible, and reliable national data on college cost, graduation, debt, and post-college earnings.
Federal Student Aid (U.S. Department of Education): They provide more than $125 billion in federal grants, work-study, and loans for students attending career schools, community colleges, and colleges or universities. Their information center helps students complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and provides the public with free information about their programs. The website can be converted into Spanish.
Health Care Access and Quality
Being able to access and use high-quality health care services is a critical part of preventing disease and keeping people healthy. There are many reasons why people cannot access or use health care services: language barriers, lack of transportation, health care costs, inability to find childcare, inability to take off time from work, and discrimination when receiving health care can all factor into a person’s ability or willingness to use health care services.
Health care access and utilization vary widely in the U.S. Hispanic population. Factors include age, country of birth, English language fluency, and length of residency in the U.S. Hispanics aged 65 and older are more likely than younger Hispanics to have a primary care provider and are more likely to have seen a provider in the past 12 months.
The percentage of Hispanic Americans with health insurance has risen over the past decade. However, this group is still more likely than any other racial/ethnic group in the U.S. to be uninsured.
Language barriers influence health care utilization as well. Approximately 46 percent of Hispanic American adults say they have a close family member or friend who requires interpretation services or a Spanish-speaking health care provider, and 50 percent of Hispanic Americans say it is difficult to understand the process of getting medical care and have had negative experiences receiving health care.
Want to learn more about how health care access and quality impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.
QuestionBuilder App: The HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) QuestionBuilder app helps patients and caregivers prepare for medical appointments and maximize visit time. Also available in Spanish.
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Therapy for Latinx: A database of therapists who either identify as Latinx or have worked closely with Latinx communities and understand their needs. The website is available in English and Spanish and offers other helpful tools and resources.
Mental Health America: Has Spanish-language tools and resources regarding mental health for Latinos, along with articles and ways to get help.
NAMI Compartiendo Esperanza: A helpful tool that includes a three-part video series to increase mental health awareness in Latino communities.
Neighborhood and Built Environment
Safe neighborhoods allow people to live healthier and happier lives. Racial and ethnic minority populations are more likely to live in areas where there is violence, water and air pollution, exposure to toxic substances, a lack of trees and green spaces, loud noise, and a lack of access to healthy foods. All these factors can directly or indirectly impact a person’s health.
A 2019 report from the Joint Economic Committee states that 94 percent of Latinos currently live in urban areas, but this is changing. States with historically low Hispanic populations, such as North and South Dakota, are experiencing fast increases in Hispanic residents.
Hispanic Americans are far more likely than non-Hispanic white Americans to be concerned about environmental issues. According to a Pew Research Center survey, 71 percent of Hispanic adults state climate change has affected their community, compared to 54 percent of non-Hispanic adults. This percentage is even higher for foreign-born Hispanics.
According to Yale Climate Connections, an initiative of the Yale Center for Environmental Communication, several research teams have found that Hispanics are often disproportionately affected by environmental factors. Many predominantly Latino neighborhoods have a higher risk of flooding, drought, and air pollution. These neighborhoods often have fewer green spaces, which are known to lower temperatures during extreme heat.
Want to learn more about how neighborhoods and built environments impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.
Social and Community Context
Social and community support can greatly improve a person’s health and well-being. Positive, healthy relationships and community engagement can buffer disruptive environmental factors, especially for children and young adults. Disruptive factors can include incarceration, deportation, discrimination, bullying, and violence. When these disruptive and stressful factors are present, a person’s overall stress level (often called “allostatic load”) can directly influence their mental and physical health.
Discrimination and deportation remain key sources of stress for many Hispanic Americans. A Pew Research Center survey found that23 percent of Hispanic Americans were criticized for speaking Spanish in public, and 20 percent were called offensive names in the past year. Research also shows that over 39 percent of Hispanic Americans worry that they or an individual close to them could be deported. In 2019, 80 percent of Hispanics living in the U.S. were citizens. This is an increase from 74 percent in 2010.
According to Voto Latino, a growing number of Hispanic Americans are exercising their voting rights. Experts believe over 16 million Latinos voted in 2020, an increase of nearly 40 percent since 2016. Around 12 million Latinos are eligible to vote but are not registered.
Want to learn more about how social and community context impact Hispanic and Latino communities? Browse a short collection of free, related resources in the OMH Knowledge Center online catalog.
The Latino Victory Fund: an organization dedicated to building political power in the Latino community so that the voices and values of Latinos are reflected at every level of government and in the policies that drive our country forward.
Voto Latino: a pioneering civic media organization seeking to transform America by recognizing Latinos’ innate leadership. Their work focuses on building a pipeline meant to serve and empower our community, consisting of three parts: civic engagement, issue advocacy, and leadership development. The website is also available in Spanish.
GreenLatinos: an active community of Latino/a/x leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation. The website is also available in Spanish.
Office of Minority Health
