Hispanic Heritage Month at Stevenson

For 30 days, the United States turns its attention to a history and culture that has shaped the country for generations. Hispanic/Latinx identifying people make up approximately 20%-21% of the U.S. population, solidifying their role as the largest racial or ethnic minority group. This month is called Hispanic Heritage Month, and we celebrate it from September 15th to October 15th. Now, let’s get a closer look at what exactly this month is about and how we celebrate it here at Stevenson.

As previously mentioned, Hispanic Heritage Month lasts from September 15th to October 15th. It first started off as a week in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johnson until 1988, when President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a full month. During this month, we celebrate the independence days of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile, Belize, and Equatorial Guinea. Cuba doesn’t exactly celebrate Independence Day during this month, but they do celebrate on October 10th, which marks the start of their independence movement. Spain also celebrates Fiesta Nacional De España on October 12th, which isn’t their independence day, but they celebrate because it symbolizes the moment Spain began projecting its own language and culture beyond Europe. During this month, we celebrate the Hispanic community across America and honor them and their contributions.

During this celebration of Hispanic culture, Stevenson School’s LSU (Latinx Student Union), an affinity group, has been known to host a variety of events and potlucks. This year, LSU leader Natalie A. Freytes shared that LSU is sending out emails weekly about important figures in the Hispanic/Latino community.  She hopes that what students from other heritages take away from this commemorative month is that "there is more to our history than just the same three people... We also have more people who have helped shape our community, whether it be music, food, politics..." Freytes spoke about why Hispanic Heritage should be celebrated at Stevenson and explained that we have a big community of Hispanics/Latinos here, and "letting others celebrate who they are, and their ethnicity is a big thing when you're at a boarding school full of different cultures." Freytes talked about how even if you aren't part of the Hispanic or Latino community, you could still be involved in this month, even if it's just reading the Hispanic/Latino figure of the week emails.

We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize and honor the history, culture, traditions, and achievements of Hispanic and Latino communities. It is an opportunity to learn about the many different cultures and experiences within the Hispanic community and to recognize the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to the United States. From music and food to art, science, sports, and politics, Hispanic Americans have played an important role in shaping the country. Hispanic Heritage Month also encourages people to appreciate cultural diversity and learn from the traditions and stories of others. At Stevenson, Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a celebration; it is an opportunity for students to learn from one another, share their cultures, and recognize the diversity that makes up our community.