At MANA, we celebrate our heritage and uplift Latinas every day of the year, but from September 15th to October 15th, the country joins us in an annual celebration of the contributions Hispanics make to fabric of the United States. You may have seen the recent release of the 2020 Census numbers. As of the 2020 count, our community is 62.1 million people strong, representing 50% of the population growth in the United States over the last decade.
We are racially, linguistically, politically, and geographically diverse. There’s an ongoing conversation in our community about how we would like to identify: Hispanic, Latino, Latina, Latinx, Latiné, or none of the above. But what we all share is nuestra cultura: the unwritten, unspoken bonds we have over family, language, heritage, food, music, and so much more. Whether you immigrated from another country, come from a family that has been in the United States for generations, or are trying to navigate this world as the first generation of your family born here, we share these bonds. And no one word or descriptor will ever be able to encompass or capture the beauty, diversity, complexity, and wonder of nuestra gente.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time of reflection and celebration as we honor our history, marvel at our collective growth and strength, and dream for our future. We hope this month you stop to think about and celebrate all that makes YOU uniquely Latina. Honor the sacrifices of your family and ancestors. No one can take your lived experience away and it is exactly what makes you vital to our collective voice. Without that diversity, we are not as strong. Without you, our voice is lacking. Without you, we are incomplete.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of YOU.