Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month, observed September 15 to October 15, is an official celebration of American citizens whose ancestry can be traced back to Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.
Almost one fifth of the total U.S. population is Hispanic. While the terms Hispanic and Latinx are used interchangeably by many — Hispanic refers to someone of Spanish-speaking origin, while Latino, Latina and Latinx indicate a person of Latin American origin. The celebration recognizes those whose roots are from a country that speaks Spanish as the primary language. For example, a person from the Latin American country of Brazil may consider themselves Latinx but not Hispanic, since Brazilians speak Portuguese and not Spanish.
UNF encourages the campus community to celebrate the Hispanic and Latinx cultures by attending some of the Hispanic Heritage events sponsored by the Intercultural Center for Peace. Activities begin with the Hispanic Heritage Month Kickoff event via Zoom at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15.