Jeremy Solano

21 cultures, one celebration: Hispanic Heritage Month is about all of us, not just one.

When people hear “Hispanic,” they often picture one culture, one language, one history— but being Hispanic stretches across continents, from the Andes of Peru to the Caribbean islands, from Indigenous traditions in Mexico to African rhythms in the Dominican Republic. 

“Since I’m Hispanic, people usually misinterpret where I’m from,” senior Armando Parra said. “This is due to the stereotypes in this school where it’s believed that all Hispanic students are Mexican.”

Hispanic Heritage Month usually highlights foods, dances, traditions, music, and languages. However, it is frequently treated as just one culture. Being Hispanic is far more complex than that. Just in the U.S., there are over 60 million Hispanics, those whose roots span more than 20 countries, each having its own traditions, voices, and history. Treating it as just one culture overlooks the richness and variety in it. 

Fun fact: Hispanic Heritage Month starts on Sept. 15 to coincide with the independence of most Central American countries, such as Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico (Sept. 16).

 “I have been misidentified as a Mexican or Guatemalan person,” senior Jean Coral said. “We are different. Not only culturally wise but also in foods, traditions, music, dances, and even our language, we all use different dialects, expressions, and accents.”

And some may think, well, the language is the same, but Spanish is only a resource to unite us. It is different in each country, with different accents and, in some cases, even blending with indigenous and African languages across the Americas, such as Palenquero, which is only spoken in Colombia, or Quechua, which mixes Spanish with words used by the Incas. 

In the U.S., people usually reduce “Hispanic” to three things: tacos, sombreros, or reggaeton. This is not only incorrect due to the rich history behind the word, but also because it overlooks the unique traits that are exclusive to Central America, South America, and Caribbean communities. 

Siulys Coraspe, a student at Harper’s College, agrees.

“I consider that one of the biggest issues when it comes to representing Hispanic Heritage Month is that they often celebrate just one country, one culture, one set of traditions,” Coraspe said. 

Despite all these stereotypes and differences, Hispanics share a deep sense of connection, whether it is love for their families, resilience, or simply pride in being Hispanic. 

Hispanic Heritage Month is not just a month to try out foods or go to festivals, but also a time to explore, learn, understand, and connect with these cultures on a deeper level.