Observing Hispanic Heritage Month in Erie

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Being Hispanic means that one is from a country whose primary language is Spanish, and those countries are represented during Hispanic Heritage Month in America. They are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

Each year in the United States, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The month commences in the middle of September to correspond with independence celebrations across numerous Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua celebrate their independence from Spain on Sept. 15, while Mexico celebrates its on Sept. 16, followed by Chile on Sept. 18 and Belize on Sept. 21.

The occasion was first officially observed as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. This proclamation was made by President Lyndon B. Johnson after Congress passed a joint resolution first introduced by Congressmen George E. Brown, Edward R. Roybal, and Henry B. Gonzales. "It is with special pride that I call the attention of my fellow citizens to the great contribution of our national heritage made by our people of Hispanic descent," wrote President Johnson, "[N]ot only in the fields of culture, business, and science, but also through their valor in battle."

In 1988, Senators Paul Simon and Orrin G. Hatch (with the help of U.S. Rep. Esteban Torres) pushed to expand the week to a month. "It is important that the nation be educated and made aware of the richness and the significance of the contributions of Hispanics to our society," they wrote in a letter to their Senate colleagues. "Hispanics are not just a significant part of our Nation's origin; they are essential to America's future." National Hispanic Heritage Month was then implemented by President Ronald Reagan, who noted their "outstanding achievements" in the "countless chapters in the unique saga of the United States."

When first observed in 1968, the vast majority of the Hispanic population in the United States were of Mexican, Puerto Rican, and Cuban ancestry. In recent decades, the population has diversified greatly due to increased immigration from other Central American, South American, and Caribbean nations.

Today, according to census data, around 8.17 percent of Erie's population identifies as Hispanic or Latino and includes over 12,000 people across the county. As described in Kevin Flowers' 2022 reporting for Erie Times-News, over half are of Puerto Rican heritage, one-fifth of Mexican, and other countries represented include Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and Spain.

"But numbers don't begin to tell the entire story," Flowers wrote. "From politics and philanthropy to social services, religion, entrepreneurship and other areas, many of the Erie region's Hispanic/Latino residents are becoming more visible and active at a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion have become community-wide priorities." 

"Hispanic heritage is American heritage," President Joe Biden noted in his first proclamation for Hispanic Heritage Month. "We see it in every aspect of our national life: on our television and movie screens, in the music that moves our feet, and in the foods we enjoy."

It is important to note that the Hispanic community, which makes up over 60 million people across the country, is extremely diverse. Furthermore, not all terms are interchangeable. Illustrator Terry Blas is Hispanic and Latino and his mother was born in Mexico. When he realized that many people conflated the two terms (sometimes along with nationalities), he created a short comic to explain it in the simplest terms. "Latino is a term that is telling you about geography. Hispanic is a term that is telling you about language," he explains. "Latino means: from Latin America. ... Hispanic means: from a country whose primary language is Spanish." It's more complex than this, but works as a simple orientation point for those unfamiliar. The terms relate more to culture and ethnicity and not race or nationality, although, as the Hispanic Network Magazine explains, the terms one uses are more about identity and the way in which people perceive themselves and their communities.

While past Hispanic Heritage Festivals were held in Erie's Perry Square, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed some of that momentum and the Erie Latino Leadership Association is in the midst of reorganization. In 2022, it was reported that Erie Mayor Joe Schember's administration was creating a Latino-Hispanic Advisory Council for the city made up of 14 Erie residents, but there was no response to an inquiry on whether the city was planning any events. (Edit to add: The Mayor's Hispanic Latine Advisory Council in collaboration with the Erie Latino Leadership Association has recently announced an official event celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. This event will take place in Perry Square on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 3 to 7 p.m.)

Last year, Jasmine Flores, vice president of Erie City Council, began compiling a work-in-progress list of Latino and Hispanic businesses across Erie. In lieu of festivals or parades, she believes that supporting these businesses is another way to celebrate the month (although outdated at this point, a study from the 1990s by the Pennsylvania State Data Center reported that Erie had over 150 Hispanic-owned businesses).

Local food options include Amigo Taqueria & Botanas, Dina's Authentic Dominican Kitchen, El Amigo Mexican Grill, El Canelo, Enrique's Southeast Mexico Taqueria & Tortilleria, Julius, La Chona Movil, La Cocina Coqui, Lucky's Mexican Food, and Torero's Mexican Restaurant. If you prefer to cook at home, everything you need can be purchased at Los Primos Latino Products on West 26th Street. You can try out a haircut at Ruiz Barbershop/Salon, commission a piece of furniture from Lake Erie Woodworks, get some new kicks from Status Footwear & Apparel, or snag a t-shirt from Melancholy Brand.

If money is tight, there are plenty of inexpensive ways to commemorate the holiday too. You can check out related books from your local library, find some free educational videos online, or even stream podcasts about important historical figures such as Dolores Huerta, Cesar Chavez, Jovita Idar, Roberto Clemente, Ellen Ochoa, Guy Gabaldon, Sylvia Rivera, Octaviano Larrazola, and Gabriela Mistral. There are online exhibits from the National Archives where you can learn about the Zoot Suit Riots of 1943, the Delano Grape Strike of 1965, or the Miranda v. Arizona Supreme Court case of 1966. You can also simply make a point to discover new Hispanic and Latino authors, musicians, filmmakers, and artists.

More information on Hispanic Heritage Month and upcoming events can be found at hispanicheritagemonth.gov

Jonathan Burdick runs the public history project Rust & Dirt. He can be reached at jburdick@eriereader.com