National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from September 15 to October 15 annually. The observation first began in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson. The recognition was later extended by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The start of the month is significant because of the anniversary of Latin America countries independence. Hispanic Heritage Month has grown popular in the last ten years and is likely driven by the fact that the U.S. Hispanic (population reached 60.6 million in 2019, up from 50.7 million in 2010. For purposes of this article, Hispanics is used generally to reference Hispanic, Latino and Latinx.
Today, four in five Hispanics are U.S. Citizens and the share of U.S. Hispanics with college experience has increased to 41% since 2010. In addition, the share of Hispanics in the U.S. who speak English proficiently is growing: In 2018 71% of Hispanics ages 5 and older spoke English proficiently and Hispanics make up 34% of naturalized citizens who are eligible to vote.
According to the American Bar Association’s 2020 Profile of the Legal Profession, while the numbers of lawyers have increased faster than the U.S. population, this growth has not been seen across races and ethnicities. According to ABA National Lawyer Survey, 86% of lawyers are non-Hispanic white people and only 5% of all lawyers are Hispanic. The same disparities exist in their representation in the judiciary and Hispanic Judges are disproportionately underrepresented. It is important that when we begin to learn and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month that we also pause to ensure that we are creating a more diverse and colorful legal community. Such diversity helps to ensure there is equal and fair judicial system.
We encourage each of you to take some time to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
- Enjoy a classic Latin American Dish. One of my favorite Latino dishes is seafood paella.
- Take a dance class and support a local small business. Learn how to Mambo, Rumba, or Cha-Cha. This is a fun, energizing stress reliever from a long day in the office.
- Netflix and Chill to a Spanish Language Movie or television show. Netflix has a variety of excellent shows, with subtitled, that will surely spark a film enthusiast’s interest.
- Visit a Local Museum or Cultural Arts Center highlighting Hispanic and Latino culture.
- Read books by Hispanic and Latinx authors. Hispanic authors offer a variety of fiction and memoirs that not only will be engaging but also refreshing as you experience a new perspective.
.jpg)