Latinx Heritage Month or Hispanic Heritage Month (government designation) is celebrated between September 15 – October 15 to recognize and honor the impactful contributions of Latinx Americans on United States’ history.
This month helps celebrate the many heritages and cultures that encompass Latin America and learn about its breadth and diversity. At IE, we’ve chosen to celebrate it as Latine/x Heritage Month because we recognize that, although not perfect, it is currently the most inclusive term for the community and words matter.
While Hispanic refers to folks descended from a Spanish-speaking country, excluding Brazil and including Spain, Latino/a refers to those of Latin American origin and embraces Portuguese-speaking Brazilians. The word ‘Latinx’ has existed online since 2004 and serves as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino and Latina.
This context is important, yes, but we also recognize that while words matter, they are far from perfect. There is rich history in how language has evolved, and we acknowledge that there isn’t a word that resonates with every single person. We do, however, strive to be as inclusive as possible and hope you’ll join us.
Below are a few resources we suggest checking out to learn more about Latinx Heritage Month:
Human Rights Watch: Latinx Heritage Month: More Than One Word, More Than One Heritage
PureWow: 12 New (and New-Ish) Books by Latinx Authors to Read for Latinx Heritage Month
POPSUGAR: 11 Latinx Podcasts We Listened to and Loved in 2021
Read about how IE honored Black History month in: Our top eight goals to celebrate Black history in 2022.
Check out our other educational blogs, such as: Definitions and Use Cases As We Experience Them.