Sunday, Sept. 15 marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month—a time to pay tribute to the Hispanic and U.S. Latino population and their positive contributions to our union, communities and country. It provides an opportunity to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, South America and Spain.
The origins of this celebration date back to President Lyndon Johnson, who first established Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to cover a 30-day period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. Hispanic Heritage Month was enacted into law in 1988, and the start date of Sept. 15 was chosen for the celebration because it marks the anniversary of independence for a number of Latin American countries.
Throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, the UFCW will pay tribute to the culture and history of Hispanic and Latino Americans and their positive impact on the labor movement. If you have members who would like to share their stories about what this month means to them, please reach out to Julie Anderson at janderson@ufcw.org.