spanish heritage essay

Essay on Hispanic Heritage

Students are often asked to write an essay on Hispanic Heritage in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Hispanic Heritage

What is hispanic heritage.

Hispanic Heritage is all about the culture, history, and people from Spanish-speaking countries. Think of it like a big family tree that includes Spain and many countries in Latin America. It’s like a colorful quilt made of different traditions, foods, music, and languages.

Famous Hispanic People

Hispanic heritage month.

In the United States, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15. It’s a special time when we learn about and enjoy the rich culture of Hispanic people. We have festivals, eat yummy food, and listen to lively music.

Traditional Hispanic Foods

Hispanic food is delicious and includes tacos, empanadas, and paella. Each country has its own special dish. Eating these foods is a fun way to explore Hispanic culture and learn about different countries.

Hispanic Music and Dance

250 words essay on hispanic heritage.

Hispanic Heritage is about celebrating the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of people whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Every year from September 15 to October 15, we honor these communities and their impact on society.

The Start of the Celebration

Hispanic Heritage Month starts in the middle of September because it is the anniversary of independence for many Latin American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all celebrate their freedom on September 15. Mexico and Chile have their independence days on September 16 and September 18.

Food and Music

The food and music of Hispanic cultures are famous all over the world. Tacos, salsa, and guacamole come from these traditions. Music styles like salsa, bachata, and reggaeton make people want to dance and are enjoyed by many.

Many Hispanic people have done amazing things. Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go to space. Cesar Chavez fought for the rights of farm workers. Their stories inspire others and show how Hispanic people have helped shape the world.

Why It Matters

Knowing about Hispanic Heritage helps us understand the diversity of the United States. It teaches us to respect different backgrounds and learn from each other. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage is a way to remember the past and look forward to a future where everyone’s story is important.

500 Words Essay on Hispanic Heritage

The start of hispanic heritage month.

This special month starts on September 15 because it is the anniversary of independence for many Latin American countries. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua all celebrate their freedom on this day. Mexico and Chile have their independence days on September 16 and 18. This period was chosen to show respect for these important days.

Language and Family

One of the most well-known parts of Hispanic heritage is the Spanish language. It’s the second most spoken language in the United States! Many families speak Spanish at home, keeping the language alive across generations. Family is a big deal in Hispanic cultures, with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins often living close or even under the same roof.

Food from Hispanic cultures is delicious and varied. Tacos, enchiladas, and tamales might come to mind, but there’s so much more! Each country has its own special dishes, like arepas from Venezuela or empanadas from Argentina. Music is just as rich, with styles like salsa, mariachi, tango, and reggaeton. Music and food bring people together, creating memories and a sense of community.

Art and Literature

Contributions to society.

People with Hispanic heritage have made many contributions to the United States and the world. They have worked in all kinds of jobs, from teachers and doctors to astronauts and judges. Sonia Sotomayor, for example, is the first Hispanic woman to become a Supreme Court Justice in the United States. These role models show that with hard work and education, everyone has the chance to make a difference.

Why Celebrate?

In conclusion, Hispanic Heritage is a vibrant and essential part of American culture. From the language and family values to the food, music, art, and significant contributions to society, it’s a heritage that touches everyone’s life. This month-long celebration helps us remember and honor the many ways Hispanic Americans have helped shape the United States and the world.

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to win a hispanic scholarship fund award.

Financial Aid

If you’re a high school senior of Hispanic or Latinx heritage, you'll definitely want to learn more about the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) . With more than 150 types of scholarships available through this program, there’s a lot to learn—and a lot to win!

When you submit an HSF award scholarship, you’re actually submitting yourself for consideration for many different awards (much like when you submit a FAFSA ). I’ll talk about all the details you’ll need to take into consideration before submitting your own application for Hispanic scholarships. Then, we'll take a look at application strategies for current high school seniors.

What Is a Hispanic Scholarship Fund Award?

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) is a large organization that oversees many scholarship programs. It has partnerships with both philanthropic and corporate organizations to fund scholarships for Hispanic students.

Since 1975, HSF has awarded more than $675 million in scholarship money, with 5,100+ new scholarships awarded each year . Overall, it's a real powerhouse of an organization, which aims to ensure that every Hispanic household in the US has at least one college graduate.

In essence, there's no single HSF award; instead, HSF offers many different scholarships, each with its own funding sources, eligibility requirements, and award amounts. The great thing about HSF is that you only have to submit one application every year to be considered for all available scholarships .

These scholarships are merit-based,  meaning they're awarded based on academic and personal achievements, not financial need; that said, financial need is taken into consideration when determining the amount of the award.

Most awards are not renewable —you only receive one annual award amount. As I mentioned above, however, you can submit an HSF scholarship application every year. Re-submitting applications in the future may help your chances of getting more scholarship funding . HSF really values building a community and slightly favors past award winners when reviewing scholarship applications.

HSF award amounts vary from $500 to as high as $5,000, but the specific amount you could win will vary depending on your financial need.

HSF scholarships offer more than just funding for school, though. Here's a list of the benefits that come along with an HSF award :

• Career center platform to help you look for jobs and internships
• Mentor match program
• Online course system to augment your normal college studies
• HSF newsletter with extracurricular and volunteer opportunities
• HSF events and programs, such as Latinos United and Networking for Advancement (LUNA) and National Leadership Conference (NLC)
• An extra "point" on future HSF scholarship applications—if you've won an HSF scholarship in the past, you'll be more likely to win one in the future

All in all, an HSF award is a really great resource in more ways than one. Because one application means you'll be considered for countless scholarships, it's well worth your time to apply for an HSF award . So let's get started!

How to Know If You're Eligible for an HSF Scholarship

In order to receive an HSF award, you must meet all of the following eligibility requirements :

• Be of Hispanic heritage (defined as being at least 1/4 Hispanic or Latino)
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (for high school students)
• Have a minimum 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (for college and graduate students)
• Plan to enroll full-time at an accredited nonprofit four-year university or graduate school during the fall of the scholarship cycle year
• Be a US citizen, permanent legal resident, DACA, or eligible non-citizen as defined by the FAFSA
• Complete the FAFSA
• Complete the State Dream Act financial aid application, if applicable

Students of all majors are considered, although there is an emphasis on STEM fields . This is likely because students of Hispanic heritage are especially underrepresented in the fields of math, science, technology, and engineering.

What Do You Need to Apply for an HSF Scholarship?

Before you start working on your Hispanic Scholarship Fund application, it'd be wise to gather the following information and reports.

To complete your HSF application, you'll need the following materials:

• Your FAFSA and Student Aid Report—get complete instructions here
• School transcripts —you can get these from your guidance counselor
• Enrollment verification from your school—check with the admissions office about this
• Financial aid award letter from the college you're enrolling in—the HSF uses this to determine your award amount but not whether you receive a scholarship
• Letters of recommendation —you'll need at least one academic recommender, but additional writers can be academic or non-academic

Your school guidance counselor should be able to help you gather the paperwork you need.

How Do You Submit an HSF Application?

The Hispanic Scholarship Fund application opens January 1  each year and typically closes mid-February. The 2023-24 cycle is currently underway, and awards will be disbursed sometime in December 2023. For the 2024-25 scholarships, the application is estimated to open January 1, 2024, and close February 15, 2024.

By submitting just one application, you'll be considered for a variety of awards. However, although you might be eligible to receive multiple scholarships, you can only be awarded one scholarship per year. Remember that you are encouraged to submit an HSF scholarship application every year you're in school.

After you submit an HSF scholarship application, you'll learn whether you won an award via email in June or July.

How May You Use Hispanic Scholarship Fund Award Money?

HSF scholarship funds can be used for tuition, books, fees, and other academic expenses. You can also use the award money to pay for room, board, and transportation expenses.

How to Raise Your Chances of Winning a Hispanic Scholarship Fund Award

HSF scholarships are highly competitive; unfortunately, not all qualified applicants receive a scholarship each year. It’s important, then, that you dedicate yourself fully to the application process if you’re serious about trying to get an HSF award.

I'll address some long- and short-term strategies to help you win an HSF scholarship here.

Long-Term Considerations

As you prepare for HSF scholarship applications, keep in mind that students are evaluated on the following criteria:

• Academic achievement
• Personal strengths
• Commitment to giving back to their communities

HSF also strives to help students achieve their goals, particularly in areas in which Hispanic/Latino students are underrepresented, namely STEM fields .

You'll be considered an even stronger applicant if you plan on going into science, tech, engineering, or mathematics.

You should also note that HSF scholarships are looking for students who are well rounded . In other words, they would prefer a student with a slightly lower GPA and an impressive resume to a student with a perfect GPA and no extracurricular activities.

Nevertheless, the strongest HSF applicant will demonstrate both academic excellence and involvement in extracurricular activities .

If you're a younger high school student, you can start working on making yourself a stronger applicant, both for scholarships and college applications (there tends to be a lot of overlap).

Here are three things that can make applicants more competitive , according to HSF.

#1: Taking Honors or Advanced Classes

This speaks to your academic achievement. Students who challenge themselves with a more difficult course load will seem more ambitious and tenacious.

#2: Consistent Involvement in Extracurricular or Volunteer Activities

Depending on what activities you’re involved in, your participation in extracurriculars/volunteer activities can speak to all the qualities that applicants are evaluated for.

• Academic achievement: Activities such as Science Olympiad , Mock Trial, and Debate can augment what you’re already doing in class. Basically, participation demonstrates intellectual curiosity.
• Personal strengths : Your success in various activities/organizations will speak to your personal strengths. If you win any awards, honors, or accolades through your participation in extracurriculars, these will get you brownie points on applications.
• Leadership : If you hold an authoritative role as a club officer, or if you started a club or volunteer organization, you’ll prove that you are a strong and effective leader.
• Commitment to giving back to the community : Generally, any volunteer or school-related activity will demonstrate a commitment to your community.

#3: Demonstrating Experiences That Have Contributed to Your Personal Growth

You might be questioning what exactly this point is supposed to mean. After all, experiences that contribute to personal growth will be different for everyone.

In general, though, any experience that challenges you or forces you out of your comfort zone will contribute to your growth .

Here are some examples of how you can demonstrate these types of experiences in the domains relevant to the HSF application:

• Academics : Again, difficult coursework, especially in your weaker subject areas, will challenge you intellectually. If you approach the challenge productively by seeking extra help from teachers and keeping up with your work, you’ll come across as a strong applicant. Letters of recommendation from appropriate teachers can really shed light on whether you seek out challenging academic experiences.
• Leadership: No one starts off as a leader in any club or activity; you have to work your way up by proving yourself and earning respect over time. Volunteer to take on new and challenging learning experiences in your extracurriculars. You can do this by leading a group, proposing an independent learning project, or even starting your own club or organization.
• Commitment to giving back to your community: How do you demonstrate commitment or passion to giving back? You do more than what’s required or expected of you. Do you feel that your school or community is missing a particular type of service group? For example, maybe you’ve noticed that the younger kids in your school community don’t have access to tutors or mentors for homework help, and you have a passion for education and teaching. This would be a great opportunity to give back to your community while also demonstrating real initiative and leadership.

Take every opportunity to describe personal growth and development - scholarships (and colleges) love to see this upwards trajectory.

Sometimes, leadership and community commitment go formally unrecognized. Although I know it’s difficult for some students to toot their own horns, formal awards, honors, and accolades can really help you boost scholarship and college applications.

Work on taking the above advice over the long term, but also try to actively seek out award opportunities in your community . You can do this by checking with your school's guidance counselor or by doing a Google search for any awards in your area.

Short-Term Considerations

If you're ready to start working on your applications, this section will be especially helpful. I'll break down the best ways to approach each part of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund application so you can optimize your chances of winning an award.

The actual essay prompts for the 2024-25 HSF scholarship application aren't available yet, but the HSF lists ideas for personal statements that will likely overlap with its own application essays.

You can use the following prompts to brainstorm before you have access to the actual application in January:

• What are your goals? Why did you choose these goals?
• Why did you choose to apply for HSF fund scholarships?
• What are your values and philosophy about education? Why?
• Are there any accomplishments (either in or out of school) that you're particularly proud of? What have you learned from these experiences?
• Do you have a time-management system? What is it?
• How do you schedule your time to include both academic and social activities?
• What difficulties or disadvantages have you faced in your life, and how have you overcome them? What is one area in which you are weak, and how have you or do you plan to overcome this weakness?
• Identify a leadership experience and talk about the most important lessons of the position and experience.
• What makes you unique?

Your actual scholarship essay will be evaluated on four different factors, which are as follows:

#1: Length : There’s a maximum word count for each essay. The best essays will use all the space available. While you don’t need to write the exact max number of words, you should try to get as close as possible to the maximum.

#2: Content : The essay prompts will be focused and direct; make sure your response is as well. If the prompt includes multiple parts, ensure that you’re answering each part of the prompt.

• Highlight the qualities that the HSF values in scholarship recipients, including academic achievement, personal strengths, leadership skills or experiences, and commitment to giving back to the community. Reference the section above for examples of activities, experiences, and challenges you could highlight.
• If there are any major weaknesses in your HSF application (such as a lack of leadership experiences or poor academic performance), use your essays to explain yourself . Don’t make excuses—keep your tone matter-of-fact, but optimistic.
• If you’ve experienced any extraordinary hardships or obstacles, mention them in your essays . It’s important that application readers have a full and comprehensive understanding of situational factors that could have affected different aspects of your application.

#3: Use of Examples : The examples you use in your essays should be personal (without being confessional) and relevant to the prompt. Your essay responses will be more engaging if, for example, you begin your writing with an anecdote or personal story.

#4: Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation: Errors are distracting and detract from the quality of your writing. Avoid mistakes by giving yourself plenty of time to write the essay. Have a trusted teacher or mentor edit and proofread your work, too.

This sign doesn't make a great first impression. Make sure your HSF essay does!

Letters of Recommendation

Your academic recommendation writer must be an instructor, an adviser, or someone who can evaluate you academically (e.g., your academic performance, motivation, plans and goals, etc.). Additional recommenders can be either academic or nonacademic.

Secondary recommendation writers must be able to evaluate your community service and extracurricular activities (e.g., your leadership, work ethic, or commitment). Recommendations from family members, family friends, and other close friends are discouraged by HSF.

Strong letters of recommendation are important for any application. Here’s how you can go about getting the best letters possible for an HSF award application:

#1: Ask the Right People : Ideal recommendation writers are those in educator/mentor positions and with whom you have a long, positive history. The best recommender will be excited to vouch for you.

If you have someone in mind, ask them to write your letters in such a way that they have an "out" if they’re not comfortable doing it. If they don’t have any positive things to say about you, they’ll end up writing a lukewarm letter, and this will really hurt your application.

Ask if they’d be comfortable writing you a "very strong" or "glowing" letter. This way, you'll know that if they decline or hesitate, you’re probably better off asking someone else to write you a letter.

You can ask more than one person to write you a letter of recommendation. This is potentially a great opportunity to present yourself as a well-rounded applicant. I advise you to ask for letters from two to three people; any more than that, though, and the HSF scholarship evaluators will have too much to read!

#2: Give Your Letter Writers Plenty of Advance Notice: Aim for 10-12 weeks, if possible. Since the deadline for HSF is in mid-February, you'll want to aim to ask for rec letters by mid-November.

What's Next?

Although the HSF application means you'll be considered for many scholarships, you don't want to stop there! To really optimize your chances of getting scholarship funding, you should apply to as many scholarship programs as possible.

The good news is that we have comprehensive guides to submitting the best applications for some of the nation's top scholarships. Read these to learn how to win the Gates Millennium Scholarship , the Ronald McDonald House Charities scholarships , the Walmart Scholarships , and the Coca-Cola Scholarship .

Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

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Hispanic Heritage Month

By: History.com Editors

Updated: September 15, 2023 | Original: September 11, 2020

Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latino and Hispanic communities. Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 will last from Friday, September 15, 2023 through Sunday, October 15, 2023.  The event commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large.

Origins of Hispanic History Month

The term Hispanic or Latino (or the more recent term Latinx) refers to a person’s culture or origin—regardless of race. On the 2020 Census form, people were counted as Hispanic or Latino or Spanish if they could identify as having Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.”

Hispanic Heritage Month actually began as a commemorative week when it was first introduced in June of 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown. The push to recognize the contributions of the Hispanic community had gained momentum throughout the 1960s when the civil rights movement was at its peak and there was a growing awareness of the United States' multicultural identities.

Brown, who represented East Los Angeles and a large portion of the San Gabriel Valley—both heavily populated by members of the Hispanic and Latinx communities—wanted to recognize the role played by those communities throughout American history.

On September 17, 1968, Congress passed Public Law 90-48 , officially authorizing and requesting the president to issue annual proclamations declaring September 15 and 16 to mark the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Week and called upon the “people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first Hispanic Heritage Week presidential proclamation the same day.

Why the Date of Hispanic Heritage Month Is Important

The timing of Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations. September 15 was chosen as the kickoff because it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of five “Central American neighbors,” as Johnson called them—Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Those five nations declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821.

In his proclamation, Johnson also acknowledged Mexico, which declared its independence from Spain on September 16, 1810. Although not mentioned specifically by Johnson, Chile also celebrates its independence during that week (September 18, 1810 from Spain) and Belize, which declared its independence from Great Britain on September 21, 1981, was subsequently added to the list of nations specifically celebrated during what is now Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Expands From a Week to a Month

From 1968 until 1988, Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan all issued the yearly proclamations, setting aside a week to honor Hispanic Americans. In 1987 U.S. Representative Esteban E. Torres of California proposed the expanding the observance to cover its current 31-day period. Torres wanted more time so that the nation could “properly observe and coordinate events and activities to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement.”

In 1988, Senator Paul Simon (D-Illinois), submitted a similar bill that successfully passed Congress and was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on August 17, 1988. And on September 14, 1989, President George H.W. Bush (who had been a sponsor of the original Hispanic Heritage Week resolution while serving in the House in 1968) became the first president to declare the 31-day period from September 15 to October 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Not all of the contributions made by Hispanic Americans to our society are so visible or so widely celebrated, however. Hispanic Americans have enriched our nation beyond measure with the quiet strength of closely knit families and proud communities,” Bush said .

In the decades since, National Hispanic Heritage Month proclamations have been made by every sitting president of the United States.

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Enter the Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest by 10/31/2023

The 16th Annual Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest is underway, DEADLINE OCT 31st-  Grades 6-12 are eligible to apply for the Optimum/Televisa Univision Hispanic Heritage Essay Contest. Students can have a chance to obtain a $3,000 scholarship and Apple IPad devices. 

For additional questions, contact  Chris Bresnan,  Senior Director of Altice USA, Government Affairs, [email protected]

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When These Latinos Tell Immigration Stories, They Push Beyond Fairy Tales

Leah Donnella

Cecily Meza-Martinez comes from a small family — her grandmother was born in Mexico and worked in the fields in Southern California before transitioning to factory work. Her grandfather's family is from Spain, and he worked construction on many different projects throughout Southern California — including Disneyland. Chelsea Beck/NPR hide caption

Cecily Meza-Martinez comes from a small family — her grandmother was born in Mexico and worked in the fields in Southern California before transitioning to factory work. Her grandfather's family is from Spain, and he worked construction on many different projects throughout Southern California — including Disneyland.

It's easy to believe in a definitive American immigration story. So much of this country's mythos is built on that idea. ("Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free ...") It foretells a fairy tale ending where parents have worked hard, sacrificed much, and settled their children into the new country. The family has assimilated, and the life that came before is a distant memory.

But it's more complicated than that. The telling of immigration stories exposes a rich array of experiences: loss, longing, duality, triumph and contradiction.

When Latino colleagues from across NPR shared their families' immigration stories for Hispanic Heritage Month, their essays were full of things achieved and things surrendered; cultures celebrated and cultures lost; decisions made by choice and by coercion. Camille Salas, a librarian, wrote about her grandfather's decision to join the Navy in exchange for U.S. citizenship. Cecily Meza-Martinez, of News Operations, wrote about her family's hardships and achievements, which included a role in building Disneyland. Producer Ana Lucia Murillo wrote about how her father crossed the border from Mexico to the U.S. in the bottom of a van marked "Laundromat."

Ana Lucia Murillo's grandfather spent a few years in Chicago in the 1970s to earn money. When Murillo's father was 17, curiosity got to him and he made the trip to Chicago, too. He took a number of buses to the border, and then coyotes helped him hide in the bottom of a van marked "Laundromat" as he was driven across. Chelsea Beck/NPR hide caption

Ana Lucia Murillo's grandfather spent a few years in Chicago in the 1970s to earn money. When Murillo's father was 17, curiosity got to him and he made the trip to Chicago, too. He took a number of buses to the border, and then coyotes helped him hide in the bottom of a van marked "Laundromat" as he was driven across.

Every family came to U.S. with an idea in mind of what its experience might be. But what shines through in these stories is the stark difference between expectation and reality.

We'll share some of their immigration stories here with you. Then, if you have one, we'll ask you to tell us yours .

Intern Monica Itxy Quintanilla's story captures some of the longing and some of the triumph:

"I was raised on stories of mango trees, waterfalls and machetes. My dad, who grew up in a small village in Honduras, glamorized his immigration to the U.S. by decorating his tales with magical realism. For the majority of my childhood, I wholeheartedly believed that mi papi flew into Los Angeles hanging onto the wing of an airplane. ... "My mother's stories were characterized by a similar sense of adventure and freedom. Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, my mom's urban upbringing made for tales filled with street outings, botanas mexicanas and celebrations. She'd decorate her childhood stories with sparkling eyes and adjectives like 'friendly,' 'exciting' and 'communal' — all antonyms to the words she'd use to describe the United States. With my parents' overt admiration for their homeland, I inevitably begged the question, 'Then why did you leave?' "

Camille Salas is a third-generation Chicana/Tejana/Latina. Her maternal grandfather became a U.S. citizen after joining the Navy during World War II. He and other sailors of Mexican descent were asked to cross a line in the sand if they wanted to become American citizens, and so they did. Chelsea Beck/NPR hide caption

Camille Salas is a third-generation Chicana/Tejana/Latina. Her maternal grandfather became a U.S. citizen after joining the Navy during World War II. He and other sailors of Mexican descent were asked to cross a line in the sand if they wanted to become American citizens, and so they did.

Nicole Cohen, a producer on the Arts Desk, illustrates her family's competing desires in her story. When Cohen's parents moved to the U.S. from Argentina in 1982, "They never planned to stay," she wrote, and it "wasn't until I was in middle school that my dad stopped talking about moving back."

Cohen didn't see it that way. She was born in the U.S., was "stubbornly against" the idea of moving to Argentina, and sometimes refused to speak Spanish at home. But after years of annual visits to Argentina, her perspective shifted. Now, Cohen speaks Spanish with a strong Argentine accent and says that "the sounds, tastes and smells of Argentina conjure home almost as much as the U.S."

Even when it was difficult, many families worked hard to hold on to some remembrance of home. Rekha Patricio, who leads the marketing and branding team, grew up in Venezuela, but her parents, who are from India, gave her a Hindu name to remind her of her heritage.

Rekha Patricio and her two siblings were born in Venezuela to parents who immigrated there from Kerala, India. As a teenager, she and her siblings moved to the U.S. for a better educational opportunity while their parents stayed back home in Venezuela. Chelsea Beck/NPR hide caption

Rekha Patricio and her two siblings were born in Venezuela to parents who immigrated there from Kerala, India. As a teenager, she and her siblings moved to the U.S. for a better educational opportunity while their parents stayed back home in Venezuela.

When she was 16, she moved to the U.S. with her brother and sister. At first, they didn't know where they fit in. Strangers often wanted to categorize them as just one thing — usually Indian, since that's how they looked. But as Patricio grew older, she realized she didn't have to choose one identity over the other, either for herself or, later, for her children:

"I've never considered myself fully Latina or fully Indian. It has always been a juggling act between two cultures and multiple languages. Moving to the U.S. further complicated my identity, as there were more immigrants here and it was easier to label me as 'Indian' because I physically fit that box. It took a few years to get to a place where I felt comfortable enough straddling both worlds and answering the question 'Do you feel more Indian or more Venezuelan?' "

Even when they've managed to straddle two worlds, some things were still left by the wayside.

Dustin Desoto, a producer with All Things Considered, is a third-generation American with roots in Spain and Mexico. He wrote about the loss of language. When Desoto's parents were growing up, he said, they'd be hit with a switch for speaking Spanish in school. To avoid punishment, they spoke English as much as possible, even at home:

"This unfortunately trickled down to my sister and me," Desoto wrote. He never learned Spanish.

As a young man, Dustin Desoto's grandfather joined the U.S. Army in 1941. He fought in World War II and was one of the few Latinos/Chicanos to serve under Gen. George F. Patton. He fought in both the Battle of the Bulge and the invasion of Normandy. Chelsea Beck/NPR hide caption

As a young man, Dustin Desoto's grandfather joined the U.S. Army in 1941. He fought in World War II and was one of the few Latinos/Chicanos to serve under Gen. George F. Patton. He fought in both the Battle of the Bulge and the invasion of Normandy.

Other families lost connections, friends, status, belongings. Even the pursuit of U.S. citizenship had a price. Robert Garcia, who leads the Newscast division, was born in New York City in 1957, about a year after his parents left Bogotá, Colombia. Garcia's parents moved back home, but his mother, Stella, returned to the U.S. to escape Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar's reign of terror. Eventually, she applied for American citizenship, but things didn't go as intended:

"The process was so long, bureaucratic, and convoluted that it outlasted her and she died in 1999 before she was fully naturalized. Some six months after her passing, Stella received a summons to appear in court for deportation, despite the fact that the [Immigration and Naturalization Service] had been mailed her death certificate. We patiently explained that neither her court appearance nor her deportation would be physically possible, and after [we received] two more increasingly threatening notices of impending deportation, the U.S. government ... finally let her rest in peace. For the record, you don't get the $700 application fee reimbursed."

Sometimes, though, the immigration story gets a little closer to the fairy tales. Which brings us back to Quintanilla. In the end, her story has the longing, the duality, the contradications, all fused to create a new, more complex American dream:

"Now, decades later, they've finally settled into a country they once felt out of place in. My dad no longer wears his beret with a red embroidered star á la Che Guevara and my mother has grown to love su casita . But their strong value of education and preservation of their culture remains intact and present in both their lives and my own. "After years of attempting to assimilate into a world I felt both included and excluded from, I've learned to stop categorizing myself into just one label. I am my Mayan ancestors, my great-grandparents, mi mami and mi papi, and myself."

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2023 Hispanic Heritage Month Essay Contest

In proud partnership with, about hispanic heritage month.

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated annually from Sept. 15 - Oct. 15. 

During this time, the nation celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanics in all areas of society including: scientific discoveries, research, art, music, government, and more!

The day of Sept. 15 is significant because: 

• It is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
• Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18 respectively.
• Columbus Day, which is Oct. 12, falls within this 30-day period. 

Congratulations to the 2023 Essay Contest Winners

The district's annual Hispanic Heritage Month essay contest gives students a chance to explore the rich Hispanic heritage right here in Northeast Florida!

The winners of this year's contest are: 

• Elementary: Kennedi McGriff, Biscayne Elementary School
• Middle: Brody Rodriguez, Mayport Coastal Sciences Middle School
• High: Daniel Kaye, Stanton College Prep

• Eligibility: Open to all students in grades 4 - 12.
• Contest Dates: Now - Oct 4, 2023. Submissions are due at 5 PM on Wednesday, Oct. 4. 
• Grades 4-5: Ms. K. Rodriguez at [email protected]
• Grades 6-8: Ms. R. Jernigan at [email protected]
• Grades 9-12: Ms. K. Montes-Santiago at [email protected]
• Winners: There will be an elementary school winner, middle school winner, and high school winner.
• Winners Notified: Friday, Oct. 6, 2023
• Awards Ceremony: We are excited to share that we have partnered with the Jaguars Foundation to honor our winners. They will be invited to attend an Awards Ceremony celebrating their achievement at the Jaguar Stadium-EverBank Stadium on Friday, October 13.  
• The Arts (visual, music, theater, etc.)
• Must be one page, written in Spanish or English, typed, and double-spaced with one-inch margins, using 11-point Calibri font.
• Must include a title page containing the name of this contest, name of the essay, student name, teacher name, school name, and parent contact information.
• Must include a bibliography using MLA or APA format for all sources including interviews. Failure to credit sources is plagiarism and will result in disqualification.
• Please read the rubric carefully to understand how your essay will be judged.
• Must turn in a signed Media Release form with the essay.

Congratulations to the 2022 winners!

The winners of last year's Hispanic Heritage Essay Month contest were selected on Oct. 18, 2022. They are:

• Elementary: Tennyson Haas, West Riverside Elementary School
• Middle: Giannina Quinones, Lavilla School of the Arts
• High: Sarah Robinson, Riverside High School

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Hispanic Heritage, Essay Example

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Hispanic heritage is an important concept that surrounds my entire life.  I have lived in Puerto Rico my entire life.  Puerto Rico is a beautiful island that is part of the United States and is comprised of mostly Hispanic individuals.  This culture has been important in my life because it helps define who I am and how I view the world.  It was not until I moved to the United States that I began to become more aware of different ethnic groups.  I grew up in a town where everyone was the same, looked the same and had the same cultural behaviors in our country.

An important part of the Hispanic heritage, especially in Puerto Rico, is the food.  The women of our family spend a lot of time preparing food each day for the family.  There were some days that I cannot even remember my mother and grandmother taking a break from cooking in the kitchen.  Our most important celebration was for Christmas because my family and my culture take pride in honoring the Lord and valuing the time we each have with one another.

Here in the United States, people look at me and automatically notice someone who is different.  I do not look the same as everyone else and my culture has taught me many important traits that are not always shared by Americans.  Hispanic heritage means embracing the past and the present and honoring where we come from.  It is my job to make sure that my Puerto Rican culture is not lost or forgotten by me or my family.  I have inherited the willingness to work hard and dedicate myself to helping others; these are important Hispanic characteristics that have been instilled from my parents and grandparents.  This is why I greatly wish to become a nurse.  I feel a strong sense of responsibility to help others and to use my Hispanic heritage and Spanish-speaking fluency to honor the culture I come from.  Hispanic heritage forms a natural brotherhood, and I feel that it is my responsibility to work hard and dedicate myself to honoring that brotherhood.  It helps define who we are and what we believe in, and although I will attend college in America, I will not forget where I come from or what I stand for as I work towards achieving my goals.

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Column: On Hispanic Heritage Month, a passionate defense of Sen. Bob Menendez

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As you are all no doubt amply aware, we are still in the thick of Hispanic Heritage Month, a 31-day window of time wherein Latinos get to do whatever we want without fear of repercussions. Or, so it should be.

Imagine my shock and disgust when I learned there were calls to oust Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) from Congress, all because of a few bribery indictments. Really? In the second half of September? The man’s last name ends in -ez!

Sen. Bob Menendez repeatedly suggests he is being targeted because he is Latino

Sen. Bob Menendez has resisted calls for his resignation after being indicted on bribery charges, suggesting he is being targeted because of his Latino heritage.

Sept. 25, 2023

You would think people might have the decency to look the other way until Oct. 16, but there’s no sense of decorum among the masses these days. For his part, Sen. Menendez has held his ground, saying, “It is not lost on me how quickly some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat.”

By sheer coincidence, I said almost the exact same thing at closing time at Benihana last Wednesday.

In any case, Sen. Menendez is totally right. These indictments and the ensuing calls for him to resign are obviously rooted in anti-Latino sentiment, and I think it’s about time I utilized my platform to call it out. What is the point, after all, of broad identity categories like “Latino” if I can’t baselessly defend some weird guy I’ve never met and hadn’t heard of until 10 minutes ago?

Now then, let’s open up the Department of Justice’s website and take a look at the allegations. They can’t be that bad. It says here that Sen. Robert Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, have been charged with “participating in a years-long bribery scheme” and have “accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” in exchange for an agreement to use Menendez’s position of power to “enrich [the bribers] and to benefit the Government of Egypt.”

That doesn’t sound great. Not sure how Egypt got involved, but maybe it will get better. The charges go on to say that the bribes include “gold, cash, a luxury convertible … and other things of value.”

All right, so it seems as though Mr. Menendez stands accused of receiving gifts and cash in exchange for doing favors for an Egyptian American businessman and for the government of Egypt. Because God forbid we encourage Latino and Egyptian solidarity, I guess.

As for the evidence, the anti-Latino smear campaign is clearly desperate. All they could come up with was this jacket embroidered with “SENATOR MENENDEZ” on it in all caps and stuffed with multiple envelopes containing fat wads of cash, a completely innocent thing to have hanging in your closet.

Let’s be real. Latinos squirrel away cash in all sorts of weird places. My family was recently clearing out my abuelo’s house and they found $500 wadded up and stuffed inside a glass Our Lady of Guadalupe prayer candle. What, is it a crime to prefer cash? I don’t know how the stock market works. I don’t know what a bond is. Checking accounts and credit are works of fiction. If I could, I would do what my abuela did and keep everything in a Ziploc bag. Next!

All right, so now we have the “gold,” which apparently was gifted to Mr. Menendez in the form of actual gold bars. I can’t lie to you, I wasn’t aware we still made gold bars. I thought that was something they made up in “Duck Tales” for Scrooge McDuck’s character. I have to say, if I was going to “do corruption,” I would also be blinged out about it. Allegedly.

Gold bars, cash-stuffed envelopes: New indictment of Sen. Menendez alleges vast corruption

Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey has been indicted on charges of bribery, the second time the 69-year-old Democrat has faced a federal indictment.

Sept. 22, 2023

The FBI reported to have found several gold bars last year in Sen. Menendez’s home. The gold bars were said to have been acquired by Sen. Menendez after a trip to Egypt and not too long after he asked Google , “How much is one kilo of gold worth?” Which is completely understandable. If I found myself suddenly in possession of solid gold bars, I too would have a natural, healthy curiosity about them.

Also, I mean, come on. You know how us Latin men are with our gold. Nothing makes me feel more confident than a nice gold chain or a gold bracelet. If being a macho who loves gold accessories is suddenly a crime, the entire diaspora is in trouble. What’s next? A national ban on Armani Exchange and Express polos? No mames.

As for the rest of the evidence, it’s pure chisme.

Sure, one Egyptian American businessman referred to Sen. Menendez as “our guy” in a text to an Egyptian general, but that could just mean the senator is a fun dude. And yeah, Mr. Menendez’s wife texted that she was “so excited to get a car next week” to one of the guys named in the indictment who gave her $15,000 cash in a restaurant parking lot. But who among us hasn’t sent texts that would look terrible out of context? Have not each and every one of us done something suspicious in a restaurant parking lot?

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Ultimately, Sen. Bob Menendez is completely correct. The FBI and the Justice Department are rushing to judgment to push a Latino out of Congress where Latinos are already underrepresented. We make up just shy of 10% of the 117th Congress while constituting nearly 20% of the country. It’s sad, the lengths some people will go to in order to keep us down.

And you know what? Sen. Bob Menendez’s story is our story. Mis antepasados came to this country with nothing but jackets stuffed with reams of $100 bills and gold bars in their suitcases and a dream of one day being elected to the halls of power to collaborate with Egyptian government insiders. That’s what “Coco” and “Y Tu Mamá También” are about, I’m pretty sure.

In short, if this smear campaign succeeds, it will be a sad day for America indeed. At least we’ll still have George Santos.

John Paul Brammer is a columnist, author, illustrator and content creator based in Brooklyn. He is the author of ”Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons” based on his successful advice column. He has written for outlets like the Guardian, NBC News and the Washington Post. He will write a weekly essay for De Los.

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Tatiana Kaptereva and Her Contribution into Spanish Renaissance Studies in Russia

• Natalia Vasilievna Antonova
• Makhabbat Gumerovna Yunusova

Nowadays history of studying various historical phenomena by local scholars is of paramount interest. The present article aims to analyze the contribution made by T.P. Kaptereva into studying Spanish Renaissance art by Russian historians. It also provides background information on Russian historiography of the Renaissance epoch in Spain. The methods used to address the issue include the method of systemic and retrospective analysis. The approaches and instruments employed by T.P. Kaptereva are viewed in the historical context of the epoch, thus presenting her notion of Spanish Renaissance art integrated into the general historiographic background. This paper will be of interest for any historians who study Russian historiography or the ways of representing Spanish Renaissance by various scholars.

Botkin, V. (1976). Letters on Spain. Leningrad: Nauka.

Checa Cremades, F. (2000). Pintura y escultura del Renacimiento en España, 1450-1600. Madrid: Ediciones Cátedra. 486 p.

Checa Cremades, F. (2009). Arquitectura del Renacimiento en España, 1488-1599. Madrid: Ediciones Cátedra.

Egorov, B. (1976). “V. P.: Botkin as the author osh teh 'Letters of Spain'”: Literary monuments. Leningrad: Nauka. pp. 265-287.

Kagané, L. (1986). “Spanish portrait of the XVI century. Social ans humanistic bases”: Renaisssance culture and Society. Moscow: Nauka. pp. 209-218.

Kaptereva, T. (1962) “Spanish art. Renaissance”: General history of Art. Volume 3. Moscow: Iskusstvo. pp. 838-885.

Kaptereva, T. (1989). Spanish art. Essays. Moscow: Isobrasitelnoye iskusstvo.

Kaptereva, T. (2007). Gardens of Spain. Moscow: Progress-traditsia.

Kaptereva, T. (2009). Walks by Madrid. Moscow: Progress-traditsia.

Sokolóv, M. (1999). Eternal Renaissance. Moscow: Progress-traditsia.

The 90 anniversary of the member of Russian Academy of Arts T.P. Kaptereva-Shambinago. http://www.rah.ru/exhibitions/detail.php?ID=28636&sphrase_id=6589 .

Vaganova, E. (1976). “Byzantine traditions in the works by El Greco's”: Vizantiytski vremennik. Tomo 37. Moscow: Nauka. pp. 235-246.

Vagánova, E. & Mavléev, E. (1984). “Ancient Greek mithology and Spanish Renaissance painting”: Ancient heritage in Renaissance culture. Moscow: Nauka. pp. 262-273.

Zaitsev, A. (2012). Protorenaissance as interpretd by Paul Oskar Kristeller. Kazán: Kazan Federal University.

Zvigilsky, A. (1976). “History of creation of ‘Letters of Spain‘ and judgements of the contemporaries”: Literary monuments. Leningrad: Nauka. pp. 287-302.

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