Each year, from September 15 to October 15, people around the world come together to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. It is a time to recognize and honor the his- tories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities, as well as a time to shed light on a community who has not always had it easy. Whether through art, music, food, or stories passed down through generations, this month is an opportunity to connect with the rich and diverse heritage that shapes so much of our world today.
At Wilmington Friends, we have a strong tradition of respecting and celebrating a diverse range of communities. Whether these communities are centered around race, eth- nicity, or religion, each holds a special place at our school. Some of the ways we honor and celebrate these groups are through affinity clubs like the BSU, ASU, and the Jewish Student Union. Additionally, our school aims to educate the student body on different minority groups through different presentations, queries and discussions.
As a member of the Spanish Club, students in this group wish to celebrate and honor Hispanic and Latino Americans. Part of the reason why this community is be- hind in being celebrated as other groups are is because of the lack of hispanic and latino students at our school. Think about how many Hispanic and Latino students are in your grade… you probably won’t even reach five.
Rodrigo Saldaña, Spanish teacher at WFS, says “Many students don’t realize how many Latinos are out there because there are so few at our school, which makes it easy for Latino culture and its impact to go unnoticed.” However, regardless of the small number of His- panic and Latino students at our school, increasing the representation of this community is a personal goal of mine, and I hope it soon becomes one for our school as well.
Many people get confused about the difference between Hispanic and Latino. The definitions can vary for each individual, depending on what it means to them personal- ly. However, the widely accepted definition of “Hispanic” refers to people with origins in Spanish-speaking countries, while “Latino” refers to people with origins in Latin American countries, which include Central and South America. The main difference is that “Hispan- ic” is tied to language, while “Latino” is tied to geographic location.
While many Hispanic people also identify as Latino, and vice versa, this is not always the case. For example, someone from Spain is considered Hispanic, as they come from a Spanish-speaking country, but they are not Latino, because Spain is not in Latin America. On the other hand, Brazilians are considered Latino, as Brazil is part of Latin America, but they are not Hispanic, since Portuguese is the language spoken in Brazil, not Spanish. This creates a very diverse community that includes people of different races (Black, Brown, and White) as well as a wide range of religions, beliefs, and cultural backgrounds.
Now that we understand who the people in this community are, we can start to properly represent and honor this community. Hispanic Heritage Month started in 1968 as a week-long celebration, later expanding to a month in 1988. Its purpose is to honor the rich contributions of Hispanic and Latin Americans to U.S. history, culture, and society. This community represents a wide diversity of cultures, languages, and countries, from Mexico and Puerto Rico to Argentina and Spain. Rodrigo Saldña says, “Understanding Hispanic contributions is crucial to understanding American history as a whole.”
At Wilmington Friends, the Spanish Club is working to help the Hispanic com- munity to be celebrated, despite the challenges of lack of students and faculty belonging to this community. Hispanic students and staff bring unique experiences that shape their identity, and the hope is that we can create a welcoming community for these members of our school, especially immigrant families who may have less community in a new country. Darío Robles, another Spanish teacher at WFS says, “Being an immigrant and new to a country was very difficult, but everyone helped, and I have felt very welcome.”
The underrepresentation of the Hispanic community in areas like media and politics, especially with the upcoming election, is a reminder of the importance of rais- ing awareness. By celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, and continuing to recognize the community throughout the year, we give all students the chance to truly understand and appreciate the rich diversity that shapes our school and the world around us.
In the end, Hispanic Heritage Month is about more than just honoring history, it’s about recognizing the people, stories, and cultures that continue to shape our lives every day. At Wilmington Friends, we have a chance to take this celebration beyond the month and make it a lasting part of our school’s spirit. By learning from and celebrating the Hispanic and Latino communities, we can create a school where everyone feels seen, valued, and appreciated for who they are. My hope is that, together, we can build a future where all voices are heard, and every community is embraced, and not just during special months, but always. If you identify with the community or want to participate in the effort to represent the Hispanic and Latino community, join the Spanish club.
