essay on hispanic heritage

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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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Hispanic Heritage – Essay Sample

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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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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Hispanic Heritage Month highlights culture, accomplishments of community. But is it inclusive enough?

September 15 marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, often seen as an opportunity to celebrate the lives, culture and contributions of the 62.1 million Hispanics in the U.S.

The month is celebrated until October 15 and recognizes Hispanic leaders and historic moments. Some take the opportunity to highlight discrimination against Hispanics while others celebrate their ancestors.

For as long as he can remember, Joel Camacho ended each September 15 eating pozole and reminiscing about life in Mexico with his family. The month marks a time for Camacho and his family to celebrate their culture. 

However, for others, Hispanic Heritage Month erases their identity. Fernanda He was born and raised in Puerto Rico, but her parents immigrated from China. He said the label "Hispanic" doesn't fully describe or accept her. 

Mexican Independence Day:  How September 16 signifies a 'moment of hope' for Mexico

"More often than not people think of white or light skin Hispanics during this month. They're forgetting the Asian, Black and indigenous Latinos like me," He told USA TODAY. 

So how is Hispanic Heritage Month celebrated, and how can it be more inclusive?

Tracing back to its origins

Originally, Hispanic Heritage Month was just a week. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a bill designating the week of September 15 as "National Hispanic Heritage Week," according to the Office of the Historian and the Office of Art & Archives for the U.S. House of Representatives .

However, in 1987, Rep. Esteban Torres of California decided a week wasn't enough to celebrate. So Torres submitted H.R. 3182, a bill to expand Hispanic Heritage Week into a Hispanic Heritage Month.

Honoring leaders: Pirates, Puerto Rican players honor Roberto Clemente on Sept. 15 with No. 21

Torres was quoted as saying he wanted "the American people to learn of our heritage. We want the public to know that we share a legacy with the rest of the country, a legacy that includes artists, writers, Olympic champions, and leaders in business, government, cinema and science,"  according to the House's History, Art and Archives office.

Torres' bill died, but a year later Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois submitted S. 2200, a similar bill, and then-President Ronald Reagan signed it into law on Aug. 17, 1988.

But why September 15th? It's in remembrance of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua; each country celebrates its national independence on that date. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16, Chile on September 18, and Belize declared its independence on September 21. 

'More inclusion is needed'

Hispanic and Latinx populations are expanding in the U.S., with the 2020 US Census reporting 62.1 million people who identified as Hispanic or Latino, making up 18% of the total population. 

The census also shared the amount of Latinos who identified as white fell from about 53% in 2010 to about 20% in 2020. Instead, those who identified as “other” rose from 37% to 42%, and the share identifying as two or more races jumped from 6% to 33%.

As fewer Hispanics identify as white, Margie Del Castillo argues Hispanic Heritage Month needs to amplify Black, indigenous and brown Hispanic and Latinx voices. 

"It's time to disrupt how Hispanic Heritage month usually goes. More inclusion is needed. We need to talk about those not usually seen, like Afro-Latinas," Del Castillo, the national director of field and advocacy at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice , told USA TODAY. 

Diving into family roots: Exploring family history and Salvadoran heritage

Cynthia Rios and her family often ignore Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. Growing up, Rios saw white Hispanics plastered on every campaign for the month; she never saw anyone who looked like her, both an Asian and Afro-Latina woman.

She said the month and most Hispanic celebrations often erase Black, Asian and brown voices and experiences. 

"If this month continues to only focus on the Spanish side of Latinidad and this term 'Hispanic,' it will continue to alienate Latinos who don’t identify as white," Rios told USA TODAY. 

Instead, Del Castillo argued Hispanic and allies should practice rejecting anti-blackness and embrace Hispanics who don't fit the "socially accepted" Hispanic box.

'More than a Taco Tuesday'

Anthony Mora said although it's hard to recognize 62 million people in four weeks, he's grateful Hispanic Heritage Month does shed some light on the community. 

The associate professor at the University of Michigan said the month encourages other Americans to learn more about the culture and issues among the Hispanic community. However, instead of companies and businesses creating events and sales around the month, Latinx people should spearhead the celebrations. 

"I wish I saw more Latinx people being the ones behind the content around the month. I'd want to see more schools learning about true Hispanic history, and I'd want to see it be more than a Taco Tuesday event," Mora told USA TODAY. 

Mora said in a country where Hispanic voices are often silenced, the conversations that are highlighted during the holiday are "crucial."

For Camacho, the month is a time for family reunions, meals and parties. He takes the time to educate his children about their Mexican ancestry and Latin American current events. His two daughters often dance the traditional Mariachi dance at a church festival every September in Arizona.

Although the month comes with its flaws, Camacho said he's grateful to be recognized. Del Castillo agrees, saying she'd take some recognition over total ignorance. In past Hispanic Heritage Months, Castillo said she's seen immigrant rights, discrimination and women rights given a platform. 

She hopes with each year the holiday becomes more inclusive, more uplifting and tells more Hispanic and Latinx stories. 

"I'm grateful for this holiday, I'm happy we're given a month where people are paying attention to our stories, but we must continue to do more all others months of the year."

Follow Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda

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Hispanic Heritage Month

National Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S. runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. NPR celebrates these communities — with stories, podcasts and a Tiny Desk takeover , including "El Tiny" performances by Omar Apollo, Carla Morrison, Farruko, and other artists.

Yes, We're Calling It Hispanic Heritage Month And We Know It Makes Some Of You Cringe

Vanessa Romo

As the nation begins its annual celebration of Latino history, culture and other achievements, it's not too late to ask why we lump together roughly 62 million people with complex identities under a single umbrella. Peter Pencil/Getty Images hide caption

As the nation begins its annual celebration of Latino history, culture and other achievements, it's not too late to ask why we lump together roughly 62 million people with complex identities under a single umbrella.

As the headline unambiguously states, here at NPR we've kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month.

Not Latino Heritage Month. Not Latinx Heritage Month. Not even a compromise or a combination of the three: Hispanic/Latino/Latinx Heritage Month.

To be honest, NPR began to participate in the national event that is called Hispanic Heritage Month with no discussion about existing tensions within Latino communities regarding the use of the word Hispanic, its origins and whether it may be time to swap out the catchall label for something different.

Perhaps that has something to do with the rapid pace of the news recently regarding the end of a 20-year-long war in Afghanistan, another terrifying spike in the COVID-19 pandemic or this week's recall election in California.

Or, in full transparency, it could have something to do with the fact that as of 2020 only 6% of the NPR's newsroom and on-air journalists identify as Hispanic or Latino.

But it's not too late to pose the following thorny questions: What's the harm in lumping together roughly 62 million people with complex identities under a single umbrella? Is a blanket pan-ethnic term necessary to unite and reflect a shared culture that is still largely (infuriatingly) excluded from mainstream popular culture? Or the more basic question: ¿Por que Hispanic?

How Latinos/Latinas/Latinx people became Hispanic

Hispanic Heritage Month initially began as a weeklong celebration in 1968 under President Lyndon Johnson who, at the time said , "The people of Hispanic descent are the heirs of missionaries, captains, soldiers, and farmers who were motivated by a young spirit of adventure, and a desire to settle freely in a free land."

"This heritage is ours," he proclaimed.

It wasn't until 1988 that President Ronald Reagan extended the week to a full 31 days — through Oct. 15 — keeping the Sept. 15 start date because it coincides with national independence day of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Similarly, Mexico celebrates on the 16th, Chile on the 18th and Belize on the 21st.

But even before Johnson landed on the term Hispanic, there was a lot of debate within government entities on how to refer to Latinos in the United States, Cristina Mora, a sociologist at the University of California, Berkeley, tells NPR.

Mora, who wrote about the adoption of the term Hispanic in Making Hispanics: How Activists, Bureaucrats, and Media Created a New American , found that use of the umbrella categorization is inextricably linked to the U.S. Census and its attempts to identify and quantify different groups of people.

The Pew Research Center reports that in the 1930s Latinos living in the U.S., regardless of their place of birth or family origin, were all noted as "Mexican" by door-to-door U.S. Census Bureau counters. It wasn't until 1970 that the agency began asking Latinos living in the U.S. to self-identify as either "Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, Other Spanish" or "No, none of these." This, however, led to a bizarre and unexpected underrepresentation of white Americans who misunderstood the classifications. Apparently, hundreds of thousands of confused people living in the South or central regions of the U.S. mistakenly identified as Central or South American, according to Pew.

But even with the added Latino subgroups, Mora says the 1970 Census once again resulted in a severe undercount of the minority but growing population, which in turn led to a national backlash from activists, academics and civic leaders who demanded fair representation.

Latinos could have been called "Brown"

New groups were formed to tackle the problem, including the Census Bureau's Spanish Origin Advisory Committee and a group of Spanish-speaking federal employees called the Ad Hoc Committee on Racial and Ethnic Definitions . Mora recalls several of the options being floated at the time included "Brown," "Latin American," "Latino" and Hispanic.

"One of the problems is that Latinos were seen as foreigners, invaders and not inherently American. And one of the jobs of the advisory board was to really show that Latinos were an American minority group, like African-Americans — a minority that stretched from coast to coast and that were patriotic, that fought in wars, that contributed to American history, that built American cities. So when a term like Latin American was used, right away, it seemed to strike discord because it was seen as too foreign," Mora explains.

She adds: "Hispanic was never a term that everybody loved, but it was a term that got a lot of support from within Latinos in the Nixon [administration] and, later, the Ford administration." It was eventually added to the 1980 census.

Many Latinos had an immediate disdain for the term

"We hated the term Hispanic because it was a term that we felt was forced upon us by the U.S. government," Paul Ortiz, author of An African American and Latinx History of the United States , tells NPR.

"It wasn't a natural fit for anyone that I knew. I didn't know anyone growing up who said, 'Oh, hey, I'm Hispanic.' It was always either, I'm Mexican, Mexican-American, Chicano or Chicana," says Ortiz, who is also a history professor at the University of Florida.

A large part of that, he says, is based on the origins of the word Hispanic, which is the English translation of the Spanish "Hispano," meaning a person whose cultural traditions originate from Spain.

When that is the starting point, he says, "That immediately erases all of the centuries of pre-Columbian history, culture and civilizations that existed before the European conquest and colonization of the Americas ... and that's understandably upsetting to people who are not white." It alienates indigenous and Afro-Latino communities whose history includes deep resistance to the Spanish invasion and is not necessarily tied to Spain, Ortiz says.

The term Latinx is rising in popularity

The recent popularity of the word Latinx in the U.S. presents another alternative to the contentious Hispanic label that proponents say also offers gender inclusivity. Ortiz marvels at the way it has so quickly been adapted by young people, academic institutions and corporations alike, though it is not without its own critics .

When naming his book, it was his students who suggested using Latinx in the title. "Originally it was going to be African-American and Latino History in the United States . But my students really impressed upon me the themes of inclusivity and diversity, [saying] we have to be open."

He's also noticed that in the past two years or so, many of the speaking requests he's received from corporations are for Latino or Latinx Heritage Month not Hispanic Heritage Month — that includes an invitation to speak at a Deutsche Bank event later this week.

Ortiz suggests that one theory for the shift is that it is being driven by diverse employee organizations within the companies. "Almost all of them — the ones that have reached out — have taken on the term Latinx."

"I find this fascinating because the stereotype is that the term Latinx is being foisted upon us by academics but that's just not true," he says.

The types of stories told during Hispanic Heritage Month are also important

Beyond the dispute over what to name the month-long celebration, there is another concern: that in an effort to make it more palatable or commercially viable, stories of oppression, prejudice and injustice are whitewashed or ignored.

"Too often the focus is on the musical contributions or dancing or other happy artforms," Mario T. Garcia, professor of Chicana and Chicano Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, tells NPR.

"But we also need programming that reflects historical problems ... because you can't assume that Latinos already know about the lynchings in South Texas in the 1910s ," the Zoot Suit Riots , the segregation of Mexican kids in schools , or the Chicano-led high school walkouts of the 1960s that permanently changed higher education enrollment for Latino students.

In his experience, Garcia notes, the U.S. public education system does such a poor job of teaching Latino history in this country, that often Hispanic Heritage Month is the only opportunity for any students to learn about it. "It is a real shame," he says.

But approached in the right way, he adds, even these stories can be ultimately seen as happy. "Because the historic struggles of Chicanos, Mexican-Americans, other Latinos are happy stories ... because only through those struggles have we been able to achieve more social justice in this country, more education."

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What is Hispanic Heritage Month and why do we celebrate it? What you need to know

Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

While it's important to uplift the voices, culture, history and contributions of the Hispanic and Latin o communities year-round, the U.S. government formally designated the month to spotlight the contributions made by "American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America,” according to the  official government website.

Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated for decades. However, questions still swirl like "What is Hispanic Heritage Month?" and "Why is it split between two months?"

Ahead of highlight achievements by Latinos and their culture, here is everything to know

The history of Hispanic Heritage Month

Before it was a month-long celebration it was just one week. Rep. Edward R. Roybal and Rep. Henry B. Gonzales championed a bill for a week-long observance, Hispanic Heritage Week.

“The bill was introduced at a moment of political radicalization by young Mexican-Americans demanding fair access to resources, including government services and education,” Frances Negron-Muntaner, an English and Comparative Literature professor at Columbia University, said. 

“Although Hispanic Heritage Month officially began as a state project, it was also a response to decades of Latino activists, particularly during the 1960s, whose demands included recognition of their culture, history and rights.”

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the proposed legislation into law in 1968. 

It wasn't until two decades later, on Aug. 17, 1988, Hispanic Heritage Week became legally expanded to a 30-day observance from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 under President Ronald Reagan. Hispanic Heritage Month was first proclaimed or publicly announced to the American people by President George H.W. Bush in 1989 . 

Why is Hispanic Heritage Month split between September and October?

People may be wondering why the heritage month is celebrated in the middle of two months. There's a good explanation for that. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for Hispanic Heritage Month because it is the anniversary of the Cry of Dolores or “ Grito de Dolores," according to Carlos Olave, head of the Hispanic Reading Room at the Library of Congress. This event marked the start of the Mexican War of Independence and resulted in freedom for the New Spain Colony (now Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua) in 1821.

Mexico, most Central American countries and Chile commemorate their independence from Spain on Sept. 15, Sept. 16, and Sept. 18, respectively.

Columbus Day happens to fall during Hispanic Heritage Month, but instead of honoring the controversial explorer, Spanish-speaking countries celebrate “ Día de la Raza ” or “Day of the Race” on Oct. 12. This holiday, which bookends Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S., recognizes the blend of indigenous and European or mestizo heritage across Spanish-speaking countries.

How Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated today

Just like there’s no one-size-fits-all Latino or Hispanic experience, there’s no one way to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month can range from hosting or attending cultural festivals to volunteering to help Latino communities in need,” Emily Key, Director of Education at the Smithsonian Latino Center in Washington, D.C., told TODAY.

Museums across the country, including The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino , offer programs and resources to honor Latino and Hispanic communities. Throughout the month, check out museums and libraries near you to see if they're hosting similar events. The best part: They're often free.

In Washington D.C., the Library of Congress will commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month throughout most of its 20 public reading rooms with blogs, performances, workshops, exhibits, screenings, lectures and special events. The Hispanic Reading Room will release 50 audio recordings by Latino writers from its PALABRA Archive, a collection of approximately 800 original audio recordings of 20th and 21st century Luso-Hispanic (a reference to regions once ruled by Portugal or Spain) poets and writers reading from their works.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage month at home by trying out traditional recipes from Latino and Hispanic chefs. Or make it a family affair by reading one — or all — of these children’s books at bedtime. For an adult reading session, consider a book from this curated list of Latin o authors , including the  March 2021  Read With Jenna book club pick. 

But if you feel like showing support with your wallet, then check out this list of Latin o -owned beauty brands to shop now and forever.   

Stephanie L. King is a city girl who now lives in New Jersey’s bear country. The married mother of two has never met a homemade chocolate chip cookie or nap she didn’t like. She and her beloved husband enjoy making up random songs for their kids and having family dance parties in their kitchen. She’s an educator, writer, editor and poet whose work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Patriot-News and OprahDaily.com. 

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Hispanic Heritage Month Writing Prompts

Do you use writing prompts in your homeschool? If so, be sure to bookmark this post and its list of Hispanic Heritage Month writing prompts for ages eight and up! 

I love writing. And I also love learning (and teaching!) about Hispanic heritage and culture. Together, these two topics lend themselves perfectly to writing prompts that celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. 

What is Hispanic Heritage Month?

Each year, from September 15th through October 15th, our country recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States and celebrates Hispanic heritage and culture.

The observance started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson. But it was expanded into a month-long celebration by President Ronald Reagan 20 years later. 

Benefits of Writing Prompts for Homeschoolers

One way to celebrate this annual observance is through our home lessons. Learning about Hispanic Americans and their accomplishments is fantastic. But writing about what you’ve learned is even better! 

Sometimes, though, just knowing where to start has been the hardest part for my kids. That’s why I love writing prompts! Not only do they give our children a starting point, but they also benefit them in other ways. Using writing prompts in your homeschool lessons…

• Improves writing skills by giving them a specific topic to write about. This can help them to develop their ideas, organize their thoughts, and express themselves clearly. They are especially effective when paired with graphic organizers to support the outlining process.
• Increases creativity by encouraging them to think outside the box and come up with new and original ideas. 
• Helps our kids to learn new information by forcing them to do research on the topic they are writing about. This can help them to expand their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.
• Promotes self-expression by giving them a safe and supportive environment to share their thoughts and feelings.
• Builds confidence by giving them a sense of accomplishment when they complete a writing assignment about a topic they know little about. This can help them to feel more comfortable with their own abilities and to take on more challenging tasks in the future.

Using Writing Prompts for Nonfiction Writing

Oftentimes writing prompts are commonly used for creative writing purposes. But they are also a great tool to use with nonfiction writing.

I think that the thing to keep in mind when using writing prompts for historical or other research writing is that they work best in tandem with primary and secondary sources, videos, and other resources that our kids must read and then interpret to write their assignments. 

Where Writing Prompts Fit in the Writing Process

Writing prompts are the first step in the formal writing process. They help students get started by providing the topic. Students then continue through the writing process by: 

• writing what they know
• doing research
• taking notes
• writing a draft
• and finally, editing and proofreading.

I’ve put together a short list of writing prompts for both nonfiction and creative writing projects , as well as additional resources that pair well with Hispanic Heritage Month. If you (or your children) need ideas for topics, consider one of these!

Brief History

Write a brief history of the month-long observance. Research how it started and why it begins in the middle of the month of September. Use these free writing pages !

Write an essay about the importance of Hispanic Heritage Month. What does it mean to you to be Hispanic? What are some of the challenges and opportunities that Hispanic Americans face? Use these graphic organizers to help you arrange your facts and present them in a thoughtful manner. 

Write a short biography of a Hispanic person who has made a significant contribution to American society. This could be a political figure, an athlete, an artist, or anyone else who has made a difference. Need suggestions? Here’s my post Latinos in History Your Children Should Know with a massive list of names.

Write a poem about a Hispanic poet! As an extra challenge , write the poem in the same style that the poet would write it. Younger children can read (or listen to) one of these 6 picture books that feature Latino poets and then summarize the story .

Write a play about a historical event that impacted U.S. or world history and involved a Hispanic person or issue. This could be a play about the Delano Grape Strike , the Battle of Puebla , or the Bracero Program . 

Write a song about a famous Hispanic person, a Latin American country or city, or anything else that is important to Hispanic culture. Find inspiration by watching the performances of some famous Latin musicians, such as Tito Puente, Celiz Cruz, Selena, or Gloria Estefan, just to name a few.

If you are Hispanic, write a screenplay about a Hispanic family or community. Share your experience with others and allow them a glimpse of what makes your family or community unique!

Write a comic book about a Hispanic superhero. What is his/her background? What is their superpower, and how did they get it? Do they have an alter ego?

Graphic Novel

Write a graphic novel about a Hispanic historical event or figure. This could be a graphic novel about Simón Bolívar, the Liberator, the story of Roberto Clemente, or a celebration of Ellen Ochoa and her accomplishments.

Short Story

Write a short story and include characters of Hispanic or Latino heritage. Try to be authentic and avoid stereotypes.

These are just a few ideas to get you started. There are many other possible writing prompts for Hispanic Heritage Month. The most important thing is to be creative and to write about something that is meaningful to you.

Use Writing Prompts as a Tool

Overall, writing prompts can be a valuable tool in the writing process for homeschool families . I find that they help me as a parent to inspire and guide my children on their journey to becoming skilled writers. When paired with graphic organizers or writing pages, an entire lesson is essentially complete. This makes my job as their teacher easier, and I believe it will be for you, too!

More Writing Prompts

You may also enjoy these other themed writing prompts here on iHN for use in your homeschool!

• Top 10 Writing Prompts for Your Child’s Birthday
• Homeschool Writing Prompts for February- Ideas to Inspire Young Writers
• Groundhog Day Writing Prompts
• 20 Lucky and Creative St. Patrick’s Day Writing Prompts

Monica Olivera

About the author

Monica Olivera is an author, freelance education writer, and homeschooling mom. Her site helps Hispanic parents and homeschoolers get more involved in their children's education by providing resources, tips, and opportunities. Her education articles have appeared in numerous online sites such as NBCNews, latinamom.me, and PBSParents.

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When I was a little girl, I was fascinated by my friend’s family. Nell’s parents decided that a television would not be the star of the show in their living room. In fact, the entire house was void of a black box. I can still picture how often someone in her home would be relaxing in a recliner—reading. And after reading a few books of my own, I encountered Roald Dahl’s wisdom in Charlie in the Chocolate Factory: “The most important thing we’ve learned, so far as children are concerned, is never, NEVER, NEVER let them near your television set”

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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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