Credit: Voto Latino/YouTube
What better way to celebrate than by making your voice heard?
Today kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month, the 30-day long federally recognized period that’s supposed to highlight and honor the many contributions Latinos have made to American society, but often results in ill-conceived tokenism on the part of brands and organizations. As you, dear readers, indicated on Twitter when we posed the question, you have mixed feelings about the event. This is what you had to say on the subject:
@wearemitu @comosedicenerd It feels like one of those generic attempts at diversity appreciation. Kind of like a cultural food fair. ?
— Christina Martinez (@christinaixchel) September 15, 2016
Credit: @christinaixchel/Twitter
@wearemitu I love it because it's a time we can embrace our cultures and be proud. Plus reflect back on the effects of colonization.
— Sule Recinos (@sulerecinos) September 14, 2016
Credit: @sulerecinos/Twitter
@wearemitu it feels like a month that was randomly created and didn't organically come from our community idk
— Gilbert Romero ☀️ (@GilbertRomeroAZ) September 15, 2016
Credit: @GilbertRomeroAZ/Twitter
@wearemitu we don't get nearly enough celebration, awareness, or acknowledgement of our culture. Even if not perfect, I appreciate it. #HHM
— Karla L. Monterroso (@karlitaliliana) September 15, 2016
Credit: @karlitaliliana/Twitter
So what do you do with something that’s supposed to pay tribute to you and yours, but you’re kind of meh about the whole idea in the first place? You make it work for you. That’s exactly what Voto Latino, Mi Familia Vota, and iAmerica–three dope organizations doing good in this world–are trying to do with “Hispanic Heritage Month of Action,” a new campaign that will shift the focus of Hispanic Heritage Month away from the half-assed acknowledgments that we exist into something that could show this country that we are a force not to be trifled with.
As their website notes, Hispanic Heritage Month happens to coincide with a lot of states’ deadlines for voter registration. There are currently 27.3 million eligible Latino voters for this upcoming election. Nearly half of those are millennials. We’re the future face of America. We are destined for greatness, but that will only happen if we let our presence be known.
READ: Latina Girl Slapped For Allegedly Not Putting Hand Over Heart During National Anthem
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