“You are not lucky to be here. The world needs your perspective. They are lucky to have you.” – Antonio Tijerino, President & CEO of the Hispanic Heritage Foundation

September 15 kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month. We honor Hispanic Heritage Month to celebrate the contributions of Hispanic and Latino/e communities that have shaped our American story. 

Years before the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court case, the Mendez family fought against legalized school segregation to ensure their children and eventually all children could receive the same quality education. Hispanic and Latino/e Americans have served in every major conflict dating back to the Revolutionary War. Heroes like Agustín Ramos Calero, the “One Man Army” became the most decorated Puerto Rican and Hispanic Veteran of World War II. Romauldo Pacheco served as governor of California and was the first Hispanic Congressman to represent a state in American history, fighting to keep his place in Congress after winning by a single vote. 

Every contribution to the building of our nation and culture can be found in the rich history of  Chinese immigrants helping to build our transcontinental railroads and enslaved African Americans helping to build our White House, and luminaries like Dolores Huerta, who led the historic fight for farm workers’ rights by co-founding the labor unions that eventually became the United Farm Workers (UFW).

At the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, we believe that all of our stories are important and all of our histories and contributions should be shared. Representation matters. The more we understand and respect each other, the more we can eradicate prejudice, hate speech, and racism. While September 15 was the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, all year we celebrate thinkers, artists, activists, and changemakers like Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriguez, Sylvia Rivera, Dr. Héctor P. Garcíal, and Sonia Sotomayor, the country needs their contributions and perspectives and is lucky to have them.