Two Latinas Reclaiming Their Roots: Hispanic Heritage Month Quotes

A country as culturally diverse as the United States is always seeking to preserve the history of its inhabitants with recurring celebrations such as Hispanic Heritage Month. And it’s no wonder, given that Hispanics make up 18.9% of the total population, making them the largest ethnic minority in the country according to the most recent census.

The commemoration began this September 15th and ends on the same day of October. Year after year, it has been gaining more and more importance.

With that in mind, it’s interesting to look at Jennifer López’s recent statements regarding this, and also remember the figure of the beloved and endearing Selena Quintanilla Pérez.

Jennifer López’s Hispanic Heritage Quotes

“You have to remember the value of your individuality — that you have something special and different to offer that nobody else can.” –  Jennifer Lopez.

JLO is a fierce businesswoman who’s passionate about her Latin culture and origins, and is one of the most admired women in the world- so much so, that she even got her own documentary on Netflix. Recently married to actor and producer Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez has reappeared in public to resume her work and begin a new stage in her life. 

Just as she did in 2021, the Bronx-born artist met up with Hispanic business women in Los Angeles. There, they shared experiences while JLO motivated them to break into the business world.

“What I saw growing up (in the Bronx) is that it was very, very difficult for people like us, low-income Latinos, especially women, to have access to investment capital,” Jennifer Lopez said.

In front of a group of over 400 Hispanic business women present, JLO lamented how Hispanics continue to occupy an underprivileged position when it comes to obtaining support for their companies.

“We are still 60% less likely to receive loans from national banks and that is fundamentally unfair, un-American and makes the promise of the ‘American dream’ partially empty,” said the singer.

“Today I want to make sure about that promise is for everyone in this country. The goal is that people who look like me or who come from places like the one I come from, have the same opportunities,” López highlighted in the framework of Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations.

Selena Quintanilla’s Hispanic Heritage Quotes

“I feel very proud to be Mexican. I didn’t have the opportunity to learn Spanish when I was a girl, but…it’s never too late to get in touch with your roots.”, Selena Quintanilla Pérez. 

On the other hand, we can’t help but remember Selena Quintanilla Pérez, since she was one of the first women who has made us feel proud to be Latinas.

She was an extraordinary singer who everyone fell in love with, and her untimely, tragic death brought the world to tears. She will always be remembered as one of the greatest exponents of Latin music, achieving sales of over 70 million records and even acted in a movie with Johnny Deep. 

The importance of Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month has its origins in a smaller celebration in 1968, when the US government approved Public Law 90-498 for an annual proclamation to coincide with September 15 and 16. At that time, the commemoration only lasted one week. The date corresponded to the anniversary of independence in countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico.

For years, Gerald R. Ford promoted the initiative so that educational institutions and human rights organizations would get involved. Two decades after the first proclamation, lawmakers, at the request of Ronald Reagan, extended the celebration to be what we know today: Hispanic Heritage Month.

Public institutions and organizations aren’t the only groups who are commemorating it: sports teams, companies and the entertainment industry in general are committed to making Hispanics visible and celebrating our history. Throughout the country, artistic and gastronomic events are organized to encourage inclusion and the recognition of the diversity of other cultures. 

According to official projections, the number of Hispanics living in the United States could reach 30% of the population by 2030. In addition to public events, special content is also created on tv to strengthen the ties that unite Hispanics, who have not visited their home country for years and have even formed families far away, but are trying to stay in touch with their roots.

The date also serves as a breeding ground for protests against the oppression and discrimination suffered by the Hispanic community in the United States. Going beyond government initiatives, activists are taking advantage of the heightened attention surrounding these moments, to make inroads towards their objectives, and to continue the fight for equal rights.