Celebrating Our Roots

From September 15^th to October 15^th, our nation celebrates the role that Hispanic heritage plays in our melting pot. We start observing this month on September 15^th because it also serves as the independence day of several Latin American countries including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile also celebrate it within the 30-day span. Ever since the first Spanish explorations in the Fifteenth century, Hispanic Americans have played an important role in advancing the lives of the New World. From the Spanish Empire, that ran from Florida to Argentina, to the leadership of Cesar Chavez and Sonia Sotomayor, there are countless examples of contributions from the Hispanic Community to our society. It is also worth noting that the Hispanic Community is the fastest growing block in the United States. In the last ten years, the growth of Hispanics rose by as much as forty seven percent.

Being a first-generation immigrant, I’ve experienced the unity of the Hispanic communities and their interactions with the rest of the United States. I remember coming off of the plane and hearing my mother talk about the American dream. I loved learning English and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in school. Those things are crucial to my life, but so are the mountains of Bogotá, my grandparents’ stories in ‘El Valle’, and my native tongue. Being Hispanic is part of my identity, and this month is just another way of expressing that fire that burns within millions of Hispanic Americans. Everything from the food we eat, to the colors on our flags, and distinguishable accents might make us seem exotic, but our love for America binds us together. I love my home country Colombia, but I also love the United States of America, and all of the opportunities that it has given my family.

It is this passion that created the Suffolk University Hispanic Association (SUHA). By celebrating their roots, SUHA never forgets the past, and what better time to celebrate it than National Hispanic Heritage Month? SUHA even planned several events that included food Fairs (9/27), Salsa nights at the Donahue Cafe (10/11), and movie nights at Donahue 403 (10/18). All these events are held to celebrate Hispanic culture, and SUHA invites the rest of the Suffolk community to celebrate as well. Remembering your heritage, is remembering who you are.