Who Actually Created Hispanic Heritage Month? The Law, Explained

Most coverage treats Hispanic Heritage Month like it's always existed in its current form. It hasn't. It started as a single week, became law under a different president than the one who expanded it, and didn't reach its current 31-day shape until two decades after it began. Every year however, Hispanic Heritage Month becomes more meaningful and relevant. This past year, political challenges for the Latino community have been higher than most with immigration enforcement activities threatening the daily lives of U.S. Latinos.

Who Created Hispanic Heritage Month?

National Hispanic Heritage Week became law in 1968 under Public Law 90-498, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The first observance was proclaimed that same year under Proclamation No. 3869. From the start, the week was tied to the independence anniversaries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico, all of which fall on September 15 or 16.

Why Does It Start Mid-Month Instead of on the First?

Because the law was written around those specific dates, not around the calendar month. September 15 was chosen because it's the day five countries declared independence, and the observance was built outward from there rather than rounded to the start of the month.

When Did It Become a Month Instead of a Week?

Twenty years after the original law, Public Law 100-402 expanded the observance from a single week into a full 31-day period, September 15 through October 15. President Ronald Reagan signed that law on August 17, 1988. The first proclamation covering the full month came the following year, under President George H.W. Bush, as Proclamation No. 6021, dated September 14, 1989.

Who Has Proclaimed It Every Year Since?

Every U.S. president since 1990 has issued an annual proclamation recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month, regardless of party. The observance has outlasted seven administrations at this point, which is a longer, steadier bipartisan track record than most people give it credit for.