Living in California, we are exposed to a lot of diversity and have grown accustomed to the different cultures, skin colors, races, traditions, sexualities, and personalities. Every year we celebrate black history month in February, and every body knew this. This year is the first year of my whole life that people informed me of Hispanic heritage month. Being a Latina, and proud, I was very surprised at this news. Emily Christensen said, “I didn’t even know there was a Hispanic  heritage month!”

One if the reasons why I believe that Hispanic Heritage month is not as celebrated or known here in the United States because it is not one that is as promoted or spoken about as it should be. Hispanics have a very strong culture, with the foods, dances, and clothing. At a party you will have the food always coming, the music always loud, and there is always someone dancing. Children are running around the house or venue. The drunk uncles and aunts awfully singing along to whatever song is playing, and way out of tune. A living room full of siblings, cousins, second cousin, third cousin, but wait its only the teenager because the younger ones are tad bit immature. The family that was leaving two hours ago but are still sitting down with a bear in their hand. Grandma and the tias making tortillas out of hand and the tios making the meet on the grill. Grandpa asking and embarrassing you about when you are going to get a boyfriend because he doesn’t want to be the only “man” in your life. And then moving on to the next cousin to embarrass them about something else also because they laughed at you when he was talking. And we cannot forget the gambling; la loteria, pirinola, dominos, etc. Wait but I saved the best for last, personally my favorite, the loud, funny uncle that when he’s around you question how old he really is but when he’s not there, there is no laughter to accompany the party.

Hispanics are very prideful of their race, culture, and ancestors. A lot of people do not understand this concept because many ask, that if Hispanic people are so prideful of themselves, why do they come to the United States looking to start again. And here’s your answer. Mexicans, Argentinians, Puerto Ricans, Spaniards, etc, where we are from, there is not the best type of education. In some places gangs rule the pueblo’s. Kids at young ages are being influenced or forced into the wrong social groups. Girls get married as teenagers. Family’s cannot afford for their children to go to high school. There are only two types of classes. Rich and poor. Some people only have a pair of shoes until they find out that their shoes have a hole on the bottom, and sometimes even after the hole on the bottom, the parents cannot afford to buy their children a new pair of shoes.

America is full of opportunities, opportunities that are not available every where in Spanish speaking countries. The opportunity to escape the violence, the gangs, the death. An opportunity to get a better education so that your children can afford to get their children a new pair of shoes every year to say the least. A opportunity of a better future for your children and your children’s children to receive the best of the best and never go back to only two classes.

Our pride is in our accomplishments also. We, Hispanics should be proud of all the way we have gotten. Yes we are a prideful community. Proud of our culture because it defines who we are as people. Proud of our ancestors because despite of their social class, they were able to make a living out of it and continue to support their family with the little income they receive. We are proud of our race because that is our decent. We went from having nothing to having a home, phones, new shoes, and a beautiful family.

So please, a month dedicated to the hard working, humble Hispanics of America, is something we should be spreading all around, not just Eastvale but all of the United States. Some people may see unwanted immigrants but I see my heroes.