Starting September 15, Hispanic people in Texas and around the country will celebrate the 31st anniversary of Hispanic Heritage month.
By Ariana Arredondo, Illustrations by Jessica Wetterer
52 years
It’s been 52 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson first proclaimed that Hispanic Heritage Week would be celebrated during the week of September 15. He praised and recognized the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States.
48 percent
The Hispanic population of Texas makes up 48 percent of the state’s 5,952 COVID-19 cases while they make up 40 percent of the state’s overall population.
60.6 million
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019 the Hispanic population in the United States hit 60.6 million people. In the same year the Latinx population increased from 16 percent of the U.S. population to 18 percent.
1,000
Ellen Ochoa spent over 1,000 hours in orbit after becoming the first Latina-American astronaut in 1990. She was the first Latina in space and went on her first mission on the Discovery shuttle in 1993.
$500 billion
According to Stanford University, Latinx-owned businesses account for $500 billion in annual sales. It is evident that Latinxs are a key part of the U.S. economy as the amount of Latinx-owned businesses has increased by 34 percent in the last 10 years.