Today (September 15) marks the first day of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Running 30 days, the observation started as a week in 1968, and former President Ronald Reagan expanded it to a full month 20 years later. It starts mid-month in homage to today’s independence days for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Nevermind the trolls who are using the #HispanicHeritageMonth hashtag to tweet about building walls, Twitter users took to their timelines to kick off the observance of Latinx culture today—and the social media site rolled out a new heart emoji for the occasion. Here are some thoughtful and celebratory posts:
This #HispanicHeritageMonth I continue to rage against racists who eat tacos.
— Erika L. Sánchez (@ErikaLSanchez) September 15, 2016
Damn, this is HELLA powerful! #ImmigrantsMakeAmericaGreat #HispanicHeritageMonth #BrownPride pic.twitter.com/MnoywyGgJH
— Azucena Rasilla (@ChroniclesOfAzu) September 15, 2016
Happy #HispanicHeritageMonth! Starting next year, this will be known as #AllHeritageMattersMonth! You’re welcome.
— Donald J. Drumpf (@RealDonalDrumpf) September 15, 2016
#Decolonize #HispanicHeritageMonth… or get rid of it. By @AdrianaMaestas https://t.co/fkf6lU0AVm pic.twitter.com/u3L1JAqhaS
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) September 15, 2016
Mom came to the US when she was 14. Didnt know ANY English. Now shes an ESL Professor w/ her masters. My inspiration. #HispanicHeritageMonth
— Manuel Riguez IV (@MovieManny) September 15, 2016
when you’re Hispanic, but white washed af#HispanicHeritageMonth pic.twitter.com/JuvBtCBJVW
— Edolas Gemerald (@EdolasGem) September 15, 2016
#HispanicHeritageMonth Ignores that many of us who r categorized as Hispanic are actually disconnected descendants of Indigenous communities
— AnuNa’uElhahaHawi (@Tiwix_) September 15, 201
#HispanicHeritageMonth i love being brown so so much
— Karla (@1975Ibs) September 15, 2016
Let’s be real, for me every day is #HispanicHeritageMonth
— Carlos A. Martinez (@cmartinezTX) September 15, 2016
This year, remembering and celebrating our roots feels especially important, necessary, and politically charged. #HispanicHeritageMonth
— Larry Meadows (@lrrymdws) September 15, 2016