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Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month!

¡Hola comunidad!,


Esta semana comienza el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana, del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre. Comienzo este artículo en español para honrar a las muchas personas de nuestra comunidad de Santa Bárbara que son bilingües y tienen el español como lengua materna.


National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose roots trace back to Mexico, Central and South America, Spain, and the Caribbean. Established first as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson and later expanded to a full month by President Ronald Reagan in 1988, the celebration begins on September 15th to coincide with the anniversaries of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and with Mexico and Chile on September 16th and 18th. 


The pan-ethnic term “Hispanic” was formally adopted by the U.S. Census Bureau to describe those with “Spanish origins or culture,” while Latino is specific to those from Latin-America (for example: someone who speaks Portuguese from Brazil). Attempts to find a gender-neutral term, such as “Latinx” and “Latine,” appears to be a continuous dialogue. Some feel these terms promote inclusivity, while others feel it is “anglicizing,” lacking connectedness to Latinidad identity. According to recent Census data, Hispanic/Latino is the largest racial-ethnic group in Santa Barbara County, and is the second largest within Santa Barbara City. 

California, including Santa Barbara, was originally part of Mexico until the mid-19th century, when the U.S. gained vast territories through the end of the Mexican-American War via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848. For Mexican families who had lived here for generations, their homes, farms, and communities suddenly became part of a new country overnight. They did not migrate; instead, political borders shifted around them, coinciding with the slogan, “The border crossed us.” Power dynamics around land ownership shifted, with Mexican families who had lived in the area for some time becoming landowners or laborers on large ranchos, while new migrants from Mexico and Central America worked in agriculture. Latino workers were essential to Santa Barbara’s growing agricultural and industrial economy, including to oil fields, railroad construction, and citrus fields, contributing greatly to prosperity in this region. In many ways, the identity and heritage of Mexican and Chicano communities are profoundly rooted in this land, and the influence of Latine culture is ever-present, through the street signs honoring family names (like De la Guerra, Carrillo, and Gutierrez), to Fiesta celebrations every August.


Hispanic and Latino populations have experienced great hardship in the U.S., evidenced now more than ever with the Supreme Court’s ruling just last week. Persecution targeting Spanish-speaking immigrants, such as the current enforcement of ICE, is unfortunately not new. In his book, The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens, and the Nation, Leo R. Chavez highlights that various waves throughout U.S. history have emphasized the perception of Latinos as perpetually “threatening to invade,” imposing danger on American people, culture, and identity, and therefore fervently deemed as “other.” This narrative often led to the direct harm of Latinx folks, a few examples include: the lynchings of Mexicans in Texas during La Matanza, Zoot Suit Riots in Los Angeles in June 1943, where young Latino men where sought out and beaten, and the spraying of Bracero workers with harmful pesticides. Despite this rhetoric, Latinx people have significantly contributed to American culture through advocacy and labor rights, such as César Chávez and Dolores Huerta’s work with the United Farm Workers; political leadership, such as associate justice of the Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor; arts and music, through Judy Baca, Frida Kahlo, Celia Cruz, Bad Bunny, and Lin-Manuel Miranda; and literature, with writers like Sandra Cisneros highlighting immigrant experiences.


In regards to mental health, Hispanic and Latinx individuals are often impacted by systemic racism, discrimination, language barriers, economic hardships, and limited access to affordable healthcare. Many families are touched by immigration stress, or the fear of deportation, which can create ongoing terror and trauma, potentially altering family dynamics, attachment systems, and financial stability. Cultural stigma around mental health can discourage folks from seeking therapy, and a lack of bilingual or culturally responsive providers further limits access to care. As an example, a study found that Latinos were less likely than whites and Asians to get the mental health services they needed, and were more likely to miss work as a result. These pressures can contribute to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and trauma within Latinx communities, while also creating feelings of isolation. Despite these challenges, strong family bonds, cultural pride, and community networks often serve as important protective factors, supporting resilience and healing.


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I know there are many more! Please feel free to share with me any that you love that I am missing :)


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Please reach out to me at diversitydirector@sbcamft.org if you have a correction, question, or would like to expand on anything stated in this blog post.


En liberación,

Aute Porter, MMFT, LMFT #153925

 
 
 

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