Chicano Heritage Month

It was in 2021 that Santa Ana, California became the first major city to observe August as Chicano Heritage Month. In 2022  Representative Lou Correa of California introduced a resolution to recognize August as Chicano Heritage Month and he reintroduced it again in August 2023. While it has yet to be nationally recognized, Chicano Heritage Month has been adopted by various other cities and counties around the nation. As to why August was chosen for Chicano Heritage Month, it was on August 29 1970 that the National Chicano Moratorium Committee Against The Vietnam War held their largest march in Los Angeles. It was while he was covering this march that award-winning and pioneering journalist Ruben Salazar was killed by a tear gas round that struck him in the head. 

While there is already Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, there is still a need for Chicano Heritage Month. It recognizes the unique experience of Mexican Americans in the United States, from the fight against segregation to the farm worker movement to the Chicano rights movement. While there are certainly similarities between the various Latino ethnicities, there are also significant differences. The Cuban experience is different from the Puerto Rican experience which is different from the Mexican American experience. 

Although I have never been particularly vocal about it, I have observed various commemorative months here at A Shroud of Thoughts for years, from Black History Month to Native American Heritage Month. I have observed Chicano Heritage Month since 2023 and will do so again this year with post related to Chicano popular culture. While I am not Chicano myself, Chicano Heritage Month is particularly important to me as the dearest person in my life, Vanessa Marquez, was a Chicana. Regardless of what others might think, it is important to me that the contributions of multiple ethnicities to American history be acknowledged, particularly given I am part Native myself.