Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
“But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him” (Luke 10:33-34).
My paternal grandfather immigrated to the United States from Monterrey, Mexico in 1919 to escape the suffocating poverty caused by the Mexican Revolutionary War. He landed in a small town south of Houston, Texas, worked hard, bought a few acres of land, and quietly built a life for his wife and eight children. My Dad was one of the youngest of the brood. They grew up relatively poor but infused with a strong work ethic and deep-seated Judeo-Christian values.
A little over 100 years and four generations later his descendants include public school educators, college professors, medical professionals, engineers, public servants, journalists, police officers, firefighters, and one lowly theologian. They have studied at prestigious universities, earned advanced degrees and have made an overwhelmingly positive impact on American society. Our country is richer because of my grandfather’s courageous journey across the border.
My grandfather’s amazing legacy, however, is not an anomaly among the millions who have made the trek across fields and streams to build a life in “the land of the free and home of the brave.”
My wife’s family history, although different, echoes the same theme. Her Texas-Hispanic heritage precedes the Texas Revolution. Her forefathers were Mexican Farmers who were working the Texas soil before Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston could spell T.E.X.A.S. They didn’t cross the border. The border crossed them.
Hispanic Contributions
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt” (Exodus 22:21).
Hispanics, both native-born and immigrant, have a long and storied impact on the land we share. They have played a vital role in shaping the social, economic, and cultural landscape of the United States from its earliest days to the present. As the largest and fastest growing minority group in the country, their contributions span a wide array of fields, including labor, military service, civil rights, politics, arts, and science.
Physical Labor
During the early 20th century, many Mexican immigrants were recruited to work in the fields of California, Texas, and other states. This recruitment became formalized during World War II with the Bracero Program (1942-1964), a bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that allowed millions of Mexicans to work in the U.S. to fill labor shortages in agriculture and industry. During its duration, the Bracero Program actively recruited over 4.6 million Mexican laborers to the U.S., significantly boosting agricultural productivity.
These millions of faceless and unheralded Mexican laborers played a crucial role in the construction and expansion of American infrastructure. They were instrumental in building railroads, roads, and bridges that connected the country. The demand for low-cost labor has consistently led to a reliance on Hispanic workers, who have faced both economic opportunity and exploitation.
Despite a consistently challenging bi-polar immigration policy – “We need you, please come help us … We don’t need you anymore, go away,” – Hispanic labor continues to be foundational to the growth of many American industries.
Military Service
Hispanic Americans also have a long and distinguished history of military service, dating back to the Revolutionary War. Notably, during World War II, over 500,000 Hispanic Americans served in the U.S. Armed Forces, representing one of the highest rates of service of any ethnic group .
Many have served with distinction garnering an astounding sixty Congressional Medals of Honor, more than any other minority group in American history.
Civil Rights
“The community is to have the same rules for you and for the foreigner residing among you; this is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. You and the foreigner shall be the same before the LORD …” (Numbers 15:15).
The Hispanic civil rights movement, often overshadowed by the African American civil rights struggle, has been a crucial force in fighting for equality and justice in the United States. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), founded in 1929, became one of the earliest and most influential civil rights organizations advocating for Hispanic Americans.
LULAC focused on dismantling racial segregation, improving education, and securing voting rights for Hispanics.
In addition, in the 1960s and 1970s, the Chicano Movement emerged as a significant force for social change, advocating for farmworkers’ rights, educational reforms, and political representation.
Led by figures like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, the movement gave birth to the United Farm Workers, which successfully organized strikes and boycotts that improved labor conditions for thousands of Hispanic farm workers across the nation.
Their efforts brought national attention to the plight of migrant workers and led to important legal protections.
Politics
Hispanic Americans have increasingly taken leadership roles in local, state, and national politics. The election of Henry B. Gonzalez to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1961 marked the beginning of a new era of Hispanic political representation. Gonzalez was the first Hispanic from Texas to serve in Congress and became a champion of civil rights and economic justice.
In recent decades, Hispanic political influence has grown significantly, with leaders such as Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Maro Rubio, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro, and current U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, to name a few.
Hispanic voters have also become a decisive factor in elections, shaping policy decisions on immigration, healthcare, education, and labor rights. According to the Pew Research Center, Hispanic voters accounted for a record 13.3% of the U.S. electorate in the 2020 presidential election.
Enriching American Life
The cultural and artistic contributions of Hispanic Americans are profound and wide-reaching. In literature, authors such as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Sandra Cisneros, and Julia Alvarez have introduced themes of Latin American identity, immigration, and social justice to the broader American public.
The works of Hispanic artists, musicians, and filmmakers have also enriched American culture. From Pablo Picasso, Diego Rivera, and Jose Clemente Orozco in the arts to Gloria Estefan, Luis Miguel and Carlos Santana in music to Robert Rodriguez, Guillermo del Toro and Sam Mendes in film to Ricardo Motalban, Rita Moreno and Lin-Manuel Miranda in theater, Hispanics have consistently impressed audiences.
Hispanic cultural traditions have also significantly influenced American food, and festivals. Celebrations like Cinco de Mayo and Dia de los Muertos have become integral to American culture, showcasing the rich heritage and traditions of Hispanic communities.
Moreover, Hispanic cuisine, with its vibrant flavors and ingredients, has permeated the American culinary landscape, making dishes like tacos, enchiladas, and tamales household favorites.
When activist Marco Gutierrez famously bemoaned that if we didn’t do something about immigration from the southern border, “you’re going to have taco trucks on every corner,” all of my Anglo-American friends laughed and said, “That would be awesome!”
Science, Medicine, and Innovation
The list of Hispanics who have made notable contributions to science, medicine, and innovation is also long and impressive.
Dr. Helen Rodriguez-Trias, a pediatrician and women’s rights advocate, was instrumental in expanding public health services for underprivileged communities.
Physicist Luis Walter Alvarez, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1968 for his discoveries in particle physics.
Ellen Ochoa was the first Hispanic woman to go to space and as an astronaut, engineer, and former director of the Johnson Space Center, made important contributions to the development of optical systems for space exploration, holds several patents related to optical inspection systems, and has been a strong advocate for women and minorities in STEM fields.
Mario J. Molina won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1995 for his research on the effects of man-made compounds on the ozone layer. His work was pivotal in leading to the global regulation of chemicals that deplete the ozone layer, including the Montreal Protocol, which has had a profound impact on environmental policy worldwide.
Severo Ochoa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1959 for discovering the enzyme that enabled the synthesis of RNA. His work significantly advanced the understanding of molecular biology and genetics, helping to lay the foundation for the field of genetic engineering.
France A. Córdova, an astrophysicist and the 14th director of the National Science Foundation (NSF), had a profound impact on science and engineering research funding in the U.S. She is also a former chief scientist of NASA, and her work has contributed to our understanding of X-ray and gamma-ray sources in space, as well as black holes.
Conclusion
“‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise’” (Luke 10:36-37).
A racist once asked Jesus to define a neighbor. Jesus responded with a story about a man who was assaulted and left for dead on the side of the road. Several patriots walked by without offering help. The one who finally stopped to help was an immigrant. The hero of Jesus’ story was a Samaritan on his way to Jerusalem. He was a foreigner traveling in a foreign land.
When Jesus asked who was the good neighbor, the racist knew the answer but couldn’t even acknowledge the man’s ethnic identity. “The one who had mercy on him,” he said peevishly.
Be careful how you treat people, in words and actions.
One day you might be in serious trouble and it could be the doctor from India who makes the life-saving diagnosis or the nurse from the Philippines who administers CPR or the fireman from Mexico who pulls you out of the burning building.
In the face of a more recent national rhetoric that diminishes and demonizes those who cross our southern borders, we should never forget the countless sacrifices made by our Hispanic neighbors.
God commanded Israel to care for the immigrants because they too were once immigrants (Exodus 22:21).
The French recognized this secret to America’s greatness and engraved it on their most famous gift to our country. The words penned by poet Emma Lazarus, “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore,” adorn the base of the Statue of Liberty to remind us that we are, and forever will be, a country of immigrants.
Hispanic Americans are only some of our most recent immigrants and have contributed significantly to our society across various sectors, helping to build the nation’s economy, defend its freedom, shape its politics, enrich its culture, and advance its scientific knowledge. As the Hispanic population continues to grow, so too will their impact on the future of the United States, reflecting a legacy of resilience, innovation, and cultural richness.
Let us celebrate them well.
This insight was written by Dr. Ellis Orozco, the Public Theologian in Residence at Stark College & Seminary. Dr. Orozco served in ministry as a pastor for 30 years and is the founder and CEO of Karooso Ministries.
Visit Dr. Orozco’s Blog to read more.