2009 National Hispanic Heritage Month: 'Embracing the Fierce Urgency of Now'

Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month, the anniversary of independence for five Latin American countries -- Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Additionally, on Sept. 16, Mexico declared its independence, followed by Chile on Sept. 18.

Who is considered Hispanic or Latino? The U.S. Census Bureau defines the term Hispanic as Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. On the 2000 Census form, people of Spanish/Hispanic/Latino origin could identify themselves as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban or "Other Spanish/Hispanic/Latino." According to the 2000 Census, more than 35 million people identified themselves as Hispanic or Latino. Visit the Office of Campus Diversity and Compliance Web site to view "Famous Firsts" by Hispanic-Americans.