American Bar Association Gives Each Day of Hispanic Heritage Month Meaning

Although Hispanic Heritage Month  (opens in a new tab) ends on October 15, the American Bar Association made sure each day of the commemorative month counted with its 21-Day Hispanic Heritage Equity Habit Building Challenge  (opens in a new tab).

Launched by its Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council  (opens in a new tab), the challenge invited ABA’s members and nonmembers on a journey to be more constructive, engaged, and have a deeper understanding about the many communities included under the “Hispanic umbrella.”

The challenge led with a resonant quote from labor leader and civil rights activist Delores Huerta: “Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world. When you have a conflict, that means that there are truths that have to be addressed on each side of the conflict.”

Huerta, along with Cesar Chavez, cofounded the National Farm Workers Association, now United Farm Workers. She originated the phrase, “Sí, se puede,” Spanish for, “Yes, it can be done,” which is UFW’s official motto  (opens in a new tab).

Participants were asked to complete a voluntary, consecutive 21-day syllabus  (opens in a new tab), made up of daily, short assignments (about 15-30 minutes), which included readings, videos, or podcasts. For example, daily topics had resources on contributions to literature, poetry, and the arts  (opens in a new tab); Latinos breaking barriers  (opens in a new tab); the history of the Spanish language  (opens in a new tab); and more. Participants were free to opt-out anytime along the way, and there was no grade at the end. The assignments aimed to illuminate participants on elements of Hispanic histories, identities, and cultures.

The challenge was modeled on the “21-Day Racial Equity Habit-Building Challenge,” designed by diversity expert Dr. Eddie Moore Jr.  (opens in a new tab), to advance a deeper understanding of the intersections of race, power, privilege, supremacy, and oppression.

This is the third ABA challenge this year, following ones to commemorate Black History Month  (opens in a new tab) in February and Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month  (opens in a new tab) in May.

ABA stated  (opens in a new tab) that while it’s impossible to highlight all the diversity of experiences within the Hispanic community, the syllabus serves as “an introduction to what we hope will be a rewarding journey that extends far beyond the limits of this project.”

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