It’s astonishing to think that with the over 40% contribution Latinos living in this country make to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, we could form a state—or some kind of territorial entity—made up solely of Latinos.
- It’s astonishing to think that with the over 40% contribution Latinos living in this country make to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product, or GDP, we could form a state—or some kind of territorial entity—made up solely of Latinos.
- According to recent reports from the Census Bureau, Hispanics currently represent the country’s second-largest population group, making up over 19% of the population with around 65 million people.
- A culture gains meaning and leaves its mark through its invaluable contribution in coexistence with other cultures.
As part of the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the latest report from the Center for the Study of Health and Culture at the University of California was released. Among other findings, it concluded that the production of goods and services by the Latino population in the United States has been growing in recent years, ranking as the fifth-highest in the world.
This means that if Hispanics formed an independent republic within the country, they would have the fifth-largest internal product globally, with over $3.7 trillion, surpassing nations like the United Kingdom, France, and India.
This growth was also reflected in the increase of remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean, which exceeded $156 billion in the last year.
According to recent reports from the Census Bureau, Hispanics currently represent the country’s second-largest population group, making up over 19% of the population with around 65 million people.
In addition to being the group with the highest participation in the total population growth, including the more than half a million immigrants from Latin America who arrived in the last year. Among the country’s 3,144 counties, Broward and Miami-Dade in Florida, Dallas in Texas, and Riverside and San Bernardino in California saw the largest increases in Hispanic residents.
All these figures highlight the importance of the Hispanic community in the country and explain why immigration becomes such a key issue during election season, given that over 30 million Latinos are eligible to vote.
When a culture that transcends borders gains importance in the economic development of the nation that welcomes it, that is when its legacy is truly recognized. Celebrating Hispanic heritage with pride is more than just a series of activities to promote folklore, idiosyncrasies, and the symbols that define it.
A culture gains meaning and leaves its mark through its invaluable contribution in coexistence with other cultures.
Describing and explaining what it means to be Latino and Spanish-speaking is complicated when arriving as a foreigner in a new culture that doesn’t even speak the same language. But as we’ve always said, it is precisely in diversity where opportunities arise to open minds, adapt, and progress without losing one’s essence or forgetting one’s roots.
As Latinos and Spanish speakers, we have many positive things to contribute and leave as a legacy in this and other countries that welcome us. The best recognition is to value and respect the positive aspects of our culture, which should not be stigmatized or considered a minority. The numbers currently demonstrate this. Congratulations, proudly Latino.
oma66co@gmail.com
By: Omaira Martínez Cardona
Colombian journalist
Image: Opinion
