This Week in History, September 15 - September 21

Sep 15, 1978
Hispanic Heritage Month. Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402. This day - September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively. Also, Columbus Day or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, falls within this 30 day period.

Sep 16, 1932
Gandhi begins fast in protest of caste separation. On this day in 1932, in his cell at Yerovda Jail near Bombay, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi begins a hunger strike in protest of the British government's decision to separate India's electoral system by caste. A leader in the Indian campaign for home rule, Gandhi worked all his life to spread his own brand of passive resistance across India and the world. By 1920, his concept of Satyagraha (or "insistence upon truth") had made Gandhi an enormously influential figure for millions of followers. Jailed by the British government from 1922-24, he withdrew from political action for a time during the 1920s but in 1930 returned with a new civil disobedience campaign. This landed Gandhi in prison again, but only briefly, as the British made concessions to his demands and invited him to represent the Indian National Congress Party at a round-table conference in London.

USA Hispanic population, while still anchored in its traditional settlement areas, continues to spread out, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data.

Latinos have plenty to celebrate about during this year's Hispanic Heritage Month 9/15-10/15.

The 100 largest counties by Hispanic population contain 71% of all Hispanics. Los Angeles County, CA alone contains 4.9 million Hispanics, or 9% of the nation’s Hispanic population. But the share of all Hispanics who live in these same counties has fallen from 75% in 2000 and 78% in 1990 (Fry, 2008), reflecting Hispanic population growth outside of these 100 counties.

Half (52%) of those counties are in three states—California, Texas and Florida. Along with Arizona, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey and Illinois, these eight states contain three-quarters (74%) of the nation’s Latino population. But with the dispersal of the U.S. Latino population across the country, this share too is down from 79% in 2000 and 84% in 1990.

The geographic settlement patterns are to some degree aligned with the diverse countries of origin of the Hispanic population. For example, Mexican origin Hispanics are the dominant group in the Los Angeles-Long Beach metropolitan area, making up 78% of the area’s Hispanics. They are also the dominant group in many metropolitan areas in the border states of Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas. But along the East Coast the composition of Hispanic origin groups differs. In the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area, Puerto Ricans and Dominicans are the dominant Hispanic origin groups. In Miami-Hialeah, FL, Cubans are the dominant Hispanic group and in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan areas, Salvadorans are the largest Hispanic origin group among that area’s Hispanics. Nationally, Mexicans are the largest Hispanic origin group, making up 64.6% of all Hispanics.

Although it was the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated, The Bronx is rising once again.

The Bronx has an interesting history that can be divided into four periods: a boom period during 1900–29, with a population growth by a factor of six from 200,000 in 1900 to 1.3 million in 1930. The Great Depression and post World War II years saw a slowing of growth leading into an eventual decline. The mid to late century were hard times, as the Bronx declined 1950-85 from a predominantly moderate-income to a predominantly lower-income area with high rates of violent crime and poverty. The Bronx has experienced an economic and developmental resurgence starting in the late 1980s, which can be heard, seen and felt today.

The Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC) Laboratory’s Fall/Winter Performance Series curated by City Lore Folklorist Elena Martínez and Grammy-nominated musician Bobby Sanabria.

The recently opened BMHC Laboratory in Crotona East is a 1,400 square foot performance, gallery, and retail space where Bronx artists can innovate and showcase their work, even before the permanent home to the BMHC opens in 2015. The Lab is a music incubator that hosts artists-in-residence, concerts, open mics, film screenings, galleries, arts retail, wellness events and roundtable discussions for musicians, artisans, and the community to enjoy. It is run by WHEDco (Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation).

US Representative José E. Serrano, who serves the Bronx says he takes responsibilities very seriously. None is more important than voting on issues of war and peace. As the nation debates the use of force in Syria, which the Obama Administration has asked Congress to consider, he would like to share his thoughts on this issue.

He says.... "I have grave doubts about the wisdom of involving our nation in another war in the Middle East. I cannot vote in favor of an authorization to use force because I believe that the outcome of strikes on Syria is unpredictable, and unlikely to be in our nation’s interests. I fear setting off a chain of events which leads to American soldiers fighting and dying in the Middle East yet again."

He goes on to say that he commends President Obama for correctly bringing this issue of war before the Congress. Whether we agree or disagree with him on this issue, it is a welcome change to have a President with a deep belief in our constitutional system.

While the use of chemical weapons is morally reprehensible, as is the targeting of civilians with any sort of weapons, Serrano believes the best reaction would be a broad multilateral diplomatic response from the international community—not just an American enforcement action. The world must show its outrage, not just America.

He adds that he has thought long and hard about this decision before coming to the firm conclusion that he cannot vote in favor of war. He will continue to work to find alternatives that deter the use of chemical weapons on civilians and believes such alternatives exist and should be used.

A fast-moving fire yesterday afternoon raised many questions after it started in a custard shop and raged through blocks of boardwalk and businesses along Seaside Park, a New Jersey beach town which was still rebuilding from Super-storm Sandy.

Thankfully, a late-night rainstorm brought relief to hundreds of firefighters attemting to contain the wind-driven flames. Part of the boardwalk was torn up and a 20-foot trench dug to keep flames from spreading through the close-packed buildings.

Firefighters using a 50-foot extension ladder poured a stream of water into a blazing pizza restaurant as flashers and spotlights from dozens of fire trucks lit up the pillar of smoke rising from the town.