As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close, A Magazine is highlighting the most important pillar of Hispanic Culture: hospitality. Welcoming guests with open arms is not just a courtesy, but a reflection of cultural values that prioritize relationships, shared experiences and traditions. Hispanic hosts typically always have a flawlessly clean house, plenty of food and will not settle until they know their guests are taken care of and comfortable. Every gathering, big or small, is filled with high energy, music and of course lots of dancing. Family and friends are everything in Hispanic culture—they take care of their people, their people’s people and really, anyone in need. 

According to the 2023 US census, the Hispanic population in the United States has reached a staggering 65.2 million making it the nation’s largest ethnic minority — 19.5% of the total population, and it is continuing to grow every day. This makes representation and opportunities for Hispanics so important. 

The number of Hispanics choosing to pursue higher education is also increasing, with the majority being first-generation students who work tirelessly to afford college in hopes of pursuing a future their parents could only dream of. 

At Kent State, programs such as the Oscar Ritchie Memorial Scholarship are in place to financially aid minority students with strong academic backgrounds. However, due to the federal government’s 2023 overturn of affirmative action that banned race-based affirmative action in college admissions and Ohio’s SB83 bill that prohibits universities from spending on programs that propel diversity, scholarships and programs such as Oscar Ritchie are no longer available to students. These issues are exactly what make the 2024 presidential election so important, so get out and vote for a better future that includes protections for diversity and equity.  

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month. May the warmth and hospitality of Hispanic culture work to show the United States how beneficial our growing population is to the history and future of our country. 

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Hi! I’m Kayla Friedman, A Magazine’s editor-in-chief. My staff and I are committed to bringing you the most important and entertaining news from the realms of fashion, beauty and culture. We are full-time students and hard-working journalists. While we get support from the student media fee and earned revenue such as advertising, both of those continue to decline. Your generous gift of any amount will help enhance our student experience as we grow into working professionals. Please go here to donate to A Magazine.