De Colores celebrates Hispanic culture at IVCC

Children with the Mexican folkloric dance group De Colores perform at the Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Center at Illinois Valley Community College on Wednesday. The group performed for Hispanic Heritage Month. In September of 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week observed during the week that included Sept. 16.

In 1989 it was expanded to a month long celebration Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.

The start date is significant because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American counties: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sep. 16, and Sep. 18 respectively.

In 2019, the Hispanic population in the United States is about 60.6 million people. The Hispanic population grew from 16.4% in 2010 to 18.5% in 2019.

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Members of the Mexican folkloric dance group De Colores perform at the Mary Margaret Weeg Cultural Centre at Illinois Valley Community College on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (Scott Anderson)