The Gifts Latinos Give to America

The Gifts Latinos Give to America

As we embraced the holiday spirit, a time for giving and gratitude, it’s vital to reflect on the gifts the Latino community brings to the United States.?

The recent findings from the Hispanic Sentiment Study by We Are All Human and Nielsen have revealed a transformative shift in our community's collective consciousness – a staggering growth in unity from 14% to 48%. This increase is more than a number; it represents a seismic shift in how we perceive and exert our influence in shaping America's future.

The Power of Unity: A New Era of Latino Influence

The increase in our unity is profound and indicates a growing recognition among Latinos of our collective power and a stronger desire to harness this power by supporting each other. This newfound unity is set to redefine our role in American society, signaling a future where we more assertively embrace and exercise our influence in every facet of national life.

But beyond the impressive economic statistics, what the Hispanic Sentiment Study 2023 also showed are the intangible contributions of Latinos which are vital to the American tapestry.

Our Latino community gives many gifts to the United States.? And they, too, are emblematic of our gratitude, our emotional investment and our pride in being part of the world’s greatest nation.?

Our gifts to the nation take many forms. ? Some have economic value, others you can’t put a price on, such as the dedication of frontline workers — in transportation, hospitals, food services.? Latino workers keep America running on a daily business, and during the pandemic that involved tremendous risk and sacrifice in their own lives.? A true gift of service.

Let’s pull the lens back and wider:? Latinos are the drivers of American economic prosperity.? We begin with a critical economic measure — GDP.? If we were a standalone economy, our 3.4-trillion-dollar GDP, according to the critical data collection of the Latino Donor Collective, puts us as the 5th largest country in the world.?

We also support businesses large and small across this nation.? Latinos represent $3.2 trillion dollars of purchasing power, which pumps an incredible amount of money into the economy.? As the second-largest and fastest-growing segment in the country,? our purchasing power is growing and will continue to grow exponentially.?

We are also a gift to many people seeking work. ?Latinos create more jobs than any other group in the country, and much of that is because we create our own businesses at a faster rate than other groups, particularly in the future-facing technology sector.? Latinas create businesses six times faster than any other group.?

Because of all this, we are helping to keep the American Dream alive.? We have strengthened the middle class. We are homeowners or saving for a home, and believers that education and hard work are the path to success.? Our continued belief in the American Dream is felt not only by us but all Americans as we diligently pay taxes that provide critical social services and serve in the nation’s military in disproportionately large numbers.?

All of these are rooted in Latino values, which we believe not only fuel our individual success but have some collective national impact, too.? Family. Loyalty. Resilience. Hard work. Perseverance. Innovation.? Despite the enormous diversity of our community, these values are shared, part of the character, strength and fabric of Latinos everywhere, passed down from generation to generation.? They inform not only who we are but what we do — cascading from family to community to our work and civic lives.

We are also happy to share our culture.? In the US, more tortillas are sold than bread.? More salsa than ketchup.? Eighty-five percent of Americans say they have Mexican food once a week!? (We certainly understand that!)? We are shaping global culture, not only with our food but also our music, dance and increasingly fashion.?

It is important for us to remember all the contributions we make as a community.? As a united community, these contributions not only drive American prosperity, they give us agency, power and direction.? They help promote progress, for us —individually, collectively, but also nationally.? Hispanic progress is American progress.?

A new year is not only a time of gift-giving and resolutions but also a time for taking stock of what we have achieved and what we need to do going forward. ? As our study showed, in the past five years, our unity and pride have increased dramatically.?

This? year can be the time that we leverage our unity to tackle the next and final frontier — greater representation.? But for now, let us be proud of the prosperity, power and progress that defines the Latino community and uplifts the nation.?

Our cultural expressions, our communal approach to challenges, and our unwavering spirit of hope and progress don’t just contribute to the American narrative; they are its vibrant threads, weaving a story of diversity, resilience, and continuous evolution.?

Remember, the impact and influence of Hispanics in America aren't confined to a single season. It's a year-round testament to our enduring spirit and contributions — a presence and power that persists well beyond the fleeting magic of New Year's resolutions season.