Do corporations and networks not realize it is Italian American Heritage and Culture Month?
Christopher Tremoglie
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Watching college football on ESPN this weekend, one of the commentators brought up something about Hispanic Heritage Month. Later, there was a commercial also mentioning the very same thing again.
Watching a different game, one of the commentators once again said Hispanic Heritage Month. And later, during that game, there was a commercial promoting, you guessed it, Hispanic Heritage Month. However, there was never a commercial, comment, or promotion about October being Italian American Heritage and Culture Month. Why not?
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Nothing is wrong with promoting, mentioning, advertising, or celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, obviously. It’s traditionally celebrated between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15 to honor and recognize the contributions of people of Hispanic heritage to the nation. It was established in 1968, originally designated as a week beginning on Sept. 15 or 16, by the Lyndon B. Johnson presidential administration. It was later expanded to a month in 1988. These dates were chosen because many Hispanic countries celebrate the anniversary of their independence between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15. Hispanics have contributed a lot to our nation’s history and deserve to celebrate the rich traditions. They should be proud of their heritage.
However, this overlaps with Italian American Heritage and Culture Month. No one should object to the recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, but no one should object to the month to celebrate Italians, either. If commentators, commercials, and advertisements mention one, they should also mention the other. But that doesn’t appear to be how it works. Anyone with a Google search can confirm that Italian American Heritage and Culture Month is largely ignored in the nation’s culture, especially after Columbus Day. But if commentators on college football games are going to mention one, they should also be obligated to mention the other.
And while I staunchly oppose these identity months, if they are to be part of mainstream culture, then Italian American Month should receive the same kind of recognition as other months. Yet, based on the marketing from many of the country’s companies and large corporations, this doesn’t happen.
As I wrote previously, the National Football League is the preeminent sports league in the country. It routinely honors cultural heritage months. In the last year, the NFL celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Black History Month. Yet, it didn’t honor or recognize the month for Italians. Why not?
This also happened with Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League. All of these leagues made sure to honor the aforementioned ethnic groups. Companies, corporations, and sports leagues also acknowledged the month set aside for people’s LGBT sexual orientation. Yet, such acknowledgments did not happen for Italian Americans. Why?
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If we genuinely want diversity in this country, then we should have diversity. Personally, I subscribe to the notion that we are all Americans, and there shouldn’t be any months set aside to celebrate different heritages. I think it is silly and always have. Nevertheless, that is not the contemporary culture, and if such things are to be celebrated, then let’s celebrate them for everyone. Not just the groups that people of a left-wing political ideology think are worth celebrating.
It’s October. Let’s start giving Italian American Heritage and Cultural Month the same prominence as other heritage months.