Recognizing the Importance of Latino Contributions in U.S. History Curricula

There is a compelling need for accurate history in our country. Latinos have not only been part of U.S. history but have also shaped it. However, most of our community’s stories remain untold in classrooms across the country. This lack of inclusion has led to a significant gap in understanding the contributions and barriers faced by Latino communities, the largest ethnic group in the United States.  Integrating Latino contributions and perspectives into history curricula is essential in fostering a more accurate understanding of our shared past and empowering future generations. 

By Viviana López Green, Senior Director, Latino Narrative 

In May 2023, UnidosUS, in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University School of Education Policy, released research revealing a critical gap in the representation of Latino contributions in U.S. high school curricula. The study found that only 13% of key topics determined by historians as essential to understanding the role of Hispanics in U.S. history, are covered in textbooks and often reduced to just five or fewer sentences. This finding underscores the urgent need for curricular reform to ensure Latinos are adequately represented in U.S. history.
 

Why Representation Matters in U.S. History Education

The exclusion of key Latino contributions from U.S. history textbooks erases critical voices — voices that have shaped our nation far beyond the Latino community. Our mission to bring these stories to classrooms throughout the country goes beyond representation; it’s about ensuring all students gain a comprehensive understanding of our shared history. We cannot expect students to fully engage in their education if they do not see themselves represented in it. The advantages of incorporating varying and accurate perspectives in history benefit every student, not just those from minority communities. A comprehensive literature review from 2016 highlights that both higher education and K-12 studies reveal academic, social, and civic advantages for middle- and upper-income students as well. Moreover, numerous studies indicate that diversity within classrooms enhances students’ abilities to foster interracial understanding, empathy, and coexistence with individuals from various backgrounds. Additionally, findings suggest that such diversity leads to improved democratic engagement, including heightened involvement in political matters and participation in democratic processes. This trend is consistently observed across multiple studies, including those highlighted by the American Psychological Association’s Psychology Teacher Network blog in 2022, and it extends to professional environments as well. 

Without visibility and representation in school curricula, the contributions, challenges and history of Latino communities risk being overlooked or misunderstood.  

Taking Action and Changing the Narrative: Leading with Accurate History 

In response to these findings and to address this urgent challenge, UnidosUS in partnership with Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, developed 3 units and 15 lesson plans offering a rigorous and in-depth exploration of Latino and Latina experiences in the 20th and 21st centuries. These resources focus on pivotal themes such as the history of immigration, civil rights and the achievements of prominent Latino figures — reshaping the key narratives within our current educational system. 

Today, we are mobilizing to bring attention to these untold stories and to inform educators nationwide about the free resources available to them. With nearly 14 million Latino children comprising over 25% of all K-12 students, it is essential to ensure these students see themselves reflected in U.S. history.  

The goal of these efforts was not merely to produce anecdotes or supplementary materials about Latino history, nor to limit learning to a single celebratory month like Hispanic Heritage Month. Instead, the aim was to weave stories of change and perseverance into the broader narrative of collective American history.

A lack of historical representation affects not only students but shapes how policymakers, business leaders and other influential figures perceive the Latino community. The limited presence of significant Latino contributions in educational materials perpetuates stereotypes and hinders a comprehensive understanding of society. 

Latino stories, contributions and history are often overlooked, viewed as a minor part of the larger narrative and relevant only to the Hispanic community. However, our research reveals numerous Latino stories that have profoundly impacted major movements, including civil rights and voting rights.  

For example, “The impact of Felicitas and Gonzalo Mendez, alongside four other brave families, is a clear example of how Latinos helped change history. Their efforts to successfully desegregate California schools also paved the way for the monumental Brown v. Board of Education decision, since Mendez v. Westminster was the first school segregation case in federal court at a pivotal moment in the fight for equality,” said Viviana López Green, UnidosUS senior director of Racial Equity Initiative. “These are the kinds of stories that need to be shared with all students.”  

Similarly, another overlooked story that played a significant role in shaping American history is the Bracero Program. Between 1942 and 1964, the program brought over four million Mexican laborers to the U.S., helping sustain the nation’s agriculture during and after World War II. Today, a monument in El Socorro, Texas, commemorates their impact on America’s agricultural backbone — a story all students should know and understand — especially since the end of the Bracero Program played a role in setting the stage for increased unauthorized migration across the southern border, an issue dominating today’s headlines.

Classrooms Resources for Educators  

The 15 lesson plans developed in collaboration with Gilder Lehrman over the past year align with Common Core State Standards and are readily available to teachers nationwide.  

Additionally, Gilder Lehrman and UnidosUS have created professional development opportunities, including webinars, to help teachers feel confident bringing these lessons to life in their classrooms. Below is a list of the 3 core unit areas, each containing 5 lessons, for a total of 15 current lesson plans available to educators: 

It should be the birthright of every student in the U.S. to be exposed to the full range of people, events and experienced that have shaped our country from its founding to the present. UnidosUS is dedicated to making this vision a reality, and we’re excited about the opportunity to work closely with educators and the community to expand access to inclusive resources. Together, we can advocate for state and district education boards to adopt textbooks that reflect the Latino experience, and we’re committed to collaborating with states and other accrediting bodies to establish Latino history as a standardized part of academic curricula.

In the meantime, providing educators across the country access to these resources will immediately help close this foundational gap and bring vital history into our classrooms and help students understand that Latino history is U.S. history!