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In November, we commemorate a curious historic occasion: on November 11, 1778, 16 Spanish households arrived in New Orleans.
They got here from Alhaurín de la Torre and its environment, in what’s now the province of Málaga, within the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, and have been the founders of New Iberia.
After the huge territory of Louisiana was ceded to the Spanish Crown in 1763, the Bourbons of the 18th century sought to safe and increase Spanish domains.
Historic Louisiana was not confined to the present state within the southeastern United States; it prolonged from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, serving as a strategic route.
Kings like Carlos III and governors equivalent to Bernardo de Gálvez and Luis de Unzaga acknowledged the necessity to populate and safe these territories.
Between 1778 and 1783, Andalusians, together with Canarians, Cubans, and Balearic Islanders, arrived to strengthen the Spanish presence within the area. These have been years of intense and fruitful commerce, particularly between the ports of New Orleans, Veracruz, and Havana.
This interplay was not restricted to commerce but in addition prolonged to tradition, with enduring parallels as we speak in areas equivalent to gastronomy and music.
Moreover, the Hispanic presence was important in forging the connections that, from the Caribbean to the Mississippi, finally contributed to the independence and formation of the USA.
Lately, Donald Trump requested his viewers whether or not they most well-liked to be referred to as “Latinos” or “Hispanics,” with “Hispanics” successful by a landslide—very like his victory on that event.
Hispanics have at all times been a part of North America, even lengthy earlier than the 18th century. Hispanic heritage arrived in what’s now the USA as early because the sixteenth century and got here to remain, leaving an indelible mark on day by day life.
It reminds us that the primary transatlantic connection was Hispanic, uniting Europe and the Americas and shaping the flavour and way forward for the Western world.
Thus, understanding and valuing our historical past makes us stronger. Once we are assured in who we’re, we will aspire to be a lot extra.
María Herrera Mellado es una abogada respetada, licenciada en EE.UU. y España, con un doctorado en Ciencias Jurídicas y títulos de la Universidad de Granada, la Universidad de Arizona y la Florida Worldwide College. Con amplia experiencia en derecho internacional, inversiones, inmigración, derechos humanos, protección de la privacidad y lucha anticorrupción, ha asesorado a organizaciones y políticos hispanoamericanos. Ha escrito sobre seguridad nacional e inmigración, protección de datos, derecho constitucional, consumo financiero y derecho bancario en revistas internacionales y coescribió libros publicados en Perú y Colombia. Reconocida por su servicio comunitario, es considerada una de las mujeres más influyentes de Florida. Es experta en varios idiomas y participa frecuentemente en debates en canales como Univisión y Telemundo
María Herrera Mellado is a extremely revered legal professional, licensed to observe in each the U.S. and Spain. She holds a PhD in Authorized Sciences and has earned levels from prestigious establishments, together with the College of Granada, the College of Arizona, and Florida Worldwide College.With intensive experience in enterprise legislation, immigration, human rights, shopper safety, privateness safety, and anti-corruption, María has suggested a variety of organizations and Hispanic American politicians. She has printed quite a few articles on information safety and banking legislation in worldwide authorized journals and co-authored books on these subjects, which have been printed in Peru and Colombia. Recognized for her sturdy dedication to group service, María is acknowledged as one of the vital influential girls in Florida. Fluent in a number of languages, she continuously participates in high-profile debates on networks equivalent to Univisión and Telemundo, the place she shares her insights on key authorized and social points.
