This week, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation announced something we already knew: Sonia Sotomayor and Junot Díaz are bosses. At its 29th annual award ceremony in September, HHF will give Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor the Leadership Award and Pulitzer Prize winning author Díaz the Literature Award. In the non-profit’s 29-year history, the 65th Infantry Regiment Borinqueneers, Voto Latino’s Maria Teresa Kumar, Diego Luna, and Dora the Explorer have received recognition.
HHF lists the accomplishments that make Sotomayor and Díaz worthy of this award, but really all HHF had to do was call them heroes. As the first Latina on the Supreme Court, Sonia brings a necessary viewpoint to the United States’ highest court. The shero has time and again shown the value of diverse voices in the judicial system.
As for Junot, his work has brought him great acclaim, but he’s also given the Dominican community higher visibility through his writing. “He is a transcendent, truthful story teller who is informed by his community, roots and experiences,” said Jose Antonio Tijerino, president and CEO of HHF, in a press release. “Most of all, Junot writes with impact. Our Honorees embody what it is to be real Americans and a source of inspiration for Latinos. The Hispanic community has made significant contributions throughout history, and we are proud to recognize that impact in the present and the future as well.”
Personally, I can’t wait for those acceptance speeches; you know they’re going to be inspirational AF.
The 29th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards will take place September 22, 2016, at the historic Warner Theatre in Washington, DC.
