Thanks Macy’s, but this isn’t “celebrating,” this is selling.

According to the U.S. government, September is Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of Hispanic culture, heroes and holidays. The White House has had Latin music, NFL players have read to underprivileged children and the Smithsonian website hosts a picture of Celia Cruz with merengue playing in the background. I love me some salsa, but there’s something about this month that irks me.

First of all, the very word Hispanic is problematic. “Hispanic” defines someone by Spanish, the language of the people who colonized them. I don’t want to be defined by the violent encounter that was colonization, but even if I did, my ancestors were colonized by Portugal, not by ...