1845: the year Latinos first contributed to American history, according to most history books, which excludes Latino presence/influence prior to that date. The truth, however, is that Latinos have had an extensive history in the United States that began three centuries prior to what textbooks indicate. Latinos have a drawn-out U.S. existence that is second only to the Native Americans. Prior to the Pilgrims appearance in Plymouth Rock, explorer/Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon arrived in 1512, exploring "La Florida," which he named.

Because of racist/anti-Hispanic sentiment and recent concerns about immigration policies and laws, it's advantageous for lawmakers to undermine the importance of American history by limiting access to ethnic studies classes in schools throughout the country, therefore veiling the ways in which Latinos have contributed to this country over the last 500 years; and it keeps students bound to Anglo successes in "traditional" history books. Strategies for removing Latino-centric studies from the curriculum vary throughout the country. Some states limit Mexican-American books in schools, under the doctrine that they are "un-American," and some states cite budget cuts and low enrollment for cancellation of courses.

The issue with "traditional" history books and "traditional" history courses is that they function under the assumption that no one notices that minorities are both underrepresented in the text, and also misrepresented. During grade school, children will receive a year's education that will drum in White American history, and one curt month of African American history, while skirting over Latino American history.

Most children will never know about encounters between Native Americans and Latinos during the 1500s, but they will all know about and celebrate "founder" Christopher Columbus, who once remarked about Native Americans, "They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance.... They would make fine servants.... With 50 men we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want." And, during his second voyage to the Americas, that's exactly what he did.

In 1516, Capt. Alonso Pineda mapped the coast of Mexico to include Texas. Vasquez de Ayllon was the first Hispanic to establish a village; Alvar Nunew Cabeza de Vaca and his soldiers were the first Hispanics and non-Native Americans to arrive on Texas soil; Hernando de Soto was the first governor of Florida in 1539. Juan Rodriguez Carrillo established the first church in the country; and Juan de Onate founded New Mexico.

Hispanics history in America is longwinded, which is a fact that has been buried under concerns of undocumented immigration, and desires to cap the ever-growing Latino population.