1962— KMEX goes on the air. The station becomes the seed of what would eventually become Univision, one of the largest Spanish-language media companies in the world.
2000
First Latin Grammy Awards. Held in Los Angeles, the inaugural Latin Grammy gala brought together artists such as Gloria Estefan, Ricky Martin, Shakira, Carlos Santana, Luis Miguel, and Maná. Broadcast to more than 100 countries, the ceremony marked the moment Latin music claimed its place on the global stage.
1975— Eddie Palmieri wins a historic Grammy. The Puerto Rican-American musician wins the fi rst Grammy ever awarded in a Latin music category. His groundbreaking fusion of salsa and Latin jazz carried Latino music to the heart of American culture.
1979— U. S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce founded. Led by pioneers such as Héctor Barreto Sr., the Chamber was created to promote Hispanic-owned businesses and economic opportunity across the country.
2003— First Latino Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz becomes the fi rst Latino to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, for his play Anna in the Tropics. His recognition opened new horizons for Latino voices in theater.
2005— Antonio Villaraigosa elected Mayor of Los Angeles. Becoming the fi rst Latino mayor of Los Angeles in more than 130 years— a historic milestone refl ecting the growing political infl uence of Hispanic communities.
2009— Sonia Sotomayor joins the Supreme Court. Born in the Bronx to Puerto Rican parents, Sonia Sotomayor is confi rmed by the Senate as a Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court— the fi rst Latina and fi rst woman of color to reach the nation’ s highest court. Her trajectory symbolizes the transforming power of education and perseverance.
1988— El Clasificado founded. The publication was founded in East Los Angeles during the Hispanic boom of the 1980s as a marketplace for Spanish-speaking immigrants seeking opportunities in the U. S.
2016— Porto’ s Bakery named best place to eat in the United States by Yelp. The beloved Cuban bakery became the fi rst in Southern California to reach the top spot, based on customer reviews and popularity. Porto’ s became the fi rst bakery in Southern California to reach the fi rst position.
1990— First Latina Surgeon General of the United States. Dr. Antonia Novello, born in Puerto Rico, is appointed Surgeon General by President George H. W. Bush— the fi rst woman and fi rst Latina to hold that position.
1994— Spanish-language television conquers Englishlanguage TV. Univision surpasses major English-language networks in viewership among adults aged 18 – 34 in several key markets, marking a turning point in the media industry and in the recognition of the economic weight of the U. S. Latino community.
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2017—“ Despacito” the moststreamed Latin song in history. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’ s track becomes the most-watched video on YouTube to date and the most successful Spanish-language song of all time.
2026— A nation turning 250 with one in five residents of Latino origin. In the year the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the Hispanic community reaches an unprecedented milestone: more than 68 million Latinos— 20 % of the population— are shaping the cultural and economic face of the country. A fi gure that surpasses the population of Spain.
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