Blue Corn Comics -- Outside the So-Called Ethnic Box

Outside the So-Called Ethnic Box
(9/19/01)

Another response to Outside the So-Called Ethnic Box—a letter to the LA Times, 7/9/01:

Latino Pride in Progress Is Not Racist

Re "Don't Mistake the Parts for the Whole in L.A.," Commentary, July 6: Gregory Rodriguez got it partly right, partly wrong. Increasing Latino clout could probably be characterized as an incorporation into and rearticulation of mainstream life, at least in many cosmopolitan areas of the country, such as Los Angeles. Rodriguez is obviously wrong to suggest that there are no overarching shared ethnic experiences for Latinos. He is contradicted by the experiences of racial profiling, by public opinion polls on civil rights issues and the 80% Latino voter support won by Antonio Villaraigosa.

Rodriguez cleverly linked the rise of Latino elected officials and Latino population to Amitai Etzioni's quote about the browning of America. In doing so, Rodriguez implied that Latino pride in Latino progress is racist. I wish he would cut it out. It has been a constructive part of the American tradition for the rise of a racial/ethnic community to be applauded for its contribution to America. When Americans look back at President John F. Kennedy, they will first see a great American hero. But it certainly is not wrong for Irish Americans, Catholics or all Americans to applaud JFK's breakthrough and leadership role for Irish Americans and Catholics as well.

JEFFREY HERNANDEZ
Los Angeles

Ruben Chavez's reply
I definitely agree with Mr. Hernandez. With his comments in mind, it is even more so for minorities to take pride in their culture and contributions to American society [except] for the one simple fact [that] there's a large void of adequate representation of them in the media, politics and the corporate world. This has allowed many young minorities to grow up not realizing their self-worth or potential. It might sound ridiculous, but not when you think about it. If you are a young Latino or Indian boy, when was the last time you saw a Latino or Native American on your favorite TV program or movie, and if by a wild chance that you do, it is almost always a negative stereotype.

When we first started raising my nephew at age 11, he had confided to me that he wished he was white and not Hispanic. I asked him why? He said look around you, they do all the cool stuff. I understood what he meant. There are no Black Supermans or Latino Batmans and John Wayne is no Indian, so who does he look up to? In my household I teach no one is better than another, and one color is no lesser than another. But for positive reinforcement, I taught him his culture and the contributions that Latinos, including what other minority groups did for America, with that kind of training, he is now very comfortable with his place in the world and has friends from all walks of life, with his friends not being governed by color.

Ruben

*****

Rob's reply
>> This has allowed many young minorities to grow up not realizing their self-worth or potential. It might sound ridiculous, but not when you think about it. <<

I don't think it's ridiculous. Our TV shows, schools, churches, and other institutions all reinforce the idea that white is normal. The effect is pervasive, all-consuming. White people don't think of it, because normal is normal to them. But minorities obviously do think of it.

(If you don't think it extends to churches, consider what color God, the Virgin Mary, Jesus, the 12 apostles, the saints, and the angels usually are. Are God and his angels, not to mention the Semitic people of the Middle East, really pink-skinned?)

>> When we first started raising my nephew at age 11, he had confided to me that he wished he was white and not Hispanic. I asked him why? He said look around you, they do all the cool stuff. <<

This is an important point. The critics always tell minorities to be tough and "get over it," in effect. But children can't rationalize the lack of role models in the media and compensate for it. They react directly and emotionally to what they perceive.

Rob

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