Pondering UNITE-HERE's SPanish language ad against Hillary Clinton, it occurs to me that this year we're looking for the first time in ages at meaningful primary contests in a whole bunch of states -- Nevada, New York, Florida, California, New Jersey, Illinois -- with large Hispanic populations. And yet our major national newspapers, The New York Times and The Washington Post, are sorely lacking in token Hispanic columnists. In case anyone else is pondering this, I'd just like to note that I'm available....
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More and Better Tokenism
18 Jan 2008 09:37 am
Comments (31)
Maybe you haven't been called, because you're perceived not to be a "real" Latino. Like Barack Obama, whose racial identity has been endlessly questioned, do real Latinos go to Harvard and write theses on John Rawls?
"Available?" How does David Bradley feel about this?
Lose some weight, dye the hair blonde, get rid of the beard, and just to be sure get a gender switcharoo. And the last name should be more like Salias or some other shorter one.
There are lots of hispanic reporters here in the backwaters of San Diego TV wasteland.
No se puede.
The reason why Mr. Yglesias wouldn't fill the bill as a token Hispanic is the fact that his other minority status is already well covered by Richard Cohen, Charles Krauthammer, and David Broder.
I do not know how much you really feel close to the Latino experience in the United States
http://www.amazon.ca/Tristan-Hispanics-Jose-Yglesias/dp/0671673351
Dude, you have been "un Cubano Arrepentido" so many times it is pathetic. But, I like you anyways.
Ana Menendez of the Miami Herald would be good at the Times.
Actually, they should probably hire Ralph Reed instead to fill that "ethnic columnist" slot.
After all, he looks like he's the older brother of the next (presumed) President of Mexico...
Broder is Jewish ?
But Cubans generally reject the "Hispanic" tag, right Matt? They don't like it.
Yeah, who knew Broder was Jewish? He's in the "American JEws" category on wikipedia, so I guess it must be true.
What Stav said. I like you just fine Matt, but Cuban you just ain't.
Do you even speak Spanish, Matt?
Now I see what your goals are Mr. Y. You want to be a Broder, a Krautenhimer. You want to write for the times and be on the Sunday shows (hence the Table). The very things you mock. I suppose you think you will be different. That you are made of stronger stuff and will not succumb to the pressures that have distorted and disfigured all those who have come before. You, I'm sure, belive you will use you power for good. Well, Mr. Yglesisa, I recommend to you the story of Aniken Skywalker. He thought he could control the dark forces, but ended up falling legless into a volcano. He spent the rest of his career a puppet. Is that what you want Mr. Y? To walk around in robotic pajamas for the rest of your life?
This whole silly business reminds me a little of "Geraldo" Rivera, perhaps America's most prominent "Latino" television journalist.
Didn't someone mention that he'd announced that he planned to "move back home to Israel" and run for a Knesset seat?...
Bag to differ, the quota on bad columnists is full; we don't need your help.
Re SLC's comment "The reason why Mr. Yglesias wouldn't fill the bill as a token Hispanic is the fact that his other minority status is already well covered by Richard Cohen, Charles Krauthammer, and David Broder."
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SLC forgot "you know who":
http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080111/i/r1475832859.jpg
But only on Saturdays.
PS
SLC, I know you could use a good laugh. So I'll let you know that I found out from my son over Thanksgiving that he has pledged a fraternity at his university. Zeta Beta Tau.
Such a nice GREEK name...
Cubans do use the term "Hispanic", but not "Latino", which seems to be more dominant among Mexican-Americans.
"...sorely lacking in token Hispanic columnists. In case anyone else is pondering this, I'd just like to note that I'm available...."
You made a funny. But really, toss enough 'tokens' into the mix, and pretty soon the name the token 'represents' becomes non-ethnic, like Italians, Irish, or Swedes. Hell, outside of Minnesota, people assume my surname is Jewish.
Re Don Williams
I take it that Mr. Williams' son is not attending Regent, Bob Jones, or Liberty University.
Cubans do use the term "Hispanic", but not "Latino", which seems to be more dominant among Mexican-Americans.
CG:
Actually, I don't think this is correct.
I'd say that the term "Hispanic" has generally been dominant outside California, including among the overwhelming Mexican-American populations of Colorado, Texas, etc. as well as among the Cubans and other East Coast groups. But since California's Latin-American population is so huge and it's also the co-center of America's media, the term "Latino" is nationally at least on a par with "Hispanic."
I'd say there's also a slight ideological tinge, with "Latino" being considered vaguely more "progressive" or "rising" a term than Hispanic. Partly for that reason, lots of the younger media/political elite types (whether Anglo or not) on the East Coast have sometimes started using that term as well, so it might eventually become completely dominant.
The federal government uses the term "Hispanic" in official categories, such as the Census, while the term "Latino" is more popular in California. On the other hand, California Latinos, despite their enormous numbers, are remarkably un-influential in the national media, so "Latino" hasn't made that much progress. I use them interchangeably, as synonyms, although I know some people have strong opinions about how one is racist and the other isn't ("We're not Spanish -- We're Latin!" or vice-versa).
The reality underlying Matt's joke is the amazing lack of influence of Spanish-surnamed people in the media, despite Hispanics now outnumbering blacks by a considerable margin. Indeed, if Geraldo Rivera does what's he talked about and retires to his home in Israel to run for the Knesset, Matt would have a good shot at working his way up in a few years to being the most prominent Spanish surnamed journalist.
The remarkable lack of competition from Hispanics at elite levels in American society helps explain the striking gap in attitudes toward illegal immigration between elites and the general public. If you are a construction worker, Hispanic immigration has a had a large and detrimental impact on the competition you face for work and wages, but if you are a pundit, not so much.
Before going for the brass ring, MattY should check this out: search.
Granted, that's a very fringe group (despite having links to those who have links to Democratic politicians), but the extremists whose favor MattY would court would reject him, preferring someone who's a Chicano.
re: hispanic v. latino
Back in my Tucson days, it was all anglos and latinos... and los indios, with the Tohono O'odham rez abutting the city limits.
"Matt would have a good shot at working his way up in a few years to being the most prominent Spanish surnamed journalist."
If Matt were a journalist...
OTOH, Geraldo ain't no journalist, either. But if he goes to Israel, by all means, Israel deserves him. He can't be any worse than the freaks they have running that country now (or running this one, for that matter.)
Re Richard Steven Hack
The only thing the current leaders of the US and Israel have in common is their massive level of incompetence. Along with Mr. Abbas, the current titular head of the PLO.
By the way, Geraldo Riveras' real name is Gerald Rivers, much like Michael Savages' real name is Michael Weiner.
Comments closed February 01, 2008.
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Heads in the Sand
Heh. You would be a fine addition irrespective of your admirable ethnic background.
What would be interesting though is the type of columnist you describe would be the typical "Latino" reporter that we see at many city dailies.
I know you are snarking and I do not know how much you really feel close to the Latino experience in the United States but I feel certain you could get it if you dedicated some time to it.
Plus then you could write about the other big issues that you cover well.
I'm pulling for you.
Posted by Armando | January 18, 2008 9:45 AM