It is not quite true that Latinos are the only minority group subjected to uncontested media racisim.
For years the media, and Hollywood particularly, showed Arabs and Muslims in offensive racist stereo types. With no consequences.
But your point is well taken.
It is appalling to sit back and watch the concerted campaign of hatred aimed at Latinos and immigrants. For students in the future when they want to study how Americans were manipulated to demonize a particular group of people this will be an excellent case study.
Another classic example is the propaganda campaign against Gays and Lesbians. I remember watching Sunday morning television shows sponsored by Pat Robinson and Jerry Falwell back in th 1980's that were nothing less than propaganda hate campaigns targeted at the "Radical Gay Agenda".
It was the model for the more recent campaign against Latinos.
We have a word for these people in the American political lexicon. They are NO NOTHINGS. For the political party of that name from the 1850's.
In some ways America never changes.
The Media's Latino Rules
It is estimated that about 80% of Latinos voted for then City Councilman now Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa when he first ran. I was in the 20% that didn't. Over the years I have treated the Mayor on my show as I have treated all elected officials or candidates regardless of their party affiliation or race. That is: when they do something good I encourage it and when they are doing dumb things I say so. I am -- in this order -- an American, a Latino , a progressive, and finally a Democrat.
I say this so that you can understand that my reaction to Rush Limbaugh's comment that he mistook Mayor Villaraigosa as a "shoeshine guy" is not a knee-jerk reaction based on partisanship. It is a reaction as an American of Latino decent that quite frankly is tired of the media's Latino rules.
As a member of the largest minority ethnic group and a member of the media, I am continually puzzled and outraged by the idea that anyone can say anything about Latinos without fearing any consequence. While it would be out outrageous for anybody to have said a similar thing about an elected official of almost any other ethnicity, Rush will certainly not receive any heat at all for supposedly "mistaking" the Latino Mayor of the nation's second largest city as a shoeshine guy.
There will be no national debate about whether he should step down as there was when Imus referred to a women's basketball team in a derogatory fashion. There will be no national outrage like there was following the racist vocal vomiting of "comedian" Michael Richards. There will be no slam down and painful lame excuses like those offered by Mel Gibson after his anti-Semitic comments. The rules for Latinos are different.
Rush, Lou Dobbs, and a host of shock jocks are well aware of this different set of rules. Dobbs & Rush inc. can freely accuse Latinos of spreading Leprosy and TB, of raping children, and even planning the violent overthrow of the US, without any proof whatsoever.
While the silence around these comments is consistent, media heads are wrong to believe that they bring no negative impact. Someday, CNN will understand that most Latinos laugh when we hear the slogan " the most trusted name in news". Radio advertisers will eventually come to the realization that there is a correlation between radio market share loss, the growth of Latino populations in certain and important markets, and anti-Latino hate speech dominating the airwaves.
It seems that there is a growing consensus that we have moved past the stage of asking media figures to be removed for racism and sexism, a consensus of which I find myself to be a part. In place of firing Rush & Dobb Inc., broadcast outlets must be pressured to increase racial diversity and diversity of opinion on their platforms. How those diversity standards are enforced should be voluntary. However if voluntary action is not taken now, future majorities may act legislatively. Broadcast outlets should remember that in America, shoeshine guys elect members of Congress and their sons and daughters sometimes even become them.
Mario Solis-Marich is a radio talk show host that can be heard at www.GoToMario.com.
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Jeez.
KNOW NOTHINGS
The best way to hurt people like Rush is to get them economically. Boycott the scum--don't listen to their programs. I should add that Rush and others do not have the clout people think they do. That is a good thing. The problem however is that they should be taken to court for hate speech etc.. There is a growing movement about to take the likes of Rush down. It is a bit slow but it will happen.
Not to worry.Rush Limbaugh's days as "America's Anchor Man" are numbered. Ironicaly it would be by his own hand. Even though I'm an Obama supporter, I would love to see HRC rally and not only win the nomination,but go on and win the presidency Wouldn't it be worth it to watch his fan base desert the stinking blowhard and have his ratings drop through the flloor? Operation chaos indeed. The only real chaos is in his own mind.
Strange, bassman. You are very different from all of the many Obama supporters I know. Based on your own contradictory rant, I think we can figure out where the real chaos is, and it isn't in Sen. Obama's mind. (Hint: Look in the mirror. That smoke pouring out of your own ears should give you a clue.)
Mr. Solis-Marich is right on in his assessments. ALL elected officials are deserving of respect (unless or until they participate in words or actions that denigrate themselves or others). Many pundits have become so convinced of their own self-importance, that they have divorced themselves from the very same principals of common decency that they bleat about others not having. Thanks for a great and much needed article!
Rush Limbaugh is our national racist. He sits near the throne of corporate America and is well protected. When Katie Couric started at CBS News one of her first guests was Rush Limbaugh. A democratic society would not embrace his racist slurs. Rush is one example, however small, of why corporate rule must be defeated, so that decency and civility return.
I'm a Rush fan and guess what... he also say he could of also been Secret Service and either way... Lighting Up! Can you take a joke?
I'm a Rush fan..
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...nuff said...
...go get that checked...
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TheJibreelaMonsters, do you, your mother, your father, and your grandfather like your new trailer? How are the three of you getting along?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpyMR2jXzCg
I'm not very tech, but if the link doesn't work, it's a video about immigration to the US, Pal Norte by Calle 13. there are three versions, the best one begins with a leg that has some crud on it from the water that the immigants wade through.
In a better world, Limbaugh would've lost his access to the airwaves for the racism he's been spouting for the better part of two decades years ago. He's picking on a group that society sees as a softer target for sure, don't get me wrong. But if this is the first time you've realized that Limbaugh's a hatemonger, I find myself curious as to where you've been since the Reagan years.
Dobbs is married to a mexican-american. What a racist he must be!!!!!
Otherwise known as the "my best friend is (fill in the minority here) so I couldn't possibly be bigoted" defense.
Racism is not as simple as harboring personal animosity towards people with different skin pigmentation. Racism is built into the institutions of this country. It systematically privileges some people and disadvantages other people.
It's not enough to just refrain from lynching folks of color. Americans (of every hue, but especially white Americans, like me) must do MORE to combat racism. It's not enough to not make dumb jokes about shoe shine guys. We've got to speak up AGAINST this idiocy.
Whether or not his wife is Mexican is completely irrelevant. It is bad logic on your part. It has not stopped him from making his insane racist arguments, from using data and charts provided by a Nazi-umbrella group, and from outright lying to his audience. He has used graphics produced by Nazis and tried to pass it off as a graphic produced by Mexican-Americans. He falsely claimed that Mexicans started a leprosy epidemic and he still has not admitted on air that that was a complete lie started by a woman that claimed to be a doctor without disclosing that she was NOT a medical doctor. His wife's ethnic background has had absolutely no influence on him. She must be more of a pet than an equal partner and that is racist in itself.
The's called "The Appeal To Melanin".
Poor ugly, fat, dumb, Limbaugh. Envy against an intelligent, capable, charming, good looking guy, its not a pretty picture.
For along time I have thought that if the various segments of our society who want equaliy and are trying to make their voices heard joined together to fight for human rights they would have a bigger impact. It seems though that each group is so worried about their rights they do not care what kind of prejudice or bias another group suffers.
You really have a point there. It almost reminds me - and this will be an unflattering visual, but I think it has merits - of dogs fighting over a bone. Worried about the little bit they have, and not wanting to share a bit of it with anyone else.
It is so unfortunate that race and class are so closely linked in this country. Is it really like this in other places?
What's so bizarre about this is that the Mayor is the last guy you would objectively call a shoeshine guy. I've seen him many times and he is always impeccably dressed, even to the point of narcissism. I think Limbaugh should be made to shine his shoes.
Most people don't feel much guilt or outrage over anti-Latino ethnic slurs compared to when people make anti-black or anti-semitic comments. For historical reasons, it just doesn't hit most people in the gut when they hear whites make anti-Latino comments like it does when someone makes a blatantly anti-black or anti-semitic comment. Thus, the muted response from the media over Limbaugh's shameful comment.
In addition, as a result of the real and perceived impact of massive illegal immigration from Latin America on this country, many people actually think that a lot of anti-Latino sentiment is justified. Most don't support blatant race-baiting a la Limbaugh, but they feel prevented from expressing legitimate grievances at Latinos without being accused of racism. This often leads to a backlash, which mutes people's reaction to anti-Latino comments. For instance, the immigrant rights' parades from a couple of years ago when immigrants, many illegal, were waving Mexican (and other foreign) flags, while protesting American immigration policy, created a lot of unexpressed, unresolved hostility.
I agree. The history is different.
But underneath it all, the sentiment is most definitely the same. A person of pigment is always a convenient scape-goat for any societal ill you can imagine, to a person who doesn't want to take responsibility for their own failures or for just plain old bad luck.
I can't say I'm entirely certain why so many people are anti-immigration. The overwhelming majority of illegal immigrants work jobs that Americans don't want and don't pursue (thereby CREATING a need for immigrant help), so they're not "stealing jobs". They're not legally allowed to use social services, which means they need false paperwork to do so. But in return, they're paying taxes into Social Security which they will not be able to get back.
Not to mention, they are purchasing goods, which stimulates the economy? Many of them also set up their own stores, which I can only imagine contributes to the economy in a positive way.
It's downright disturbing how many people feel as though the resources and wealth we have in this country can't support "everyone". It's a sad thing when human beings are begrudged coming here to get food for their families, when every day we throw away half-eaten food, when many of us go to massive football fields and stadiums and golf courses for enjoyment, when we sit around waiting to buy the newest unnecessary Apple gadget with our surplus of money.
Sometimes this country can be downright mean.
HuffPost's Pick
I'm a small second hand store owner, a white woman. When I need help, I go to the worker resource center and hire a Latino day worker. I have advertised for $10 hour cash, no one ever shows up. But when I hire Latinos, except for a few, they work hard and complain NEVER. They eat if you offer, otherwise they go hungry. Many contractors in their big fancy pickups stiff the guys after working them half to death.
Now here's my point, I listen to the stories of these workers. They are heartbreaking. Guys who haven't seen their kids in 10 years, but send every penny to their mother back home. They endure this to feed their families. What crime is that? They live in disgusting, crowded poverty circumstances and are treated by most people like vermin. Except when they need their help.
I am so sick of the racism against these mostly hardworking people who are simply trying to survive. Everytime some white couple comes in my store, tells me they live in Mexico for the winter, I ask if they can speak Spanish. I've yet to meet one person who does, yet they scream about Latinos not speaking English. These Americans have gone in droves to Puerta Vallarta, & other American settled areas. They don't mind the cheap Mexican labor, but they sure love using up all the beautiful beaches for their own playgrounds.
Thanks for a great post. I am really sick of the ugly American.
Groucho..thank you that post. Elites are the same everywhere.. here or in Mexico.
groucho: Thank your for your beautiful post.
A Latina.
So Groucho in other words you are saying that you are breaking the law. You hire ILLEGAL ALIENS to work for you. You should be heavily fined and the ILLEGAL ALIENS that you hire should be deported.
Groucho wrote a thoughtful post. clr2, you must never eat out in a restaurant, because there are probably undocumented workers there, and you wouldn't want to support illegal activity. You probably don't eat vegetables because you would be supporting illegal activity. You probably don't eat meat because you know who are working in the meat-packing plants. You probably don't every travel because you would have to worry about who is cleaning your room. As you know, you yourself would be committing an illegal act if you purposely aid and abet someone committing a crime. ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL!
Go Mario!
HuffPost's Pick
Ugh.
You know, I'll be honest, I am sometimes so wrapped up in black-oriented racism (I'm black) that I don't think about the racism that other minorities must be experiencing. Reading this just made me very sad to realize that Latinos are where blacks were at one point, in terms of social/political progress, with the freedom that the media has to make fun of them and ostracize them publicly.
This is a great piece, dude. Thanks for opening my eyes.
I also agree with educating instead of firing. Firing only causes deeper resentment. Education, at least, would filter out those with poor home training from those who are genuinely hateful, and perhaps teach the former to keep their mouths shut and their opinions to themselves.
It isn't just the media poking fun at them, though. Do you realize that the first time I've seen a Mexican scientist on television or in film was just the other day? It was such a shocking and unexpected thing that I realized the incredible media disparity going on. There really is no positive representation outside of some musicians/singers.
What I don't understand is this - there seems to be some kind of active dislike going on between the hispanic community and the black community, when we are basically in the same boat. If these two demographics would join together instead of in-fighting, I imagine that we'd be able to really crack down on this kind of blatant and accepted racism.
I know that it is not right to generalize.
But most of the Latino immigrants, legal or otherwise how would I know? I have met have been genuinely nice people.
There are excellent arguments against increased immigration. But racism isn't one of them. And that is exactly what we see with Lou Dobbs and the rest of the demonization of "illegals." (Notice once they call them "illegals" they are free to insult them any way they choose. And you cannot make a comeback. THEY ARE ILLEGAL!")
Almost all come here to work. How can that be criminal behavior?
But if you listen to Dobbs and his clones you would think working and bettering your life was the equivilant of armed robbery.
During the 1950's there was segregation in South Texas, with signs in store windows saying "NO Mexicans". This was after Mexican-Americans fought and died in WWII. I saw a documentary on PBS that showed the farm workers and their families living in squalor. One Mexican-American soldier was refused burial in his home town because the town's cemetery was only for whites.
Maybe Rush's befuddled brain can't comprehend that there are a lot of Hispanic surnames among the soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I think there are people who are trying to divide us. As a Latina, I love my black friends. Certain people takes pleasure on division. This are the same people who always need somebody to hate. I hope we are smarter than that, and we find a common purpose in life.
There are definitely people who are trying to divide us. I will not let myself be baited into hating Latinos by xenophobic whites.
The liberal MSM are the experts in division. Who do you think came up with red states vs. blue states? Rich vs. poor, white vs. black, Hispanic vs. Caucasian, haves vs. have not"s, you get it? And three of the biggest race baiters, Jackson, Sharpton and Wright, depend financially on stirring the racial pot. They have to be secretly rooting against Obama.
what do you expect in a country where open hatred for mexicans is equated with patriotism? even on the huffpost, you have "progressives" who become rabid when immigration is raised as an issue. to the xenophobes out there, we're all shoe shine boys, undocumented, lawn care workers, etc. who can be abused, insulted, and discounted.
mexamerican, you also have "progressives" who become rabid when black issues are brought up. They are more in evidence right about now than they ever have been. That said, I agree with you completely.
Immigration doesn't divide us ILLEGAL ALIENS do.
No the corporate media, their hacks and flacks, the power bosses, the richest 1% and theior lackeys. They are the people who are dividing us.
They fear that someday your average American will wake up and realize that they have been played as fools for years with the politics of racial division.
That is the way to keep the peasants under control. Create artificial divisions over meaningless issues like race so they don't rise up in the middle of the night and butcher the bosses in their sleep.
Race has nothing to do with it. It is about legal immigration and ILLEGAL ALIENS.
When I walked into NYU in 1998 to hand in my Creative Portfolio, the woman asked me if she needed to sign for it or anything. I just didn't understand what she meant. Then she got embarrassed. It's true I wasn't dressed spiffy. I have ink on my arms. Delivery boy!
Posted May 6, 2008 | 03:03 PM (EST)