Covering The Coverage: NY Times Unearths Poor, Uneducated Hispanic Person
18 April 2009, 5:05 PM. By Cindy Casares
Under the guise of “cultural sensitivity” the press continues to focus on poor, uneducated Latino immigrants while ignoring those who have college educations and have been in this country for generations.
Here’s how the New York Times’ Jason Depearle introduces the most recent subjects of Remade In America, a Times series that examines, “America’s newest immigrants.” Because that’s so cutting edge.
Some had rap sheets, and some had babies. Some had gang tattoos. Most had immigrant parents with menial jobs who survived on sweat and worry.
An American-born daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, Jesselyn was 19 years old with a smooth face and a friendly air; her MySpace name was Gigglez. But she had an eighth-grade education, a gang history and an ex-boyfriend in prison for murder. Off the streets though not free of them, she was studying for a high school equivalency diploma and working at the mall.
Last week, they profiled an Indian guy who works in the high-tech industry. Way to dig beneath the surface of ethnic stereotypes, New York Times. Yes, there are a lot of poor Latino immigrants without an education. That isn’t exactly blowing the lid off anything. And if writing about them ad nauseum was helping anyone, there wouldn’t be so many of them. How about focusing a little more on role models for these kids? Or just people who aren’t fucking losing. (This week’s article was actually titled, “Where Failing Is Fitting In.”) Maybe then, kids like Jesselyn wouldn’t say:
I thought the American dream was just meant for white people. The big house with the two beautiful kids, the dream car, and the dream career — when the hell you hear a Spanish has that?
All over the place, Jesselyn. Unfortunately, though, they’re not in The New York Times. A paper that is supposed to represent the best journalism this country has to offer.
Struggling to Rise in Suburbs Where Failing Means Fitting In [New York Times]
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Your dead on Cindy! I know plenty of Latinos, myself included, who have and continue to beat the odds, have gotten degrees and are striving personally as well as professionally. But I guess this fact is not sensational enough to focus on and write about. ugh.
Did that fool just say “a Spanish?” Jesus.
Sorry to say, I know very little Latinos in higher education, most are indeed like the young girl, in the article, That doesn’t mean they have to belittle them and feel sorry. This girl could be ta future CEO or just a better person with a better future, like most kids. A lot of professional Latinos, are very elitist and only hang out with white people, because apparently, they feel they are better people if they do, while at the same time, our kids are failing academically and emotionally on all levels because NOBODY GIVES A DAMN ABOUT THEM.
We need to take care of our kids, whether they be hood rats or Ivy League professionals, immigrants or generational Latinos, we should care and give a damn and grant them opportunity beyond gangs and drugs and unwanted kids, we should pay more attention to our kids. We think that buying them gadgets and expensive shoes are going to replace our love and attention, that is why our kids end up in gangs, because they think gangs will give them the attention and love they want, and eventually die as a result or end up in jail or deported. Ay Dios mio!