Austin DJ’s Suspended For Saying, “Wet Vacs.”
15 October 2009, 12:14 PM. By Cindy Casares
Two Austin morning radio personalities, one of whom is a surnamed Alvarez, repeatedly used the word, “wet vacs,” on-air Monday, knowing that it sounded like they were saying, “wet backs.” “They did not actually use any slur, but they did make foolish and ugly comments for which we sincerely apologize,” Scott Gillmore, Emmis Austin Radio vice president and market manager said to the press later. The company heard a few complaints about the broadcast on Monday, so they immediately took Dipshit and Limey off the air for one week without pay. And, since this is the second station belonging to Emmis Austin Radio to get in trouble for such things since July, the entire on-air staff from all six of their radio stations now has to take diversity training.
Jason Alvarez and Deb O’Keefe, hosts of the “Jason and Deb” morning show on 101.5 FM, (Who should actually just be banned for perpetuating the abusive aural tradition of the FM, morning radio show.) made the comments while discussing what to do about a flooded park in Austin. O’Keefe, who’s English, asked, “Why don’t they just go hire some wet-vacs at Home Depot?” because in England, apparently, they say, “hire,” interchangeably with, “rent.” Presumably Alvarez, an American, thought the play on words was humorous and the two began to repeat the phrase over and over, knowing that it sounded as if they meant “wetbacks.” We have to admit, we would probably would have done the same, although maybe not on the radio, but then again… No, probably not on the radio. Now, in our minds, the fact that Alvarez is possibly Mexican is reason enough to give a pass to this situation. After all, who among us Mexicans doesn’t enjoy a good mojado joke? But most of the folks listening to 101-X have no idea Alvarez is Hispanic since he uses the name Jason “Dick” professionally, (Morning shows.), and he looks like this:
In the words of one Austin listener we interviewed, “I certainly had no idea.” We tried reaching Alvarez for comment via his MySpace page, but we got no answer as of the time of this writing.
Back in July, Austin DJ Don Pryor’s show on KLBJ AM was canceled after Pryor said the “w” word over 30 times on-air.
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This reminds me of a time when I was called a wetback by a dude of Mexican descent who at the time didn’t know that I was also of Mexican descent. We had a good laugh about it afterward.
I think the jokes are funny amongst each other but not when they’re said to entertain white folks. I went to a bbq at a friend of mine’s a couple of years back. The guy is a total coconut and we were the only two brown faces around. He kept saying how he had been working like a wetback all day, getting giggles out of all the annoying queeny white dudes that were there. It annoyed the hell out of me and I finally called him out and left……..after filling up on free drinks of course.
I can’t stand terms like “coconut”, “Twinkie” and “Oreo”.
That’s cool. As long as you’re equally offended by “wetback”.
Nope, not offended by the term. I’ve never been in water before in my entire life, despite growing up near the Pacific Ocean, so I don’t take it personally. I assume the term originates from those that had at one time entered the United States from Mexico by swimming across the Rio Grande. Nowadays, one could easily walk across the Big River and barely get wet. That said, I am most offended by the term “wet ankle”, a vulgar slur if there ever was one.
Well I too have never crossed any body of water to get anywhere illegally but to some my looks, surname or simple knowledge of another language might say differently. So kudos for setting yourself apart from the poors who had to tread water and the next time you come across some racist country dudes in the backwoods who want to beat you down for being brown, make sure to explain to them how different you are from the dirty wetbacks and explain to them the glorious superiority of being a “chicano”. I’m sure they’ll understand and will have a ball of laughs and beers with you. And they probably won’t even call you coconut. Ah harmony.
I was joking, young lady. some of my nearest and dearest had to make that trek across the Rio Grande, though from west to east. But, still, it was hard leaving the old homeland.
God, that reminds me. I hate the term “Chicano” as well. It’s in the screen name because it’s ironical, not because I’m some long lost member of the Brown Berets, a group that would not accept me anyway based on the fact that they I don’t read anything written by Luis Rodriguez, buy my clothes from a department store that engages in sweatshop labor, and a bathe at least once a day.
I’m Chicana and I am none of those things. I am too lazy to be a typical pound-the-pavement activista, but it doesn’t change the environment I was brought up in or what I have been exposed to that has formed that identity and my love for it. Is there some resentment here by being called a pocho or not Mexican “enough” by those militant Xicanos most of us have to deal with at some point in our life? Their rabid identity issues shouldn’t turn you off to learning about the impact and possibilities of Chicano history, art and culture. You might not change your mind, but gaining knowledge is never a waste.
I actually love learning about different histories and cultures and the like. I can say those things about the Brown Berets because I have studied them, known some past members and at one point in my life agreed with most of what they stood for. I can knock the writer Luis Rodriguez because I have read his books and find them to be utterly boring. And I don’t consider myself a Chicano because I never think about labels to describe myself, unless it’s in jest, which is the case with my screen name. But if the label works for you, then by all means use it. I won’t think any less of you for it.
I HATE the term “coconut” with passion. FAR more wrong with that term or the pretenses of using that term IMHO
I hear you, guest. It’s a judgment call. My very best white friends and I make fun of each others’ ethnicity. And, here on Guanabee, we assume our readers are in on a certain joke we try to sustain on the site. But, personally, in a Texas city, on a mainstream radio station, I would be hesitant to use such terminology because you’d have dumb people listening who can’t make a distinction between irony and sincere use of the word.
It doesn’t matter if one of the guys has a Spanish surname. What difference does that make? Racism is racism…
You guys are sad.
I worked in radio before, they want to make it to a larger market (LA, NYC). Alas, poor bastards,…radio is dying. I hope you both get a disease which does not kill you…but really limits your dating.
get over it or move back to mexico so you won’t have to endure such racial slurs!
Unfortunately, they have racial slurs in Mexico too. But thanks for the advice.
woot woot guanabee! you guys are coming up. racist white people are reading now! hell yeah! Racist white person: can you tell your friends all about the site please? kthanksbye
Let’s not jump to conclusions. This person might actually be black.
I’ll take either one
Me too.
you know whats the funniest racial slur? Beaner. I cant imagine being offended if I heard that. Id probably be trying to stifle my laughter. We should all strive to not be offended by the WB word. The less we’re offended, the less power it has and the less it’ll be used. then theyll find some other food to call us by that they can pass off as offensive. “damn those papayas. theyre using all the social services!”
I totally concur, Carola.
Coconut as an insult..please, in Spanish that would mean, “eres un coco”, and everyone knows what that means.PARTY!
So it’s ok for you to call them Dipshit and Limey??????
Sensitive Beaners
Well I for one do not like the terms “beaner, wetback, spic” or whatever else white people like to call us. If you look at me, I don’t even look hispanic. I always get told I look italian, greek, etc. However, you also have to remember the state your in….Texas. Every white person living here who sees someone with brown hair, brown eyes just naturally assumes their Mexican. We all know as Latinos that there are many with the same look that are not all Mexican….but again goes to the ignorance of white people. I can’t blame them because its how they were brought up by thier racist parents. To re-iterate what Carolina said, you can’t even say that on the radio in Austin because the country white people here will just laugh and say “yup, sounds like wetbacks to me”. Despite the number of Latinos in Austin, Austin is still backwoods country and extremely racist. I have many white friends that are accepting of other races so I won’t say all white people are alike because I know thats not true. But a good majority are….and when you turn on the news or open the paper, the majority of crime in Austin is commited by illegal alien Mexicans. It’s a sad fact. I just hate that people generalize us as all the same. And yes, sad to say, there are many what I call “sellouts” Mexicans or other Latinos out there that are racist against their own race. Or even the real dark Mexicans hate another Latino cause he’s not a dark one like he is. It’s stupid! But Mexicans hate too!!!
just because something ins in the paper or in the news does not make it a fact. i’m sure that crimes committed by “illegal alien Mexicans” that are reported upon are communicated as sensationalist to provide some other supposed or suggested societal desire, such as the agenda to kick undocumented people out of the US. and i’m also sure there are plenty of people of all racial backgrounds committing these crimes, only they may not get the proportional percentage of face time in the paper or on the news.