I’m writing an article on stereotypes about White people. I’m hoping TIME magazine might publish it.
A Latino professor recently went to Puerto Rico, where there are hardly any White people, and the island residents all came back with the same stereotypical sentiments about this group.
White people walk their children on leashes. White children run over their parents, always. White people are experts on other people’s cultures. White people are more likely to wage jihad against the American people. Oh, and they all put their parents in nursing homes instead of caring for them on their own.
Sound pretty ridiculous and racist, right? That’s because they are those things. Those stereotypes are not true and, no, I’m not really writing an article for TIME’s consideration, nor is there a Latino professor surveying Puerto Ricans on White people.
It would be absurd to write an article, and have it published for that matter, on stereotypes that aren’t true. I wouldn’t want to write an article about stereotypes, except today of course, unless it was absolutely necessary and newsworthy, because, frankly, as a journalist, the mere fact that you’re writing on unfair perceptions, reinforces them. Does one group’s speculative opinion on another group warrant coverage, especially when the first group really doesn’t know what the hell it’s talking about?
TIME wouldn’t publish an article like this, right?
Think again.
“Stereotypes Persist Even Where Immigrants Don’t,” by Jeffery Kluger did exactly what I just described. The purpose of the article was to demonstrate that, in a state where Hispanics comprise only 2.5 percent of the population (ethnic minorities make up 3 percent), conservative talking heads, like Lou Dobbs, and the anti-immigrant sentiments they express, actually shape the minds of White Americans with stereotypes of immigrant groups.
Mind blowing.
Specifically, it addresses a study by two college professors who surveyed more than 2,100 Ohioans about their attitudes toward four groups: Europeans, Asians, Middle Easterners and Latinos, specifically asking them about each group’s intelligence, income levels, self-sufficiency, ability to assimilate, and proclivity toward violence. Remember, 3 percent of the population.
The results weren’t that surprising, especially for Latinos.
Asians are the smartest. You have to be kidding me.
Latinos are the most uneducated. Are you serious?
Latinos and Middle Easterners swept first and second place, respectively, in being prone to violence. Really, I’m stunned.
Oh, and Europeans are the most likely to assimilate. Fascinating!
Please, pick up my sarcasm, because it’s not fascinating and it’s not newsworthy. It’s a form of lazy journalism in a time when it has to be opposite of that; in a time when hate crimes are shooting through the roof; in a time when stories that breathe humanistic life into dividing issues, like immigration, have to be told; in a time when it’s what we don’t know about immigrant groups that needs to be at the center of news coverage.
It doesn’t take a seasoned journalist or editor to know that there are way more relevant opinions on immigrant groups, which are equally way more deserving of a TIME platform. Try people who co-exist with immigrant groups on a daily basis and love or hate them.
I’m not knocking the professors’ hard work and I’m not even mad at Ohioans perception of my community. Heck, a White lady at the Gap here in brown-face filled San Antonio just insisted that I had to be a rich Chilango after spending a couple hundred bucks at the store. There’s no way I had the “income level” or “self-sufficiency” to spend that kind of money.
I wasn’t offended, because a friend told me that Chilangos (as residents of Mexico City are commonly called) are well-groomed and pretty. Wait. That might be a stereotype.
But seriously, I’m upset because media of TIME’s reputation is supposed to contribute to the greater dialogue. It’s supposed to add something to it. Whether conservative or liberal leaning, the article is supposed to push traditional thought and challenge the mind, expanding it with perspective and further understanding of where this country is with the issue of diversity. Telling me Ohioans, who are rarely exposed to immigrant groups, think the worst of them, because of what they see on TV, isn’t doing any of the aforementioned.
Some might argue differently, but did we really need to waste a page in the coveted TIME magazine telling us what we already know? That media is good at stereotyping immigrants and America has bought into those perceptions. No we didn’t. We needed insight.
Don’t trash the survey, but tell me how the Ohioans’ perception of Latinos have contributed to the 312 hate crimes reported in the state in 2007, which ranks ninth in the nation. Tell me how those opinions contributed to the modern day lynching attempt of Ohioan Robert Cantu.
Or, here’s a novel concept: write stories that combat stereotypes instead of reiterating their obvious existence.
That’s what I expect of a magazine of this stature. That’s what I expect of all American media, because, despite precedent set by my community, my mother’s going into a nursing home.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rolando Rodriguez.
Rolando Rodriguez writes for CATALINA, a magazine that breaks stereotypes of Hispanics in the media and entertainment. In addition, Rolando is a producer for Red Brown and Blue, a nationally-syndicated, Spanish-language radio program. He is also Managing Director of Public Relations, Government Relations & Community Based-Outreach at Interlex Communications, one of the nation’s only advertising firms dedicated to socially conscientious multicultural marketing.
Estoy escribiendo un artículo acerca de estereotipos de la gente Blanca. Tengo la esperanza que la revista TIME lo publique.
Un profesor Latino viajó recientemente a Puerto Rico, donde casi no hay gente Blanca, y los residentes de la isla unánimemente revelaron la misma estereotipada opinión acerca de este grupo.
Los Blancos jalan a sus hijos con una correa. Los niños Blancos no respetan a sus padres nunca. Los Blancos son expertos en las culturas de los demás. Los Blancos son los más probables de librar jihad (guerra santa) contra la gente americana. Ah, y todos ellos envían a sus padres al asilo cuando son ancianos, en vez de acogerlos en sus hogares y cuidarlos.
Suena ridículo y racista, verdad? Pues porque lo es. Esos estereotipos no son ciertos, ni tampoco estoy escribiendo un artículo para enviarlo a la revista TIME, ni ningún profesor Latino hizo ninguna encuesta en Puerto Rico acerca de lo que opinan de la gente Blanca.
Sería absurdo escribir un artículo, y que éste se publicara, acerca de estereotipos falsos. Yo no desearía escribir un artículo acerca de estereotipos, con excepción de este, por supuesto, a menos que fuese absolutamente necesario y de interés periodístico porque francamente, como periodista, el solo hecho de estar escribiendo de percepciones injustas, las refuerza.Acaso la opinión especulativa de un grupo sobre otro grupo garantiza cobertura, especialmente si el primer grupo en realidad no sabe de que está hablando?
Además, la revista TIME no publicaría algo así, verdad?
Pues se equivoca.
“Los Estereotipos Persisten Aún Donde los Inmigrantes No,” escrito por Jeffery Kluger hizo exactamente lo que acabo de describir. El propósito del artículo era demostrar que en un estado donde los hispanos forman solamente el 2.5 por ciento de la población, los comentaristas conservadores como Lou Dobbs, y los sentimientos anti-inmigrantes que ellos expresan, realmente influencian la opinión de los Americanos Blancos con estereotipos de grupos inmigrantes.
Increíble.
Específicamente, se refiere a un estudio realizado por dos catedráticos universitarios que encuestaron a más de 2,100 residentes del estado de Ohio acerca de sus actitudes con respecto a cuatro grupos: Europeos, Asiáticos, Latinos y del Medio Oriente, preguntando específicamente acerca de la inteligencia, nivel de ingresos, auto suficiencia, habilidad para asimilarse y propensión a la violencia. Recuerde, 3 por ciento de la población.
Los resultados no fueron muy sorprendentes, especialmente con respecto a los Latinos.
Los Asiáticos son los más inteligentes. Debes estar bromeando.
Los Latinos son los que tienen menor nivel educativo. Hablas en serio?
Los Latinos y los originarios del Medio Oriente se llevaron el primer y segundo lugar, respectivamente, en propensión a la violencia. De veras, estoy asombrado.
Ah, y los europeos son los que tienen mayor probabilidad de asimilarse. Fascinante!
Por supuesto que estoy siendo sarcástico, porque esto no es ni fascinante ni de interés periodístico. Es una forma de periodismo flojo en una época en que el periodismo debe ser todo lo opuesto; en una época en que los crímenes de tinte racial se han disparado; en una época en que las historias que humanizan los problemas divisivos como la inmigración, son las que deben contarse.
No se necesita ser un periodista experimentado ni un editor para saber que hay opiniones mucho más relevantes sobre los grupos de inmigrantes, muchísimo más merecedoras de un espacio en la revista TIME. Intente dirigir la encuesta a personas que conviven con grupos de inmigrantes a diario y los aman o los odian.
Yo no trato de restar importancia a la ardua labor de los catedráticos, ni siquiera estoy enojado por la percepción que los residentes de Ohio tienen acerca de mi comunidad. Vaya, una señora Blanca en la tienda Gap aquí mismo en este San Antonio tan lleno de rostros morenos, insistía que yo debía ser un Chilango rico por haber gastado doscientos dólares en The Gap. No hay forma que yo pudiese tener el “nivel de ingresos” ni la “auto suficiencia” para gastar tanto dinero.
No me ofendí, porque un amigo me explicó que los Chilangos (como comúnmente se llama a los residentes de la ciudad de México) son bien parecidos y bien vestidos. Oh, oh! No es eso también un estereotipo?
Ya en serio, estoy molesto porque los medios informativos de la reputación de la revista TIME, se supone contribuyen al diálogo abierto. Se supone que le agregan valor. Tanto si es de tendencia conservadora o liberal, el artículo debe presionar el pensamiento tradicional y retar a la mente, expandiéndola con perspectiva y una mejor comprensión del rumbo que nuestro país lleva con respecto a la diversidad. Diciéndome que los residentes de Ohio, que normalmente no están expuestos a grupos inmigrantes, piensan lo peor de ellos por causa de lo que ven en la televisión, no está haciendo nada de lo mencionado anteriormente.
Algunos podrán alegar que el artículo logró su cometido, pero . . . realmente se necesitaba desperdiciar toda una página del tan codiciado espacio de la revista TIME para que nos digan algo que ya sabíamos? Los medios informativos son muy buenos para estereotipar a los inmigrantes y nuestro país se cree esas percepciones. No; no necesitábamos eso. Necesitábamos visión.
No condene el artículo, pero explíqueme como ha contribuido la percepción de los Latinos que tienen los residentes de Ohio, a los 312 crímenes de tinte racial reportados en ese estado durante 2007, colocándolo en el noveno sitio en todo el país en esta categoría. Dígame como esas opiniones contribuyeron en algo mientras intentaban linchar a Robert Cantú, un residente de Ohio.
Ah, y aquí va un concepto novedoso: escriba historias que luchen contra los estereotipos en vez de reiterar su obvia existencia.
Eso es lo que yo esperaría de una revista de esa categoría. Eso es lo que yo esperaría de todos los medios informativos americanos, porque a pesar del precedente asentado por mi comunidad, mi mamá va a ir a dar al asilo!
Rolando Rodríguez escribe para CATALINA, una revista que rompe con los estereotipos de los Hispanos en los medios informativos y la industria del entretenimiento. Es Director Administrativo de Relaciones Públicas, Gubernamentales y Comunitarias en Interlex Communications, una de las pocas compañías de publicidad dedicadas a la mercadotecnia multicultural con responsabilidad social.
August 17th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Great points. If I were an Ohioan I’d be worried about this TIME article helping to create stereotypes of Ohioans as racist bigots!
August 19th, 2009 at 8:32 am
Your page is reprehensible at best. ILLEGAL ALIENS are the ruination of America!!!! Aliens get free medical, food stamps, preferential treatment, jobs they are not qualified for and everything else they DEMAND! Aliens expect AMERICANS to speak their language in OUR Country!!!!! In EVERY city where aliens have squatted, the CRIME RATE GOES UP AT THE VERY MINIMUM 25%!!!! AND YOU WONDER WHY THERE IS PREJUDICE AND RACISM, read above and you will find out!!!!!
August 19th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I am an Ohioan who has lived in several different countris in Latin America for 20 years. Never have I received any local doucmento in English nor free spanish classes like we give in the United States. I would be glad to discuss legalizing the millions of ILLEGAL immigrants in the United States as soon as Mexico and other Latin American countries legalize ILLEGAL immigration in their countries. Many Guatemalans ( where I currently live ) are arrested, often mistreated and ALWAYS DEPORTED for entering Mexico illegally. Fair is fair. ALL ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES SHOULD BE DEPORTED.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Thank you for shedding light on the Cantu incident. I am very angry that the people who committed such a horrible act were not prosecuted.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Mike’s points certainly are logical. If the US aspired to be on par with Mexico and other Latin American nations we could justifiably treat people the same way they do. But then everyone in the Western Hemisphere would be getting on boats to head back to Europe. Since its founding America has drawn people looking for a better way of life based on higher ideals. Are you proposing we lower the bar now to be like Lesser Developed Countries? Why not continue being a beacon for human progress?
August 20th, 2009 at 7:33 am
i read the same article online. I also wasnt impressed. What is the point of asking people with little contact to a culture about that culture? “Chilango” is a interesting word. Because many people that are not from Mexico City think that this means people from Mexico City, but if you ask someone from Mexico City they are easily offended by this, saying that it is derogatory (meaning monkey or something similar) and that it is actually used to mean people migrating to Mexico City from other places.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
Congrats for having the courage to speak the truth! Your words ring home for those who have lived stereotypes/prejudice on a daily basis. My question to you is how do we change the wrongs that exist? I can’t wait until aliens come to earth because maybe then we will all see each other as one race – the human race. Unfortunately, the aliens will be hated but we can work on that when the time comes.
September 4th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Sorry but as Latinos we need to understand that entering a country illegally is just wrong. You have broken a law. Lets us not forget that Mexico detains illegal’s in their country and protect the southern boarder. Also, they arrest and deport the Cubans that come to Mexico. They do this knowing they will end up in jail when returned to Cuba. Please stop with the compassion demands unless Mexico is willing to do the same get over it.
September 5th, 2009 at 7:46 am
Stereotypes can also be hilariously comedic. It all depends on the context or situation at hand. There have been, are and will be stereotypical references to all America’s immigrant cultures, so lets stop being so sensitive and self-righteous. 310,000,000 million people with different, colors, creeds, heritage(s), opinions etc. will do that.
This not only happens in America, but in every Country around the world. Stop being victims and playing the blame game people.
September 21st, 2009 at 9:54 am
I am old enough to have seen my community go through three different brands of racism, and my conclusion is, the basis of racism is simply parochialism. People who grow up in small, closed societies only approve of people who grew up with them; anybody else is FOREIGN and therefore EVIL! I think this is an area where the entertainment and journalistic media have made a great contribution by showing people of all races in positive interactions, thus giving people whose communities are ethnically homogenous a different viewpoint. The big problem is that racism is a gut feeling and civility is only learned behavior. However, speaking from experience, we are improving.
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:31 pm
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