I’ve been approached by three people (one activist, one who has done freelance work for the New York Times, and one who was profiled in one of their arms) to tell me that the New York Times has Latino contributors (not on the edit board, like I mentioned) and that even though they agree with my overall message, they keep telling me that things won’t happen overnight; that we are moving in the right direction. Albeit slowly, but surely. That’s that.
I am aware of this, by the way. There are several reasons why I find that problematic and suspicious. I won’t even elaborate on the hypocrisy of these individuals when they are visceral with entities they see as malignant to the community while glorifying misinformed or self-destructive behavior, ethnic and poverty “porn,” and its pushers.
First, yes, small victories should be recognized and celebrated, but if you agree with my overall message of inclusion and equal representation, then approaching me to tell me about the little NYTimes has done for us should not be your first step. Your first step should be to address the NYTimes and whatever contact you have there. I say they’ve given us crumbs, while some people don’t. That’s Ok. I’m not Ok with crumbs, small slices, or small steps. It’s a tad narcissistic to put on your gloves and be ready to duke it out with me because you either want to be profiled, were profiled in some subdivision, or work there. It’s not about you. It’s about us.
We were told that there is no such thing as a missed opportunity by Eva Longoria when she produced Devious Maids. Oh, that was an unequivocally missed opportunity, all right. Not even a small step forward. That was a great leap backward. Anyway, we’ve been taking small steps since 1917 that haven’t made much of a difference for us. Not when everybody else is making strides. We’ll never catch up that way.
Although tokens might seem like progress, it’s really not, but I’ll hold my judgement of tokens even though the practice hurts us more than anything however competent they might be or seem. I understand how self-preservation is crucial for the individual and how difficult it is to de-fetishize a people by giving them exposure. However, and like the freelancer said to me, that quota might be filled up with a Hispanic surname. It’s true, and sometimes that surname is not even Hispanic. There are so many implications with being Ok with small steps, with white Hispanic tokens (rarely from the majority of brown or black ones, by the way), but this isn’t race and ethnicity 101.[Fighting to take away the key from a slave master and giving it to another slave master]. I will be addressing that in another piece.
Bueno, this isn’t solely happening in the NYTimes, like I pointed out. It’s the case with most publications, and even the new and hip ones popping up all over the place have little to no diversity. Little diversity is not Ok with me. Hopefully, it’s not Ok with you either. I will suggest that for once in your lives look outside of your own interests (be them about women, Latino, Asian, African American, Native American, LGBT, your town, etc.) and recognize that any injustice or inequality anywhere is an affront to justice and equality everywhere, to paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr. Don’t tell women, gay folks, Latinos, Asians, Native Americans, or African Americans that they should be pleased with the little the government, the board of ed, the law, corporate America, the media, and Hollywood has done for them. That’s really a practice in douchebaggery.
If you have stayed long enough here and really paid attention to who I am and what I share(not your projection of me), you will see that some of those issues I’m raising up (or try to give exposure to) would seem like they don’t necessarily affect me. This mentality is wrong. Whatever subjugation, exploitation, suffering-you name it- anyone is going through affects us all. Whenever a people are held back (be it openly or subtly), we all suffer. We are an interdependent world. Humans are equipped with empathy. Indifference (complacency, being comfortable, and content with how things are) is the most malignant force you could fathom. Don’t look for excuses for it. Don’t become an apologist for it. Don’t settle with what you think is good enough. Especially when it comes to others.
Concerns are brought up for a reason. Don’t ignore them or only engage those who brought them up because you are uncomfortable with it. Engage the perpetrators more.
This might sound harsh, but the truth is indifferent to your emotions, so I’ll say it right out to put this to rest once and for all. People go out of their way to tell me how to express myself in order to “change the minds of the ignorant and misinformed.” Famigos, I’m not here to change minds. The article has links to data. We are all adults. I’m not here to hold people’s hands either. People can and should do their own research after I raised the issue. It’s an article. Not a dissertation.
Regardless, people who are set in their ways will deny, fight, and rationalize their beliefs to the grave even after being presented with data, facts, and reason. I am aware of this behavior and cognition. If you are simply too dense or fragile to comprehend, then that’s too bad. It’s a pity because some of you seem like highly intelligent individuals, but I understand that it’s easier to attack whatever makes you uncomfortable than trying to understand why it makes you uncomfortable. Especially when it comes to the welfare of other people. I would also suggest to please stop wasting your and my time with your silliness. I’m not here to bring flowers to a gun fight. My intention is to awake sleeping giants. The good people who might not have known about an issue. I don’t write for the ignorant or the “enemy.” You are dead wrong to even suggest to me to tone my indignation down when it inspires the public to demand to be treated like human beings.
I will acknowledge the many people from all walks of life who ‘liked,’ shared, and engaged the piece. The people who thanked me. The people who said some or all parts resonated with them. The ones who shared it with their friends, relatives, and children.The influencers who reached out to me publicly and privately and said that something needs to be done. The conscious folks of the community who reached out to other influencers so they can see that they are not alone. La gente that would not usually engage or be aware of what’s happening out there and are now speaking to their family and friends about it. You are all appreciated.
Repeat after me: Primero el pueblo y después yo.
Good day to you all.
P.S. I will bite the hand that feeds me if it mistreats me and my people.
Original Piece:
More articles on the lack of diversity and the Latino experience:
- Hollywood’s Latino Problem: Vanity Fair, Jerry Seinfeld, And The Myth Of Meritocracy
- Saturday Night Live’s Latino Problem
- When Stop and Frisk Taught Me I Was Menace to Society
- The Oscars: Hollywood’s Tundra
- The Emasculation of the Latino Actor
- The Downside to Positive Stereotypes
- Latino Leaders? Clowns Need Not Apply
- Brown Invasion and the Mistrust of Academia
César Vargas is a producer, writer, director, and social media strategist. He founded UPLIFTT (United People for Latinos in Film TV and Theater) and is president of Burning Ones Productions. You can reach him on Twitter at @CesarVargas365 and Facebook at facebook.com/vargas365