Everyone is everything: On gaps in media and modern thinking

Friends, my latest commentary for NPR's "All Things Considered" ran today. It addresses the question of whether "Latino" "tensions" and "unease" with "blacks" will prevent "Latinos" from voting for "the black candidate," Barack Obama, in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary season. Please listen here.

A bunch of those terms up there are in quotes because, damnit, the more I listen to the mainstream press in this campaign, the less I become sure that I am a breathing person created by the particular astral forces in play at the moment of my birth, my upbringing, and whatever free choices I've made as a sentient adult. Instead, if you listen to the papers, I'm being led to believe that because I'm Mexican American I am just a replicant, an amalgamation of whatever polls, statistics, and assumed truths that reporters, politicians, pundits, and fat-cat non-profit gurus digest and re-ingest as modern gospel.

Right now the ridiculous and dangerous "conventional wisdom" being fomented by the press is that Latinos won't vote for Obama because he has dark skin (In sentence form, doesn't that idea sound just absolutely absurd?). NPR reporter Mandalit del Barco tackled this subject a few days ago and found some interesting analysis. See also the well-supported writing of Gregory Rodriguez and Roberto Lovato for more.

In my perspective, I don't propose a blind denial of race or its force in American life. What I've been trying to express is an exasperation with the amount of undue consequence we give to an ephemeral boogey-man that has already been proven, time and again, to be a flawed concept. In other words, I'm from the United States. In the country that I know, people who are committed to its principles know deep down that by now everyone is everything. What we do once we get past that baseline is the only thing that matters.

* Pictured above, Tai from Asian Americans for Obama.

* My previous NPR commentaries are found here, here, and here.

Comments

[cindylu]

I listened.

I also saw Obama address this and really try and reach out to Latino voters (you know, we're a monolith and all) at the town hall at LA Trade Tech. Lots of LA/California politicos were present, no coincidence obviously. Even the music -- Maná, Juanes, Shakira and Ricky Martin -- was strategic (if not rather outdated).

My friend an ardent Obama supporter and volunteer for the campaign has the same baby on her blog.

[Andres]

I loved your piece on NPR. Insightful. One question, I tried to find the story you referenced in your piece as follows, "one story even quoted someone saying that Latinos would support Clinton because they are family oriented and love a mother figure", but couldn't find any story with that reference. Can you share the reference for that quote? Thanks!

[Daniel H.]

Cindylu: Ha, that's funny. I found the photo and couldn't resist. It's also funny to hear that they played Mana, etc. at that event. You can't expect too much from a renegade campaign that is only recently raising serious cash. Maybe they can hire an expensive "Latino music consultant" who will tell them that "Latinos" listen to pretty much what everybody else listens to?

And, Andres, the story I'm referencing is a New York Times story by Adam Nagourney and Jennifer Steinhauer that ran on Jan. 15, "In Obama's Pursuit of Latinos, Race Plays a Role." It's problematic on many levels.

Take care, and thank you.

[Anne]

Thanks for your NPR commentary -- I heard it yesterday and got chills while sitting in traffic on my way home. It's hard to take sometimes, being categorized and misrepresented time and time again. Your piece was refreshing and relevant; thanks.

[Michelle]

I, too loved your commentary on NPR. It was exactly what I had been thinking but been unable to put into words. Thanks for that. Does anyone know where I can get a transcript? I'm lame and have no sound on my computer.

[Janet]

Just wanted to let you know that I heard your NPR piece and thought it was perfect. I agreed with everything you had to say and was glad someone put into words what I was thinking. I hope the piece finds a wider audience than just NPR listeners. Thanks for getting the word (and thought!) out.

[Rosa]

Daniel-

I heard your commentary on NPR while sitting in rush hour Chicago traffic with my husband, Juan. As Latinos born and raised in this country, finally we heard an honest, articulate, and accurate discourse on the reality of Latino voters...we are not all the same and we do not all neatly fit into preconcieved sterotypes or community profiles gathered. Gracias Daniel for your thoughts and willingness to come clean on the who we are or are not as voters!

[Metro_Cowboy]

Following the S. Carolina debate, Cooper 360 had a 4 person panel (2 African-American & 2 Latina/os) discussing race etc. The male African-American guest ( i forget his name) was pretty damn convinced about this supposed black-brown pedo. The Latino dude actually countered him by pointing out a couple of things, particularly notable elections where latinos supported a black candidate and vice-versa.

One of the things I see is just a particularly high-level of ignorance on the local history of elections/campaigns in many of these major urban centers where this "black-brown" conflict allegedly exists (e.g. Los Angeles). These reporters or "pundits" (although they've never ran a campaign) are just lazy or escandalosos if you ask me. They're all going for that sexy headline sin querer aprender mas, or simple fact checks.

Even the "Young" thing/angle is getting played out if you ask me. The NY Times hasn't really picked it up, nor probably won't, but HRC has some pretty notable young Latino dudes running his West Coast operation, or as you call them...MAPS.

Nevada's Own 27 year old Wonderboy walking w/ Hilaria in Nevada:
http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1373327885

There's a little boy holding his cell phone camera up (behind chubby kid)--classic.

[Metro_Cowboy]

BTW: obama is technically still a baby boomer no?

[Ross]

Mr. Hernandez,

I was stuck in traffic on my way home from work when I heard your commentary on NPR. I am a 24 year-old black man, and I cannot help but to agree with you one thousand percent! It is all about our ideals!
I loved your use of the word "ghettoized" because that hits the nail right on its (censored) head. I am tired of that crap. Thanks for that commentary. One can only hope that it was heard by many more people who do not think like you, or me, or all of the other people who commented.

Be blessed

Ross L.

[Daniel H.]

Metro_Cowboy, Thanks for another always insightful comment. That video is great. I didn't know who that Nevada MAP was, but it doesn't surprise me he's behind Hillary. MAPs (see the Reigning Antonio Villaraigosa) are one thing, because they see their political futures rising with another Clinton presidency, but I get the sense young regular -- I mean, non political office holding in their 20s -- Mexican Americans want to support a candidate that seems closer to the streets. (And yes Obama is technically a Baby Boomer but he sure doesn't talk or seem to think like one.)

Ross, Janet, Michelle, Anne, Thank you for visiting and for your kind words! We'll see what happens!!

[Doris]

I just heard your commentary on the NPR website. Thank you for such an insightful and concise piece. As part of the "Asian" voting bloc, I am tired of the inaccuracies that are fed to the public based mainly on speculations on groups based on arbitrary specifications. Thanks again!

[lainie]

Your NPR piece was beautiful and eloquent. Thank you so much for being such a reasonable influence.