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Gabriel Recognised At Latin Grammys

2009-11-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Noted Mexican singer and songwriter Juan Gabriel was honored on Wednesday night as the Latin Recording Academy’s Person of the Year, at an event that witnessed the presence of a number of renowned singers from all across the world. The much acclaimed singer was recognized for his immense contribution in the various facets of Mexican music. The event was held just a day prior to the Latin Grammy Award show which is scheduled to be held in Las Vegas.

When the singer walked the red carpet wearing a sophisticated black jacket and sunglasses as well a impressive jeweled tie pin, all the photographers rushed their way up to the red carpet to catch a glimpse of the celebrated artist. Over the years, Gabriel has been successful in creating a name for himself in the music industry and boasts of a fan following all across the world. The artist is also recognized for penning down around 1500 songs and at the same time selling around 100 million records in all these years. The singer-songwriter who is also fondly referred to as the “divo of Juarez” has an recording experience spanning 30 years. No wonder the artist deserved all the accolades and appreciation that he received on Wednesday’s event.

Gabriel, whose actual name is Alberto Aguilera Valadez was born in extremely poor conditions and had to face a lot of hardships in his early life as he had to spend his growing up years in an orphanage at Juarez, which is a border city. However, he first tasted success in the year 1971 as his song “No Tengo Dinero,” and “I Have No Money,” became chart toppers.

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Alejandro Sanz searches for paradise

2009-11-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

Whenever Latin pop sensation Alejandro Sanz writes music, he sets off on a "long mental journey" to find inspiration. But when Alicia Keys surprised the singer at a party in New York by joining him in an impromptu jam session, Sanz knew then that he'd found his muse.

"I simply grabbed a guitar and we started to improvise, singing and playing. After that, we decided then that we needed to do something together," he said in an interview. "Working with her was such a marvelous thing. She's a great artist, a great woman, and it turned out to be something marvelous between us."

The end result is reflected in their new duet, "Looking For Paradise."

The 15-time Latin Grammy winner, who has performed on stage with Destiny's Child at the second annual Latin Grammy Awards and who collaborated with Colombian singer Shakira on her 2005 smash hit song "La Tortura," said he's found the same work ethic in Keys as he did with his other female counterparts.

Of Shakira and Keys, he said, "The two have things very much in common. For example, when it's time to work, they are perfectionists and they like to be at work until the very last detail is done. They are very much perfectionists and have a sensibility for music."

Despite rumors circulating for months that the 40-year-old raspy-voiced singer was working on a crossover English language studio album, "Looking for Paradise" is the only English track from his upcoming album, "Paraiso Express," due out on Nov. 10.

The music video for the lead song finds the Madrid-born singer and the R&B songstress searching for each other and later meeting up at a rooftop party in New York City — in a symbolic gesture of unity among two singers from different musical worlds.

"The song is so beautiful. It's touching. It's uplifting. It's worldwide. It really talks about the way we're all looking for something and how we can all find it," Keys says in a video posted on Sanz' Web site. "I just love this idea of bringing worlds together. I think that's what it's all about."

"Paraiso Express" is Sanz's eighth studio album in three years, and he linked up with producers Swizz Beatz and Tommy Torres, who has worked with Latin singers Ricardo Arjona and Ricky Martin. He said he hopes listeners will enjoy the journey and "find for themselves the 'Paraiso' within."

"I hope this album motivates listeners to look for their own paradise, that paradise that very often is inside us, although we insist in looking for it in the outside," he said.

On the Net:

http://www.alejandrosanz.com

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Calle 13 Rule Latin Grammys

2009-11-06T08:52:00.000-08:00

The big winner at the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas on Thursday night was the Puerto Rican hip-hop group Calle 13, who nabbed all five awards they were nominated for, including Album of the Year (Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo) and Record of the Year ("No Hay Nadie Como Tú").

"This award, I have to dedicate to many people," Calle 13's René Pérez — a.k.a. Residente — said while accepting Record the Year, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The hip-hop duo — which also features Pérez's stepbrother Eduardo José Cabra Martínez, who raps under the name Visitante — secured additional wins for Best Urban Music Album, Best Short-Form Music Video and Best Alternative Song.

"To all the people who make music in this moment of independent music, to hell with record labels!" Residente said while accepting the alternative-song trophy, according to E! online. "This is the moment for those of us who make real music."

The duo also performed at the show, busting out a rendition of "La Perla," for which they'd won best short-form video, with salsa singer Ruben Blades.

Alicia Keys — whose presence at the Latin Grammys was the reason she wasn't able to perform "Empire State of Mind" with Jay-Z at MTV's European Music Awards in Berlin — took the stage with Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz for a rendition of his "Looking for Paradise."

Other highlights from the awards show included Eva Longoria Parker appearing as a presenter. Enrique Iglesias presented the 2009 Person of the Year award to Mexican singer Juan Gabriel. Alexander Acha, a Mexican singer/songwriter, took home Best New Artist.

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Latin Grammys has another spotlight

2009-11-04T21:38:00.000-08:00

Calle 13, the Puerto Rican half-sibling, alt-hip-hop duo, is a group that hardly needs more accolades to make its presence known. If not at the pinnacle of their careers, the stepbrothers René Pérez Joglar, the lead singer known as Residente, and Eduardo José Cabra Martínez, a.k.a. Visitante, surely are entering into Andean altitudes.

Building on their huge Puerto Rican following, they've been playing to sell-out crowds in South America and the United States. Already a multiple Latin Grammy and one-time Grammy award winner, Calle 13 leads the pack of this year's Latin Grammy nominees with five.

Among the trophies the duo might haul home from tonight's ceremony at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas are those for album of the year ("Los De Atrás Vienen Conmigo"), record of the year ("No Hay Nadie Como Tú") and best short form music video, for "La Perla," with Ruben Blades, one of tonight's presenters. Calle 13 also is gaining traction with non-Latino listeners; among its recent U.S. gigs was a 2008 performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Yet, speaking by phone recently from Venezuela, where he was on tour, Residente said he was grateful that he and other Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking artists have their own separate event from the Grammy Awards. The Latin Grammys, with 49 categories, targets artists across a spectrum of styles, including reggaeton, cumbia, ranchera and religious music.

The Grammys, with only a handful of Latin categories, necessarily lumps many disparate artists into one thick cultural pozole.

"Music is music, but it's good we have a separate award," Residente said. "They [the Grammy Awards] try to incorporate everything, from Mana to Calle 13, and it's crazy."

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Latin Grammy Awards has found a comfortable niche between registering shifting Latino musical tastes and sensibilities while catering to an awareness that more non-Latinos, both in the United States and elsewhere, are listening to Spanish- and Portuguese-language music.

The show's presenter, the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, no longer feels compelled to argue for its right to a spot in America's saturated entertainment-awards cosmos. And the awards themselves, now broadcast on the Spanish-language Univision Network, have become a lavish, commercially lucrative affair that reflects the growing importance of U.S. Latinos, who as of 2007 made up 15.5% of the nation's population, both as a political and consumer force.

But if the awards have grown to fill out their ambitious expectations, the academy remains a relatively lean operation, said its president, Gabriel Abaroa. Each year, he said, its core staff of 10 people relies heavily on a group of about 350 volunteers to listen to and classify all the recordings. The more money the organization saves on overhead costs, said Abaroa, the more it can focus on identifying and promoting new talent.

"Every single day that an office closes, the last person goes and turns out all the lights and shuts all the computers," Abaroa said. "All the staff that works for the Latin Recording Academy came from Third World countries, where crisis is an everyday word. You learn to be very conservative."

In some ways, the Latin music industry has had to rethink its future in the decade since the Latin Grammys and the academy were launched. Back then, the conventional wisdom was that "the crossover moment had arrived," as Ricky Martin and other artists scored a handful of monster English-language pop hits, Abaroa said. "Ricky delivered the perfect punch at the perfect time in the perfect world."

But that crossover phenomenon never fully arrived, and since then the academy has "become more rootsy, we have gone more to the roots," Abaroa maintained. This was possible in part, he believes, because "the American public is accepting much more that someone can sing in Spanish."

Despite the accelerating mainstreaming of Latino culture -- or, if you like, the Latinization of U.S. popular culture -- the Latin Academy seeks to maintain the legitimacy of Latin, non-English music as a distinct cultural entity. That goal is reflected in its stiff rules governing the proportion of Spanish- or Portuguese-language content that recordings must have in order to be nominated.

For any song category, at least 75% of the lyrics must be in Spanish or Portuguese. Album recordings in all categories must have at least 51% Spanish or Portuguese lyrical content. "You want to make sure the album is as pure as possible in the use of Spanish or Portuguese. It has to respect the poetry," Abaroa said.

Tomas Cookman, president and owner of North Hollywood-based Cookman International and Nacional Records, said that although Latino artists and listeners do care about the Latin Grammys, winning an award seldom does much for a record's sales.

Kid Cudi to Appear on Shakira Album

2009-11-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

Shakira is adding to her list of rap collaborators. After recruiting Lil Wayne for her Timbaland-produced single “Give It Up to Me,” she has tapped Kid Cudi for a track on the U.S. edition of her album.

The “Day ‘N’ Nite” rapper appears on the remix to The Neptunes production “Did It Again,” while Pitbull guests on the Spanish remix “Lo Hecho Está Hecho.” A video for the original song was recently released and can be viewed below.

Shakira’s third English album She Wolf lands stateside November 23. Kid Cudi can be seen opening for Lady Gaga’s “Monster Ball” tour beginning November 27 in Montreal, Canada.

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2009 Latin Grammy lineup

2009-10-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

Pepe Aguilar, Oscar D'Leon, Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Los Tucanes de Tijuana, Wisin y Yandel, and 2009 Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year Juan Gabriel, are the latest performers added to the stellar lineup for the 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY® Awards telecast, it was announced today by The Latin Recording Academy®. Confirmed to present awards are current Latin GRAMMY nominees Enrique Bunbury, Luis Enrique, German Montero, Omara Portuondo and Reik, as well as Kany Garcia, Enrique Iglesias, Victor Manuelle, Milly Quezada, and Johnny Ventura. The milestone telecast is set for Nov. 5 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, and will be broadcast live on the Univision Network from 8 – 11 p.m. ET/PT (7 p.m. Central). For updates and breaking news, please visit The Latin Recording Academy's social networks on Twitter and Facebook: www.twitter.com/latingrammys, www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080819/LATU001LOGO)

Additionally, for the first time the 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards Pre-Telecast ceremony will be streamed live internationally on www.latingrammy.com beginning at 2 p.m. PT. Fashion entrepreneur and former Miss Universe Barbara Palacios will host the Pre-Telecast, during which winners in more than 35 of the 49 Latin GRAMMY categories will be announced prior to the evening's telecast — kicking off a full evening of celebrating excellence in recorded Latin music from around the world. The Pre-Telecast will take place from 2 – 3 p.m. PT at Mandalay Bay Events Center and the live stream will remain on LatinGRAMMY.com for 30 days following the event.

Latin GRAMMY and GRAMMY® winners Wisin y Yandel garnered a nomination for Best Urban Album (La Revolucion) and two in Best Urban Song ("Abusadora" with Marcos Masis "Tainy," and "Mujeres In The Club" with 50 Cent). Oscar D'Leon is nominated for Best Salsa Album (Tranquilamente…Tranquilo), Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles is up for Best Ranchero Album (Companeras), and Gilberto Santa Rosa has a nod for Record Of The Year ("Si No Vas A Cocinar" with Jose Lugo Orchestra). Los Tucanes de Tijuana vocalist Mario Quintero Lara is nominated for Best Regional Mexican Song ("Se Fue Mi Amor").

Previously announced performers include David Bisbal, Ruben Blades, Calle 13, Shaila Durcal, Luis Fonsi, Grupo Montez De Durango, Laura Pausini, Espinoza Paz, La Quinta Estacion and Luz Rios as well as 14-time Latin GRAMMY and two-time GRAMMY winner Alejandro Sanz. Previously announced presenters feature Alexander Acha, Beto Cuevas, Cucu Diamantes, Juan Luis Guerra, and Gian Marco. Actor/Comedian Eugenio Derbez and actress/singer Lucero will co-host the 10th anniversary celebration.

Once again, Univision.com is the official Spanish-language Web site for the 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Find exclusive coverage of this year's performers at www.latingrammy.univision.com, including video interviews and photos, an extensive archive of past shows, and dedicated forums for fans to share their excitement leading up to the live broadcast. For access to the latest Latin GRAMMY scoop and photos on-the-go, visit Univision.com on any Web-enabled mobile device.

Preceding the Awards show telecast, Univision will present exclusive "Noche de Estrellas" (Night Of The Stars) coverage of the celebrity arrivals direct from the Latin GRAMMY Awards green carpet starting at 7 p.m. ET/PT (6 p.m. Central). Presented by "Primer Impacto" co-anchor Barbara Bermudo and "Nuestra Belleza Latina" host Giselle Blondet, "Noche de Estrellas" will feature live interviews and commentary on the stars and their fashions, and provide viewers an intimate and up close look at Latin music's most glamorous gala event.

A limited number of tickets to the 10th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards are available to the public and may be purchased at the Mandalay Bay Events Center box office (877.632.7400; www.mandalaybay.com) or through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com).

The Latin Recording Academy is an international, membership-based organization comprised of Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers and other creative and technical recording professionals. The organization is dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for Latin music and its makers. In addition to producing the Latin GRAMMY Awards to honor excellence in the recorded arts and sciences, The Latin Recording Academy provides educational and outreach programs for the Latin music community. For more information about The Latin Recording Academy, please visit www.latingrammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, join the organization's social networks as a Twitter follower at www.twitter.com/latingrammys, and a Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/latingrammys.

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Take talk of food racism

2009-10-30T05:51:00.000-07:00

San Diego, California (CNN) -- This week, I was on a talk radio show when the host -- a white male conservative (what are the odds?) -- asked me if Americans are so sensitive that we now have to worry about "food racism."

When I first heard the phrase, I thought he was talking about the time that Hillary Clinton, during the Democratic primary, went looking for Latino votes in a Mexican restaurant in Las Vegas, Nevada. Trying to explain to her mostly Mexican-American audience that Americans' concerns are intertwined, Clinton wound up showing everyone that her knowledge of Latino issues is a side order short of a combination plate when she said condescendingly:

"We treat these problems as if one is guacamole and one is chips, when ... they both go together."

Gulp! I remember thinking at the time: "Ay gracias, Señora Clinton. I have difficulty with challenging political issues, but now you're speaking my language. Come on, donkey!"

Instead, the radio host was talking about the latest tempest -- a taco in a teapot. One of the most recent skirmishes in the culture wars is about a Latino race car driver and a TV broadcaster who spun out and hit the wall after telling a lame joke that some are calling racist.

ESPN broadcaster Bob Griese has been suspended for one week for a stereotypical crack he made about NASCAR driver Juan Pablo Montoya. During a recent ESPN broadcast, a graphic appeared listing the top drivers in a NASCAR competition. When fellow analyst Chris Spielman asked where was Montoya, Griese replied he was "out having a taco."

Griese has twice apologized on air for the remark, which -- according to ESPN -- he now realizes was "inappropriate." Montoya, who is Colombian, has taken the high road. Asked about the comment, the driver said: "Somebody mentioned it to me. I don't really care to tell you the truth. Yeah, I don't. I could say that I spent the last three hours eating tacos, but I was actually driving a car."

OK, this isn't the worst slight. Yes, it's true that one thing that bothers many Latinos is the ignorance. News flash: Not all 47 million Latinos in the United States can trace their origins to Mexico, and many people from Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, El Salvador and other Latin American countries flat-out resent being lumped together with Mexicans just because some non-Latinos don't care enough to do their homework and make the distinction.

But if you ranked a bunch of racist acts from 1 to 10, with 1 being the most harmless and 10 being the worst, Sheriff Joe Arpaio rounding up Mexicans in Arizona might be a nine. What you hear from cable demagogues could be an eight. The New Mexico innkeeper who fired workers for not anglicizing their names would be a seven. Griese's comments would be closer to a four.

So why suspend him? Two reasons: money and memory.

First, about money, ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Co. and Latinos spend $800 billion a year. Eager for a piece, Mickey Mouse wants Latino consumers to know: "Se habla Español." So Griese had to be put in time out.

Next, about memory, the "taco" controversy brings to mind one of the most notorious racial flubs in the recent history of professional sports and one that was much uglier.

In April 1997, at the Masters Golf Tournament, after shooting a pitiful 78 that tied him for 34th in the final standings, professional golfer Fuzzy Zoeller assessed the game of the young man who came in first: 21-year-old Tiger Woods, who became the first African-American to win a major tournament.

Referring to the Masters' Champions Dinner where the menu is set by the previous year's winner, Zoeller said about Woods: "That little boy is driving well and he's putting well. He's doing everything it takes to win. So, you know what you guys do when he gets in here? You pat him on the back and say congratulations and enjoy it and tell him not [to] serve fried chicken next year. Got it?" Zoeller smiled, snapped his fingers, and walked away. Then he turned his head and yelled over his shoulder, "or collard greens or whatever the hell they serve."

Woods, whose mother is Asian-American and whose father was African-American, calls himself: "Calibasian."

Zoeller obviously saw Woods in simpler terms. Insisting his comments were "not intended to be racially derogatory," the golfer later apologized "for the fact that they were misconstrued in that fashion."

Fried chicken and collard greens, huh? Now that's what I call food racism.

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Don Omar - New Movement in Reggaeton

2009-10-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

Don Omar was one of the more prominent Latin artists to usher reggaeton into the mainstream U.S. market earlier this decade.

Generating heavy mainstream airplay and record sales with such crossover singles as “Dale Don Dale” and “Dile” (Otra Noche), Don Omar soon would draw audiences of all ethnicities and ages.

In 2005, thus far the height of reggaeton’s U.S. popularity, Dom Omar joined such reggaeton stars as Daddy Yankee, Tego Calderón, Voltio and Ivy Queen for a sold out show at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden on Thanksgiving Day.

But in recent years, as the music industry’s overall sales declined, the flame of reggaeton has cooled somewhat in the U.S., with radio station programmers and club deejays citing the lack of new Latin artists with crossover appeal as a cause.

Still, to Don Omar and other artists, who are as popular as ever in Latin America and Europe, reggaeton is just hitting its stride in the U.S. and abroad.

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Ellen, Kobe, And Eva Longoria 1st Guests

2009-10-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

George Lopez is preparing to debut his new late-night "party," but really talk show, with some major guests. the first to hit "Lopez Tonight" are fellow talk show host and soon-to-be "American Idol" judge Ellen Degeneres, "Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria Parker, and NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.

The trio of A-Listers head the first night of Lopez's new show, which premieres Monday, November 9th at 11pm ET/PT on TBS. The comedian's first late-night stint will air Monday through Thursday on TBS.

Also lined up for the show's first few weeks are Sandra Bullock, who executive produced "The George Lopez Show" and cameo'd in various episodes, Kathy Griffin, Ray Romano, Taylor Lautner, Charlie Sheen, Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah, Kelly Osburne, Floyd Mayweather, Ted Danson, Larry David, and Arsenio Hall.

Lopez, who premiered his HBO stand-up special "Tall, Dark and Chicano" this year, of course always has a seat for his latino friends. Also scheduled to appear are in the show's first weeks are Jessica Alba, Andy Garcia, Oscar de la Hoya, Marc Anthony, and Eva Mendes.

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New Mexico Hotel Owner Accused of Racism

2009-10-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

Larry Whitten, who purchased a floundering New Mexico hotel in July, is being cast as a racist by ex-employees and civil rights groups for forcing his Latino workers to make their names sound less Hispanic and preventing them from speaking Spanish in his presence.

Now, those who feel disrespected by his actions are marching and picketing against the Southwestern adobe-style hotel in the northern New Mexico town of Taos. Joining the host of angry former employees and townsfolk are such activist groups as Los Brown Berets de Nuevo Mexico and the New Mexico chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, a national civil rights organization.

"I do feel he's a racist, but he's a racist out of ignorance. He doesn't know that what he's doing is wrong," protester Juanito Burns Jr., who identifies himself as prime minister of Los Brown Berets de Nuevo Mexico, told The Associated Press.

But Whitten, a 63-year-old native Virginian, who helped turn around flailing hotels in Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and South Carolina, said, "It has nothing to do with racism. I'm not doing it for any reason other than for the satisfaction of my guests, because people calling from all over America don't know the Spanish accents or the Spanish culture or Spanish anything.

"Because of that, I asked the people in my presence to speak only English because I do not understand Spanish," Whitten says. "I've been working 24 years in Texas and we have a lot of Spanish people there. I've never had to ask anyone to speak only English in front of me because I've never had a reason to.”

But that doesn’t mean it isn’t racist, says fired hotel worker Martin Gutierrez, who says he felt disrespected when he was told to use the unaccented Martin as his name. He says he told Whitten that Spanish was spoken in New Mexico before English, AP reports. "He told me he didn't care what I thought because this was his business," Gutierrez says.

"I don't have to change my name and language or heritage. I'm professional the way I am."

Darren Cordova, the mayor or Taos, a liberal community of about 5,000 residents, says Whitten has done nothing illegal, but he believes he should have better familiarized himself with the town before moving there.

"Taos is so unique that you would not do anything in Taos that you would do elsewhere," he says.

Whitten agrees. "What kind of fool or idiot or poor businessman would I be to orchestrate this whole crazy thing that's costed me a lot of time, money and aggravation?" Whitten said.

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Penelope Cruz filming for Sex and the City 2

2009-10-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

Penelope with a si plus Liza with a Z are spicing up "Sex and the City 2."
Oscar winners Penelope Cruz and Liza Minnelli joined the film's stars, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon, for the hotly awaited film, according to People.com.

The sequel about the further exploits of sex columnist Carrie Bradshaw, played by Parker, and her friends is set to come out next summer.

Hunky Jason Lewis returns in his role as Cattrall's younger ex.

Cruz plays a banker in her big-screen cameo, not herself, as previously reported, a source told EW.com.

The sexy Spanish 35-year-old was spotted wearing a backless black dress cozying up to Chris Noth, who plays Carrie Bradshaw's hubby, at the Empire Hotel, where the film shot this week.

When Minnelli wrapped her three days on the set, she said farewell in her own special way.

She wrapped her famous voice around "Every Time I Say Goodbye" and a "total hush fell over the set," said the EW.com source.

"Everyone had goose bumps, tears. It was a really lovely parting gift she felt like giving everyone."

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Shakira Wants a Baby!

2009-10-26T06:06:00.000-07:00

Shakira reveals in her latest interview that she’s ready to take the next step in her life – have a baby.

Shakira's hips don't lie . . . they want a baby, and are proud to declare it.

"My body feels like it is asking to reproduce, to have a huge belly and carry babies," said the 32-year-old singer. "And when the baby comes, I don't want to be in the middle of 100,000 projects."

She is currently touring the country performing songs from her latest album but plans to start a family when her tour ends later this year. This next step in her life will be with her boyfriend of nine years, Antonio de la Rúa, the son of the Argentine former President Fernando de la Rúa, by her side.

The singer also revealed that she is in treatment with a 70-year-old Freudian psychotherapist in New York for her oral fixation.

"I've always lived through my mouth," she told Rolling Stone magazine. "It's my biggest source of pleasure: what I say, what I sing, the kisses I give, the chocolate I eat."

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some Latina teens consider suicide

2009-10-24T16:33:00.000-07:00

Twelve-year-old Francisca Abreu was anxious.

It was February 20, 2007, and she laid her head down on her desk in her seventh-grade science class.

"I was crying; I was very depressed. I had written a note to myself," Francisca remembers. "I just said I can't do this anymore. I want to kill myself."

Francisca's school called home, and her mother, Isabel Valdez, learned for the first time that her daughter was in serious trouble.

"I never told her," says Francisca. "I never bothered her; she probably never bothered to notice."

Such a disconnect between mothers and daughters is what Dr. Luis Zayas, a psychologist at Washington University, suspects is leading an alarming number of Latina teenagers to want to end their lives.

One out of every seven Latina teens, or 14 percent, attempts suicide according to a 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey of high school students. And Latina high school students have higher attempted suicide rates than white non-Hispanic (7.7 percent) or black non-Hispanic (9.9 percent) girls their age, the CDC reports.

Zayas has spent the last 25 years trying to find out why. He says the typical Latina teen who attempts suicide is 14 or 15, the daughter of immigrant parents, lives in a low-income setting and is caught in an intense battle with her mother over Latino and American cultures.

Research conducted by Zayas has found the girls' parents hold strictly to traditional Latino values, while teens who grow up in America learn "very different models about what girls should do, can do and are permitted to do."

Zayas is nearing completion of a five-year study of more than 200 Latina teenagers who live in New York City. More than half of those studied have attempted suicide, including Francisca Abreu, who is now 15.

In 1997, Francisca's mother, Isabel, left the Dominican Republic for the promise of work in the United States.

Desperate to find a better life for her three children -- she left them behind. Francisca, who was 3 at the time, says she was devastated.

"I used to tell her, you always say you're going to come but you never do. You always say you're going to call but you never do," Francisca says. "I used to be very depressed because I thought she wasn't going to come."

Four years later, Isabel went back to get Francisca and her brothers to bring them back with her to the United States.

But Francisca says life with her mother in the Bronx wasn't what she thought it would be. Her mother worked three jobs, and Francisca barely saw her.

As she spent time with her new American friends, the distance grew between Francisca and her mother.

When her mother wasn't at work, Francisca says they were fighting.

"There are many girls who are well-behaved," Isabel says. "But there are others who are on the wrong path. They like to flirt. They like hanging out. They like to stay out late. These are not the friends I like for my kids."

Francisca says her mother wanted her to stay home, learn how to cook and clean the house. She says she wasn't allowed to hang out with her friends.

"I did want to do what I want, be outside, not too late, but be outside period. Be able to go to the pool, regular stuff like other kids," Francisca recalls.

The conflict between mothers and daughters is what Zayas says is driving many of the Latinas he has studied to the brink.

"Teenagers have certain freedoms; they don't need to consult with their parents to make certain decisions," Zayas says. "That's the culture that's here, and inserted in that is the Latino family that says the family is much more important than the individual."

Trapped between two worlds, Francisca says she fell into a deep depression.

"I would cry about my dad, not being with him. How I missed my country. How I wish I wasn't like this with my mom, or my mom wasn't like this with me," Francisca recalls. "Like she wouldn't be mean to me, [she'd] tell me mean stuff like 'I wish I could put you back in my belly. ... I wish you weren't born.' "
Isabel says she remembers a difficult child who wouldn't open up.

"She would throw things, stomp her feet. When she got home, all she wanted to do was sleep. She didn't talk and was rude to her brothers and me," Isabel says. "Maybe I wasn't very understanding with her. I don't know."

Trying to escape the pain, Francisca made a desperate choice and decided to take some of her mother's pills.
"I was tired of being another burden in my mom's life," Francisca says.

But the pain didn't go away. A year later, Francisca was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after a teacher found the note she wrote at school. Three days later she was released and started counseling.

Several weeks later, Francisca met 15-year-old Xavier Cardona at school. She says their connection was instant.

"The first time we were ever together, he hugged me, and I felt like, 'Oh my God, that felt so good.' I felt so safe, I felt secure," Francisca says. "It felt good to have someone hug you that way with such meaning."

Breaking all her mother's rules, she skipped school to spend time with Xavier. Then, two days after her 14th birthday, Francisca came home with devastating news -- she was pregnant.

"I felt like I was going to die," Isabel remembers. "I was embarrassed when it came to the rest of the family. What were they going to say? That I was the one who didn't take care of her?"

In November, Francisca gave birth to a baby girl. She named her daughter Destiny, and slowly she says she began to understand her mother better.

"All she did was be a good mother, sacrifice her life for us," Francisca says. "That's all she did."

Today with the help of therapy, Francisca says she's learning to cope with her depression.

In June, she shared her experiences about growing up Latina at a fundraising gala for her counseling center.

Before hundreds of people, she thanked her mother.

"I came to this country not knowing the language, the people or how it is here," Francisca told them. "But at the end of the day, my mom was my biggest support."

Francisca says she now understands her mother, and Isabel says she understands the struggles of growing up Latina in America.

"At least now she knows I tried to do the best I could," Isabel says. "Times change. My times are different from hers, and I have to understand that."

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NBA launches effort to attract US Hispanics

2009-10-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

In an effort to broaden its appeal to Hispanic audiences, The National Basketball Association launched Éne-bé-a, a multichannel marketing campaign.

The league is using national TV, radio and online advertising, in addition to a Web site, events, merchandise promotion and grassroots programs. This is also the first time the NBA has launched a database-building initiative specifically for its Latino audience.

Saskia Sorrosa, director of US Hispanic marketing for the NBA, said the league has reached out to Latinos since 2000. “But this is the first time we're gathering all of our assets under one umbrella marketing platform to reach this demographic,” she added. “We wanted to have a unified message while remaining culturally relevant.”

The NBA has 19 Latino players from six Latin American countries. Hispanics make up 15% of its US fan base, according to the league.

To promote the campaign's digital elements, the league launched Spanish- and English-language broadcast ads on October 19. Those ads promote the microsite www.nba.com/enebea, which was launched October 16, as a call to action. On the site, users can watch news, view photo galleries and click to interact with
Éne-bé-a on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

Sorrosa added site visitors will be prompted to sign up for an e-mail newsletter that will emphasize Latino players' stats, game highlights and other general NBA news that might be relevant to the segment.
She added that Éne-bé-a will also launch webisodes featuring Latino players and stressing the importance of passionate fans and game attendance in the first quarter of 2010.

The campaign was developed by Hispanic-focused ad agency Bromley Communications. It is expected to run throughout the regular season and next June's NBA Finals.

Linda Aguayo, group account director for Bromley, said the league named the effort what it did because Hispanic NBA fans don't want to be categorized by the language they speak.

“This is why we didn't go with ‘NBA en Español' or ‘NBA Latino,'” she said. “They want to be a part of the brand.” The effort is a way for Hispanic fans to connect with the league using the name they already call it, she explained.

Aguayo said the league has numerous goals for the campaign, including maintaining and growing the NBA's avid Hispanic fan base, to increase TV viewership and game attendance and sell more merchandise.

“At the end of the day, every marketer wants to surround the consumer,” Aguayo said. “The NBA has so many assets — grassroots, broadcast, digital and community outreach — that allow us to target consumers with their strong brand message.”

Spanish language telecasts will be available on ESPN Deportes during the regular season, which begins next month, and the conference finals. The NBA also airs hundreds of Spanish- language live-game radio broadcasts each season through station partnerships in 10 cities with league franchises.

In terms of media buying, this campaign also marks the first time the NBA is targeting Hispanics outside the NBA's own media assets. Ads are playing on Telemundo, Telefuturo, Fox Sports en Español, CNN en Español, Mun2 and MTV3.

Sorrosa said while the main target demographic is consumers 18 to 49 years of age, the NBA is also reaching out to even younger viewers.

“Running ads on channels like MTV3 and Mun2 will help us engage viewers at an early age,” she said. “The younger they are when we reach them, the more likely they are to become lifelong fans.”

Éne-bé-a-branded shirts and other merchandise will be available at New York City's NBA Store, select team arena stores and online at NBAstore.com.

The campaign's grassroots programs include Es Tu Cancha, a program to improve and renovate basketball courts in Hispanic neighborhoods across the US.

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CNN documentary features Miami immigrant

2009-10-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Marta was 13 years old when she left her Central American homeland and crossed the Rio Grande in Texas without knowing how to swim -- all in a desperate bid to reunite with her mother who had left her behind with her grandmother while she sought work in the United States.

Once here, Marta -- not her real name -- was detained by immigration authorities who locked her up at Boystown, a facility in Miami-Dade for undocumented immigrant children in deportation proceedings.

Eventually freed and given a visa, Marta and her dramatic story is scheduled to be featured Thursday night on CNN's series Latino in America hosted by Soledad O'Brien. The segment on Marta is scheduled for 9 p.m., according to the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center, the Miami-based immigrant legal services outfit that represents Marta.

``Like Marta, each child who arrives here brings a unique and often heart-wrenching story,'' said Cheryl Little, executive director of Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center. ``Yet rather than being welcomed they encounter a complex, bewildering and frightening system.

``Many children are quickly removed without regard for what danger abusive parents, persecution by gangs, life on the streets, might await back home. Our hope is that in the near future they will have the right to a free attorney so they at least have a fighting chance to win their case.''

Marta is one of thousands of undocumented children in the United States.

The Pew Hispanic Center, in a 2006 report, estimated the number of undocumented children in the United States at 1.8 million. Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center estimates that more than 7,000 unaccompanied children a year end up in immigration custody, with more than half having no legal representation in deportation proceedings.

The organization represents about 400 of these children each year and Marta is one of its clients. The group did not identify the teenager by her real name or her country of origin partly because of a judge's determination that she had been abused, abandoned or neglected by her family.

Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center outlined Marta's story in a statement sent to El Nuevo Herald.

Her father abandoned the family when she was a child and when she turned seven her mother left for the United States, leaving Marta with her grandmother.

Missing her mother, Marta set off on her own for the United States when she was 13. But once here, the relationship with her mother didn't work out and Marta was picked up by immigration authorities who placed her in Boystown and sought to return her to her country.

With the help of Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center attorney Michelle Abarca and attorneys from the Immigrant Children's Justice Clinic at Florida International University, Marta was released from Boystown in July and granted a special immigrant juvenile visa that put her on the path to permanent residency.

Marta became friends with Lissette Alvarez, a Cuban-American singer who was a Pedro Pan child in the 1960s. Alvarez is married to exile singer and fellow Pedro Pan child Willy Chirino, Both are also featured in the documentary, as is former Sen. Mel Martinez, also Pedro Pan.

Marta turned 16 in July and wants to become a journalist, Little said.

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Shakira loves fans who download her music

2009-10-22T09:04:00.001-07:00

Shakira has said that she feels closer to fans who download her music illegally.

The “Hips Don't Lie” singer’s comments have come in response to the British Government's plans to crack down on file sharing. And the curvy star has claimed that she supports those who access her tracks without paying for them.

"I like what's going on because I feel closer to the fans and the people who appreciate the music,” Contactmusic quoted the Columbian singer as saying. "It's the democratization of music in a way. And music is a gift. That'' what it should be, a gift,” she added.

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Selena Gomez Gets Her Own Fashion Line

2009-10-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

Does Selena Gomez ever sleep?

According to Women's Wear Daily, the Disney star and pop singer is collaborating with a creative team to design Dream Out Loud by Selena Gomez. The line consists of "pretty, feminine and bohemian" clothes and accessories (made of eco-friendly and organic materials, natch) that are similar to the starlet's own aesthetic.
These days when a celebrity announces a fashion venture, we're usually like, "Whatever—join the club, everybody's got one."

But the 17-year-old actress is one of the best-dressed junior fashionistas in Hollywood, and she seems like a genuinely nice young lady, so we're kind of excited to see what she has to offer.

What about you? Would you buy what Selena's selling?

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CNN must get rid of Lou Dobbs

2009-10-20T05:46:00.000-07:00

Every night, Lou Dobbs appears on CNN prime time in the living rooms of Americans, promoting a hate-filled agenda that primarily targets Latinos.

It is OK for Dobbs to promote lies and hate, as long as he brings in the numbers and controversy that make CNN the forum of conversation.

click image to enlarge

In recent days, we have all heard the major advertising campaign promoting CNN’s latest documentary titled “Latinos in America,” as presented by journalist Soledad O’Brien. It will air Oct. 21 and 22 in the U.S. According to O’Brien, “it was clear that the community felt starved for good solid coverage.”

True, Latinos across the U.S. have been and still are waiting for accurate, objective journalistic coverage that does not depict Latinos as criminals, anti-American or lazy.

It is to be applauded that CNN has taken on this endeavor in search of accurately depicting a major component of the American population.

However, the hypocrisy of having an allegedly non-biased production followed or pre-empted by Dobbs is simply absurd.

On a daily basis, Dobbs claims to speak for the “real” American who has been victimized by a stampede of illegal aliens. He continuously dehumanizes the Latino community and hides behind the pathetic excuse of patriotism and middle-class pride.

Now, CNN does a 180-degree spin with the production of a documentary that seeks to explore the reality of a community composed of many other communities rich in culture and tradition.

The bottom line is this: CNN cannot have it both ways.

Hermandad Mexicana, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit advocacy organization, will host a conference the same day the documentary is scheduled to broadcast to protest CNN’s continuing broadcasting of Dobbs’ talk show.

But let’s make one thing clear: This is not a matter of liberal or conservative views on the air. Rather, it is a matter of accurate versus false journalism. As a self-proclaimed leader of news media, CNN should have a higher standard than what Dobbs has provided.

Religious, political and civic leaders are coming together with concerned Americans to boycott CNN until it makes a decision on Dobbs. This is not about becoming a pro-immigrant or pro-Latino network, as some conservative pundits have claimed. It is possible to be critical of immigration, documented or undocumented, without promoting hatred against a group within our community.

The “us against them” mentality that Dobbs’ show highlights on a daily basis is tantamount to hate speech because it infuses a violent minority that, when armed, is capable of causing havoc.

Right-wing commentators like Michelle Malkin have become permanent faces on the show, most recently to rant about the potential boycott of the 2010 census.

This would have been a great opportunity to discuss the pros and cons of targeting what could be America’s largest minority in accurately counting the census.

Instead, Malkin and Dobbs, along with other right-wing conservatives, question the rationale behind counting undocumented immigrants.

It is this kind of unfounded commentary that makes it to the American homes daily.

Rumors suggest that Fox News may be courting Dobbs to come aboard their roster of journalists. This could be the perfect opportunity for CNN to show with actions their perspective on what journalism ought to be.

Whatever the decision may be, it is clear that CNN will have to face the reality eventually. Either they will have an objective discussion on the merits of facts or they risk alienating a major component of American society.

Some will argue that it is best to receive any kind of attention, as opposed to being ignored.
This is ridiculous. No, it is not OK to be ignored, nor should it be permissible to launch a hateful, unjustified campaign and expect the targets to simply comply.

Silence never won any recognition. It is necessary to loudly proclaim our right to dignity and get the message to media outlets that continue to feed ignorance to the homes of Americans.

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Rapper Pitbull true to his Cuban heritage

2009-10-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- As the man in the Dodgers jersey walked quickly around the perimeter of the infield, fans poured down from the bleachers begging for autographs.

Pitbull says he learns from setbacks: "Usually the negatives turned out to be the most positive for me."

No, it wasn't home run king Manny Ramirez. It was Armando Christian Perez, the Cuban-American rapper better known as Pitbull.

In five years, he's gone from a mouthy Miami street hustler to a chart-topping hip-hop star whose infectious Caribbean beats have enticed crossover audiences to swing their hips and sing along -- even taking on some of the words in Spanish. His fourth studio album, "Rebelution," debuted in the Top 10 on the mainstream Billboard chart.

But Pitbull's growing profile means nada as he takes the mound to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the game. "I'm the only Cuban who never picked up a baseball in his life," he said, preparing. He awkwardly winds up and releases the pitch. It falls short, bouncing on the ground before reaching the plate.

"One more try!" he signals. The second attempt is closer to the mark.

It's symbolic of Pit's career. "It's not how you start. It's how you finish it," he likes to say.

Puerto Rico Cancels Calle 13 Concert

2009-10-19T06:23:00.000-07:00

After a member of the group Calle 13 criticized the planned layoffs of Puerto Rican government workers, island officials canceled a show featuring that reggaetón duo in San Juan, P.R., its members’ hometown, according to The Associated Press. On Saturday the mayor of San Juan, Jorge A. Santini Padilla, above, announced that the pair’s Halloween concert would not go on as scheduled because no contract had been signed with the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, where the performance was to take place. On Thursday at MTV’s Latin Music Awards, Calle 13’s lead vocalist, René Pérez Joglar, known as Residente (performing top), insulted the Puerto Rican governor, Luis G. Fortuño, and criticized the government for its plan to lay off 17,000 state employees. “Mr. Pérez will not be bothered by the decision,” Mr. Santini said in a statement, “because I don’t think he is interested in benefiting economically from an event that was going to be held in a facility administered by government personnel for whom he has no respect.”

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Pride in their heritage

2009-10-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

When Evelia Gonzalez Porto came to the Petersburg area 30 years ago, she found few Hispanics living here -- and those who did had no voice.

"At the beginning, we were very few and it was very difficult to be accepted. You always had to try to sort of make people believe in you, that you were really a part of the community, not a foreigner," she said. "I was educated, knew English well and it was still difficult."

A native of Colombia, she was an arts lover who had studied in Buffalo, N.Y. before moving to Virginia.

"I was taught early in life to give back to the community where you live," said Gonzalez Porto, who now lives in Richmond.

She did just that when she came to central Virginia. She became a promoter for Latino artists and a leader for Hispanic women entrepreneurs.

She became involved with the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra, which was just getting started. That involvement led her to other groups, including the Latin Ballet, and to numerous boards in the local and state arts community, including a seat on the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Since 2003, she has organized the Hispanic Women in Arts event that is held annually in Richmond and features amateur and local professional artists.

"I promote all of my artists . . . I want them to succeed and to become part of the system," she said. "They have to learn how to do it, how to go to the galleries, how to do the exhibits and then sell and market their art."

She is proud, she said, to see more opportunities for Latinos in the local arts community and in other areas.

"So how much we have advanced in 30 years? We have the Hispanic Chamber, we have the Latin Ballet, we have the Hispanic Liaison Office in the city of Richmond and the Hispanic Liaison in the governor's office," she said. "We have gone a long way. There is a certain awareness of our community."

The fight is still needed, but at a different level, she said.

"I always remember what my grandfather used to tell me, 'the wind hits only the trees that are taller, those are the ones that are hit by the heavy winds, so when you stand out, the wind is going to be against you, that means the criticism, but it doesn't matter, keep on going, don't look back, just keep on going.'

"I am not afraid of being left out anymore. This is my Virginia as much as anybody else's . . . I came with a lot of cultural wealth and that is something that people should take advantage of. We have brought a culture and that has to be respected and that has to be promoted."

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Obama’s dance with Thalia ‘irks’ wife

2009-10-16T08:37:00.000-07:00

US First Lady Michelle Obama apparently gave a cold shoulder to husband Barack after he did an impromptu salsa dance with spicy Latin pop star Thalia.

The surprise dance occurred during Fiesta Latina- a concert featuring Hispanic stars Gloria Estefan and Jose Feliciano, that took place inside a tent placed on the White House’s South Lawn.
After the short dance with Thalia, cameras captured Obama returning to his seat and tried to say something to Michelle.

But the First Lady playfully blew him off.
Among the guests at the event were Obama’s first appointee to the Supreme Court and its first Hispanic member, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and actors Jimmy Smits, Eva Longoria Parker and George Lopez.
“Like our own Latino community, Latin music is not easy to define,” The New York Post quoted Obama as saying.

“Styles like Cuban salsa, Mexican norteqo, Puerto Rican reggaeton and Dominican bachata are as vibrant and unique as the places they come from,” he added.

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Premios MTV honors best Latin pop, rock

2009-10-16T03:40:00.000-07:00

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. — Mexican pop diva Paulina Rubio and Puerto Rican reggaeton duo Wisin and Yandel got the first awards at the eighth annual Los Premios MTV awards in Los Angeles.

"So early, I wasn't expecting this," she said, clutching her best soloist award, a "lengua," as the lurid pink tongue statuettes are called. "I want to thank my fans who have been voting day and night for 'Causa y efecto.' I'm the cause — you are the effect."

Wisin and Yandel won best video for "Abusadora," at the celebration of the best of the year's pop, rock and reggaeton from Latin America at Universal City's Gibson Amphitheater.
Host Nelly Furtado opened the show Thursday with "Manos al Aire," a song from her Spanish-language album "Mi Plan."

Then things got a little crazy. First the Canadian-Portuguese singer challenged her co-host, Calle 13's Rene Perez, also known as "Residente," to throw down a few lines. She rapped while two male body builders in tiny Speedos gyrated next to her.

Perez called the governor of Puerto Rico a nasty name that's not printable in Spanish or English in a comment about unemployment, public employee layoffs and Boriquen independence.
He used his T-shirts to make more subtle political points. One said, "Chavez for best pop artist" in Spanish, possibly a reference to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He also wore a Mercedes Sosa T-shirt, in honor of the Argentine singer-songwriter who died Oct. 4.

The show featured a live duet from Rubio and Cobra Starship lead singer Gabe Saporta. Music was also rebroadcast from the three regional awards shows in Mexico City, Bogota and Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Spanish balladeer Alejandro Sanz and hip-shaking crossover star Shakira performed in Bogota. Australian synthpop group The Veronicas and Mexican rock band Panda, which won a "lengua" for best group, played from Mexico City.

"We weren't expecting this," Panda singer Jose Madero said. "With the explosion of reggaeton, we thought the winner would be, I don't know, Calle 13."

Best pop artist went to Mexican trio Reik, while alt-psychedelic band Zoe won the award for best rock artist.

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Afro-Latino Heritage Must be Highlighted

2009-10-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

This month is Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration to recognize the lives and contributions of people from Latin America and Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries in the U.S. This is an important month but how it is celebrated in the US leaves many African-Americans not fully understanding the important stake we have in this month. That is because so often celebrations of this month very rarely highlight the important, vibrant Afro-Latino population living and working in every Latin American country. Every country - Yes, even Mexico and Argentina.

Without a doubt, the experiences of some communities, including Afrodescendants and Indigenous, have historically gone unrecognized. The inclusion of Afro-descendants in mainstream conversation rarely happens but it is necessary in order to understand the truth of history and present. African- Americans have a stake in ensuring that these conversations recognize the commonalities within our experiences and in highlighting race as a factor in Latin America. Working in Latin America with women’s groups, youth and political organizations, I am heartened by numerous cultural similarities between African-Americans and Afro-Latinos. In culture, style and experiences we are in many ways the same people. I have said many times before our ancestors didn’t get to chose whether the slave ships stopped in Charleston, South Carolina or in Rio de Janiero; it is only geography and language that separate us.

U.S. policy makers focused on Latin America, rarely focus or even acknowledge race as a major factor in Latin America. Unsurprisingly, both predominately White institutions and many Latin American governments reinforce each other’s apathy and ideological perspectives. Afro Latinos, however, have not waited for policy wonks or their government to change on their own. They are changing there societies from within. The numbers of people of African descent in Latin America are astounding. There are 150 million Afro-descendants in the Western Hemisphere. Brazil has more people of African descent then any country in Africa except Nigeria, making Afro Brazilians the second largest population of Afro-descendants on the planet. The US has the second largest population in the Hemisphere but it is quickly followed by Colombia, a country embroiled in a civil war with severe racial dimensions. Rarely do we hear about the racial aspects of the war in Colombia on the evening news. Countries like Cuba and the Dominican Republic have formidable Afro-descendant populations but so does El Salvador, Honduras, Bolivia and Venezuela. Shockingly, anytime these countries are in the news, the coverage seems to “whitewash” the population implying this notion that racism is just an American construct.

These images rarely reflect the reality of racial diversity within these countries and give little space for heterogeneity of these communities. The few times we do see Afro-Latinos represented they are exoticized or regulated to the same stereotypical roles that African Americans have been struggling against. Our own immigration debate in the US is a very important area where Afro-Latinos have been rendered invisible. Immigration from Latin America is not a black brown conflict. It is a result of unfair economic and political practices on both sides of the border. These practices disfranchise both African Americans and our brothers and sisters in the whole hemisphere. While immigration discussions explicate issues of alienation, race is rarely directly addressed as a factor in the movement of poor people into the U.S.

One thing that remains apparent is the similarity within our experiences. Regardless of country, we know that Afro-descendants throughout the Americas have less access to quality education, healthcare, housing and job security. Unfortunately, racism remains a reality throughout the world and Afrodescendant issues and priorities remain marginalized among U.S. foreign interests in Latin America.

I applaud U.S. policy-makers who are prioritizing these conversations. During this year’s Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Donald Payne led a panel to discuss and address these issues that face Afro-Latinos. We need to take those unique dialogues challenge not only our own knowledge but the media and our policymakers to give voice to a population that is 150 million strong but so often go uncounted.

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Latino groups target CNN’s ‘hypocrisy’

2009-10-14T13:21:00.000-07:00

A Latino activist group has launched a withering attack against CNN's Lou Dobbs for his portrayal of the illegal immigrant issue. The group accuses the news network of "hypocrisy" for its growing efforts to cover Latino issues while continuing to give Dobbs a platform for a long-running crusade against illegal immigrants.
In a three-minute ad it posted to YouTube on Tuesday, BastaDobbs.com, put together by the Latino advocacy group Presente.org and numerous local activist groups across the US, accuses the host of Lou Dobbs Tonight of "promot[ing] hate by telling lies," and points out that the CNN anchor has spread misinformation about America's undocumented immigrants.

"Our campaign targets the dangerous nexus between anti-immigrant extremism and the media," the group states on its Web site. "At the same time that CNN profits from Dobbs’ brand of 'news,' the network is courting Latino viewers by adding Latino talent and producing legitimate programming aimed at the Latino audience. BastaDobbs.com was created to shine the spotlight on this hypocrisy, and demand that CNN deal with its Dobbs problem once and for all."

Referring to CNN host Soledad O'Brien's upcoming special, Latino in America, the group's ad states: "We thank CNN & Soledad for honoring the Latino community. But CNN has a problem." The ad then cuts to footage of Dobbs repeatedly using the term "criminal illegal aliens."

The ad links Dobbs' coverage with growing violence against the Latino minority in the US, pointing to an FBI statistic that shows ethnically motivated violence against Latinos in the US jumped by 40 percent between 2003 and 2007. Lou Dobbs Tonight began airing in 2003.

The BastaDobbs ad refers to the shooting death of 10-year-old Brisenia Flores, of Arivaca, Arizona, for which three people involved in the Minuteman movement were arrested. It then cuts to a shot of Dobbs declaring: "I support the Minuteman project and the fine Americans that make it up, and all they've accomplished, fully relentlessly and proudly."

The ad also shows Dobbs claiming more than once that one-third of the US prison population is composed of illegal immigrants, only to be corrected -- six percent of the prison population is made up of foreign nationals, meaning that fewer than six percent are illegal. Another segment shows Dobbs linking illegal immigration to tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria.

The ad concludes: "It's time to take a stand. CNN, you can't have it both ways. It's time for Dobbs to go."

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