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In an ever changing world,
I never realized just how prevalent racism was in society.
People say that racism is dead but I believe that it is still
alive, well, and rearing its ugly head toward the Latino/a
community. After having recently received an e-mail via the
Hispanic List serve regarding a current article in Vanity
Fair, I realized just what was going on in the minds of many
people all over the country: ignorance. Racism is underlying,
maybe not voiced aloud, but many people have preconceived
notions about other races and cultures. In the February issue
of Vanity Fair a reader wrote Dame Edna for some advice. It
reads as follows:
“Dear Dame Edna,
I would very much like to learn a foreign language, preferably
French or Italian, but every time I mention this, people tell
me to learn Spanish instead. They say, ‘Everyone is going
to be speaking Spanish in 10 years. George W. Bush speaks
Spanish.’ Could this be true? Are we all going to have
to speak Spanish?
Torn Romantic, Palm Beach”
In response Dame Edna writes
“Dear Torn,
Forget Spanish. There’s nothing in that language worth
reading except Don Quixote, and a quick listen to the CD of
Man of La Mancha will take care of that. There was a poet
named Garcia Lorca, but I’d leave him on the intellectual
back burner if I were you. As for everyone’s speaking
it, what twaddle! Who speaks it that you are really desperate
to talk to? The Help? Your Leaf blower? Study French or German,
where there are at least a few books worth reading, or, if
you’re American, try English.“
Apparently, this is what Dame Edna felt
was acceptable to say in response. I have to wonder, not only
about what type of society we live in, but how this writer
justified in their head that this was something that should
be printed in a national magazine. As a young Latina woman
I have to ask, “Are we taking steps backwards?”
Messages such as this one clearly display that although the
Latino/a community has taken great strides, we still have
a long way to go. I truly feel that columns such as Dame Edna’s
are to attempt to keep minorities “in their place.”
With the current Latin Crave, maybe she felt that our moment
of glory needed to be cut short, but who the hell is she to
tell the nation about our community? It is time that these
stereotypes are put to rest and that we take a stand.
After calling Latina Magazine, I was pleased to hear that
in the February 11th New York Times newspaper, a formal apology
to the Latino/a community was issued. I was also pleased to
receive a response from the editors of Vanity Fair after submitting
my letter of disgust. Vanity Fair has stated in their letter
to me that they will once again be printing their formal apology
to the Latino/a community, along with a letter from Salma
Hayek, who happened to appear on the cover of their February
issue.
I would like to thank the Ohio State Latino/a community because,
in making this matter known, many more people have been enlightened.
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