Image is everything
On July 9, the Associate Press did a piece entitled, “In long-predicted shift, California Latinos outnumber whites.”
The photo used with this article is very interesting. In the photo, there are Latinos holding babies, one pushing a baby carriage, T-shirts hanging out, with very indifferent, even sad expressions. No one is smiling or seems content.
Such depictions of Latinos is stereotypical and unproductive. In this photo that is supposed to represent Latinos, the AP, through this subliminal portrayal, appears to be heralding a decline in culture and sophistication for California with the advent of the new Latino majority.
The fact that such depictions are matter of fact is a concern and might reveal hidden prejudices. In order for us Americans to advance ourselves in our pluralistic society, we need rid ourselves of such prejudiced depictions in apparently neutral news outlets.
Joe Pulido, Clovis
This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 6:18 AM with the headline "Image is everything."