Before Tom Brokaw 'Meet(s) the Press' he should meet the Latinos
Open mouth, insert foot. On Sunday’s "Meet The Press," the show was wrapping up with a discussion of what could bring our politically divided country together, and former news anchor Tom Brokaw decided then would be a good time to weigh in with his views about Latinos.
Brokaw said that he hears from “a lot” of Republicans who are unhappy with the rise of the Hispanic community. “Also, I hear, when I push people a little harder, ‘Well, I don’t know whether I want brown grandbabies.’ I mean, that’s also a part of it. It’s the intermarriage that is going on and the cultures that are conflicting with each other.”
Brokaw went on to offer his own opinion. “I also happen to believe that the Hispanics should work harder at assimilation. That’s one of the things I’ve been saying for a long time,” he said. “You know, they ought not to be just codified in their communities but make sure that all their kids are learning to speak English, and that they feel comfortable in the communities. And that’s going to take outreach on both sides, frankly.”
Brokaw rightfully received a storm of criticism on social media, and he issued a series of what he considered apologies on Twitter. In one tweet, he said, “I feel terrible a part of my comments on Hispanics offended some members of that proud culture.”
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Brokaw’s comments were bigoted, misguided, and deeply disappointing. Most importantly, they are not supported by evidence or reality — something an esteemed journalist like Brokaw ought to know.
Steve King territory
When Brokaw reported hearing concerns about having “brown grandbabies,” he was veering dangerously into Steve King territory; the infamous Iowa congressman once opined that the U.S. doesn’t need “somebody else’s babies.” It was a lapse in judgment for Brokaw to relay sentiments that are not only racist but out of date.
In fact, the number of multi-cultural, multi-ethnic U.S. babies is on the rise, according to the Pew Center. One-in-seven, or about 14 percent, of infants were multi-racial or multi-ethnic in 2015, nearly triple the share in 1980. Contrary to Brokaw’s idea that “the cultures are conflicting with each other,” the rise in multi-racial marriage means that more cultures are living and loving in harmony. If people don’t like that, it’s their problem — a more diverse population is something for Americans to cheer, not fear.
Brokaw’s comments about “The Hispanics” needing to “work harder to assimilate” were similarly ignorant, especially since he added that he had been saying this “for a long time.”
Meanwhile, there are currently two Latinos (Julian Castro and Richard Ojeda) running for president, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus has 39 members, an all-time high. Hispanic voters turned out in record numbers in the midterms. A Latina sits on the Supreme Court. Latinos have served in the U.S. military for generations. One of America's hottest tickets is a Broadway show written by a Latino. Latino college enrollment has reached a record high. Latinos are acclaimed athletes, Kennedy Center Honor recipients, and national news anchors. So how exactly do Latinos need to work harder at assimilation?
Latinos assimilate like everyone else
Brokaw doesn’t want Latinos to be “codified in their communities” (whatever that means) and believes Latinos should make sure their kids know English. Here’s a news flash to one of America’s most distinguished journalists: In terms of language, Latinos assimilate just like everybody else. Among first-generation Latino immigrants, Spanish is naturally the dominant language, Pew reports. By the second generation, the use of Spanish falls as the use of English rises. By the third generation, English has become the dominant language. Overall English proficiency is on the rise among Latinos, by the way.
What’s sad about Brokaw’s remarks is that they are a reminder of how pervasive and persistent are the myths about Hispanics “not fitting in” or somehow not being full Americans.
True, Brokaw apologized on Twitter — multiple times. Still, even his apologies were off-base. He mentioned his days reporting on Cesar Chavez as evidence that he values Hispanic contributions to the U.S. However, if Brokaw has to go all the way back to the early 1970s for proof that he values Hispanic Americans, that is a sign that his sense of the Latino community might be a bit dated.
Invoking Cesar Chavez when you are accused of ethnic insensitivity is like saying you have a Black friend when you are accused of being a racist. It is lame and it is no excuse. If Brokaw is legitimately concerned about Hispanics assimilating, maybe he could mentor young Latino journalists, or help push for more diversity in newsrooms.
Brokaw’s "Meet The Press" comments were unfortunate and offensive. Hispanics do not need to work harder at assimilating; we are doing that, and on our own terms. Rather than offering unwanted advice to Hispanics, it would benefit Brokaw to make a serious effort to adapt to the changing face of this country.
Raul Reyes, an attorney, is a member of USA TODAY's Board of Contributors. Follow him on Twitter: @RaulAReyes.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Before Tom Brokaw 'Meet(s) the Press' he should meet the Latinos
