The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is disappointed by the insensitive remark of GOP Representative Don Young.In an interview with KRBD radio Thursday, Representative Young ( R-Alaska) used the racist smear "wetback" in describing migrant workers his father employed in their California ranch.
Young used the derogatory term when explaining how automation has taken away American jobs.
NAHJ has called for his immediate apology.
Such tactless expressions demean a group of hard working people who are often the target of abuse.
It is my personal hope that Mr. Young understands how that term fuels racist and discriminatory actions by ignorant people - who feel it (wetback) is acceptable to use because a person in power (a politician) like him uses it.
I invite Representative Young to a conversation in an effort to educate others about how inappropriate and inaccurate this negative term is.
NAHJ was quoted by reporter Lacie Grosvold from CBS affiliate KTVA - channel 11 in Alaska:
http://www.ktva.com/home/top-stories/Congressman-Don-Young-Uses-Controversial-Term-to-Describe-Ethnic-Group-200599071.html
Here is an Op-Ed I wrote for Fox News Latino:
http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/opinion/2013/03/29/rep-young-wetback-has-always-been-used-in-same-way/
Here's an article that questions if NAHJ has overstepped its goals by demanding an apology from Representative Young. I say as an organization that is made up of journalists and Latinos - it is our constitutional right to give voice to the voiceless: http://mije.org/richardprince/byron-pitts-abc-talks-talk-diversity#Unity
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