John Leguizamo. Photo by Montclair Film Festival
With his heated comments about immigrants, Republican nominee Donald Trump has done one good thing in the 2016 presidential election cycle, John Leguizamo observes. But the actor, writer and producer believes Latinos are so marginalized in America that their even their bad deeds -- like their historical mistreatment of indigenous peoples -- go unrecognized:
Donald J. Trump has done one good thing. He has galvanized a conflicted and diverse community. For years, activists and politicians have struggled to get Latinos to vote and show their power. But not until Mr. Trump’s racist rhetoric shone a light on anti-Latino sentiment did we feel the need to make our voices heard on the issues that matter to us: from proper funding for our schools, better infrastructure in our communities and financial aid, to health care that doesn’t consider poverty a pre-existing condition. There are around 56 million of us. We are the largest ethnic minority in the United States, at almost 18 percent of the country’s population. And yet Latino students drop out of high school at a higher rate than members of any other minority. We are victims of neglect, discrimination and ignorance. We have grown up amid an entrenched disrespect for Latin culture, and we have often internalized that disrespect. The dominant narrative is that we have just “illegally” crossed the border or are “fresh off the boat.” In fact the Spanish are evidence of America’s first original sin: We were mistreating indigenous people here long before the British brought slaves to the colonies. People forget that Latinos founded some of America’s first cities. Latinos have been dying for America since before we were a nation. Why have our children not heard that thousands of Latino patriots fought for America in the Revolutionary War? Bernardo de Gálvez, a Spanish general, recruited Mexicans, Cubans, Native Americans and free African-Americans to fight against the British in the South, while Cuban women donated their jewelry and money to help the patriots. Where is the Ken Burns documentary about that?Read More:
John Leguizamo: ‘Too Bad You’re Latin’ (The New York Times 10/21)
Join the Conversation
Related Stories
Native
leaders in Alaska endorse Hillary Clinton in historic move (10/20) Utah group aims to elevate Native issues in an unusual election (10/20)
Brandon Ecoffey: It's business as usual for South Dakota's GOP (10/20)
Editorial: Republicans in South Dakota embrace Monster Trump (10/19)
Delphine Red Shirt: Women face dangers in this world every day (10/18)
Steve Russell: Donald Trump continues to grope for more votes (10/17)
Lynn Armitage: Why this Native woman supports Donald Trump (10/17)
Mark Trahant: Native Republican won't abandon Donald Trump (10/14)
Republicans in South Dakota change their tune on Donald Trump (10/13)
APTN ties Donald Trump's 1993 smear to rebuff by California tribe (10/12)
Tribal leaders and advocates slam Donald Trump as NCAI opens annual convention (10/11)
Sen. John McCain doesn't want more 'liberal' justices on Supreme Court (10/11)
Top GOP lawmaker abandons Donald Trump ahead of election (10/11)
Native Republicans in Congress silent as party abandons Trump (10/10)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump is disqualified from the presidency (10/10)
Robin Annette LaDue: The ugly truth of Republican Donald Trump (10/10)
Ivan Star Comes Out: Donald Trump brings racism out into the open (10/06)
School district on reservation in Montana condemns racist pro-Trump tshirts (10/03)
Ryan Winn: Donald Trump owes an apology to the first Americans (09/12)
Steve Russell: Getting into the White House is still political science (09/02)
Donald Trump picks Navajo man for agriculture advisory committee (08/22)
Indian Country advocate heads up Hillary Clinton's transition team (8/17)
Republican vice presidential pick Mike Pence hosts town hall at Sandia Pueblo (08/16)
Steve Russell: Donald Trump will hurt Indian Country on purpose (08/16)
Tribes left out of Republican effort to transfer public land to states (8/16)
Mark Trahant: Are there even any Republicans in Indian Country? (08/15)
Opinion: The media ignores another 'off the reservation' comment (08/15)
Charles Trimble: Tough women like Hillary Clinton deserve a chance (08/11)
End of an era nears with final White House Tribal Nations Conference (08/09)
End of an era nears with final White House Tribal Nations Conference (08/09)
Charles Trimble: Tribal nations must join together for Hillary Clinton (08/02)
Editorial: Donald Trump would force Black Hills settlement on tribes (08/02)
John McCain denounces Donald Trump but won't withdraw support (08/01)
Bryan Newland: Donald Trump's radical view of federal Indian law (07/29)
Tim Giago: Questioning the motto of GOP candidate Donald Trump (07/26)
Doug George-Kanentiio: Donald Trump and his campaign of hatred (07/25)
Mark Charles: The entire nation's problem with Donald Trump (07/22)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump promises a world with no treaties (07/22)
Donald Trump closes Republican convention that left out Indian Country (07/22)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump's Republican convention is one big failure (07/21)
Tribal lobbyist not buying Donald Trump's message of change (07/21)
Donald Trump officially named Republican presidential nominee (07/20)
Republicans unveil platform and project inclusion at convention (7/19)
Mark Trahant: Trump Republicans carry the banner for more coal (7/18)
Navajo artist Vanessa Bowen takes on Donald Trump with 'Make America Native Again' (07/12)
Democrats embrace tribal sovereignty in platform for convention (07/08)
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation slams Donald Trump for 'bigoted' attacks (07/07)
Mark Trahant: Republican candidates play hide the stick with Donald Trump on the ticket (07/06)
Ramapough Lunaape Nation blames Donald Trump for lack of federal status (07/05)
Mainstream media tunes into Trump's attacks on Indian gaming (7/4)
Donald Trump approved Indian gaming attack ads in New York (6/30)
Donald Trump rehashes 'Pocahontas' slur as Elizabeth Warren hits road for Hillary Clinton (06/28)
Donald Trump fares poorly against Hillary Clinton in national poll (06/27)
Leaders of three tribes meet Donald Trump during Arizona stop (06/20)
Navajo Republicans divided on Donald Trump's 'Pocahontas' slur (06/17)
Republicans slam Trump's 'racist' comments but still support him (06/08)
Sen. Barrasso to chair platform committee for GOP convention (05/25)
Donald Trump claims 'Jack Abrahamoff scandal' proves he was right about tribes (05/23)
Donald Trump's long and strained relationship with Indian gaming (05/19)
Donald Trump releases list of potential Supreme Court nominees (05/18)
Mark Trahant: Indian Republican Tom Cole backs Donald Trump (05/18)
Sen. Warren stands up to Donald Trump despite his 'Indian' insults (05/10)
Mark Trahant: Donald Trump brings good news to Native candidates (05/09)
Cowlitz Tribe hosted Donald Trump to discuss his interest in casino (05/09)
Donald Trump advisor filed lawsuit to stop transfer of dam to tribe (04/20)
Donald Trump tried to bully his way into New York tribe's casino bid (04/18)
Backer of Republican Donald Trump described Indians as 'filthy' (04/12)
Donald Trump again derides Sen. Elizabeth Warren as 'the Indian' (03/22)
Donald Trump once claimed IGRA and tribal casinos were illegal (01/29)
Cowlitz Tribe turned down Donald Trump for gaming partnership (10/05)
Donald Trump not shy with invoking race when it comes to tribes (07/31)
