Nury Martinez and the Dirty Truth of Latino Anti-Blackness

Brown & Black

One of the most controversial subjects in Latino culture is Latino Anti-Blackness. It is an issue that isn’t discussed or acknowledged and most Latinos prefer to avoid it altogether. It is a silent sin ingrained into the culture since the Spaniards first colonized the Americas. It is a subject our Latino co-host Jack Rico has had a reckoning with by having to confront questions from his Black co-host Mike Sargent, all due to the recent Nury Martinez scandal.

For those unfamiliar, Nury Martinez, the President of the Los Angeles City Council, and her Latino colleagues were caught making racist and discriminatory remarks against Black citizens in an audio recording that was leaked to the press.

In this special podcast episode, Jack and Mike have a deep come-to-Jesus discussion about Latino racism. They examine the differences between the Hispanic communities on the West Coast and the East Coast and how they have historically interacted with African-Americans.

Episode Breakdown
Segment 1: The Impact of White Supremacy on Latinos
Jack explains to Mike how white supremacy has shaped and molded the Hispanic community's social ladder, with white at the top, black at the bottom, and brown in the middle. They discuss how many Latinos make choices based on their need to provide for their families, leading to behavior that mimics that of white people.

Segment 2: Lack of Afro-Latino Representation in Spanish Language Media
The hosts address the absence of Afro-Latino actors and executives in Spanish language programming and the only Spanish language show led by an Afro-Latina, a Celia Cruz telenovela. They discuss why they believe Afro-Latino actors don't have more representation in Spanish language programming today.

Segment 3: The Mindset of Colonization and Its Role in Perpetuating Anti-Blackness
The hosts discuss how the mindset of colonization perpetuates a self-sustaining cycle of oppression. They address the issue of Latino racism being specific to the United States, driven by population numbers and the need to maintain power and status, rather than acknowledging their immigrant heritage as their primary identity.

Brown & Black

The ongoing mission of the Brown & Black podcast is to strive toward the unification of Latino and Black communities. Through thought-provoking conversations, in-depth interviews, and cultural analysis, the show aims to bridge the gap between two cultures by creating a space of understanding, empathy, and unity. As we believe, despite our differences, our shared humanity is what brings us together.

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Chapters

1. Tempo: 120.0 (00:00:00)