Sotomayor Unites Disparate Hispanic Groups

Diverse Latino Groups Bonded By Common Sense Of Pride In Supreme Court Nominee

(Washington Post)  This story was written by Eli Saslow.

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Sometime soon, Hispanics in the United States will once again subdivide into conservatives and liberals, natives and recent immigrants, Cuban Americans, Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans. Some will support the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court; others will oppose it. Some will monitor the daily details of her confirmation process; others will lose interest.

But for at least a few hours yesterday, America's largest ethnic minority seemed largely united in appreciation of a historic benchmark. At 10:17 a.m., President Obama nominated Sotomayor, a New Yorker of Puerto Rican descent who calls herself a "Newyorkrican," to become the first Hispanic to serve on the Supreme Court. Most of the country's 45 million Hispanics knew little or nothing about her, but those who heard of her appointment shared a collective reaction:

Finally. One of us.

A conservative Cuban judge canceled his morning appointments in Miami to watch Sotomayor's news conference on the television in his office. Puerto Rico's biggest newspaper published a story celebrating Sotomayor as a "boricua," a colloquial term reserved for familiar locals. Eight Hispanic civil rights organizations with varied backgrounds and disparate missions hosted a joint news conference at a Senate office building to offer Sotomayor their congratulations.

"This is the most important Hispanic appointment that has been made in this country's history," said Cesar Perales, executive director of LatinoJustice PRLDEF, a New York-based civil rights group. "It is a recognition that we are coming of age."

Yesterday's news was notable not because it touched one subgroup, Hispanics said, but because it managed to unite so many. In two years of demographic research by the Pew Hispanic Center, Hispanics have been defined mainly by their own diversity: Two-thirds voted for Obama, and about one-third voted for Republican John McCain; 60 percent are native-born and 40 percent foreign-born; 64 percent are of Mexican heritage, and the other 36 percent are from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Central America and beyond.

As a united whole, Hispanics make up more than 15 percent of the U.S. population and accounted for about half of the country's growth in the past decade. For many of those who heard Obama's announcement, the moment served as the latest affirmation of Hispanics' imprint on the United States. Sotomayor -- previously anonymous -- became a sudden inspiration.

In Los Angeles, a Spanish-language radio station used the nomination to introduce a segment on becoming a successful Mexican American woman. Mireya Chavarria, a 34-year-old mother of three, heard the broadcast in her car while pulling into the parking lot at Ritmo Latino, a large Spanish music store. "When there's no one there representing your people, there's not as much interest," Chavarria said. "I'm not into politics that much. I care, I look at the news. But knowing there's a Latino person there, it's a little more real."

The instructive and inspirational qualities of Sotomayor's life story were also put to immediate use a couple of miles north of the White House, in Columbia Heights. Laura Ramirez Drain, who leads a nonprofit Latina mentoring group, gathered half a dozen schoolgirls and turned Sotomayor's success into part of their morning lesson. "You have to study very hard, and be good, and never break the law, and follow your dreams," Drain told them.

Puerto Ricans heralded Sotomayor's nomination as a sudden boost to the island's image. Liza Sabater, who lives in New York, threw on a T-shirt bearing an image of the Puerto Rican flag when she heard the news and sent out a message on Twitter: "Today I unapologetically wave my Puerto Rican flag at all of you as a proud boricua mami," she wrote. Puerto Rican officials sent out news releases to remind people that Sotomayor's parents were from Mayague and that she visits the island often.

"It's really important because Puerto Ricans have gotten so much bad press over the years -- stereotyped as being on welfare, involved in terrorism," said Charles S. Hey-Maestre, executive director of Puerto Rico Legal Services Inc. in San Juan. "They say, 'Puerto Ricans are really talented baseball players, but have you heard of them doing anything else?'… Now we have Sotomayor."

Perhaps no other place seized its ownership of Sotomayor yesterday quite like the Bronxdale Houses, the South Bronx public housing development where the judge grew up. Word of the nomination spread quickly through the brown-brick buildings -- in part thanks to Saomi Guzman, 39, a registered nurse of Puerto Rican descent who eagerly informed as many people as she could.

Guzman immediately told her 6-year-old son, even though he was too young to understand. "I want to inspire him, give him something to work toward," she said. Then Guzman pointedly informed a young man with an iPod bud dangling out of his ear who, she said, spends too much time hanging out with friends at the entrance to a local building.

"They need to motivate themselves to do better," Guzman said. "Not just trash comes out of the projects."

Some veteran Hispanic civil rights activists said Sotomayor's confirmation created widespread joy because her biography offers an antidote to so many cultural stereotypes. "The Latino community doesn't agree all the time, but she offers something to everybody," said Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farmworkers of America. "Being Puerto Rican, a woman and growing up poor -- this inspires everybody."

Especially Luis Reyes, 49, a Salvadoran-born businessman who arrived almost penniless three decades ago and now lives in spacious house in upper Northwest Washington. He said he yelled for his 11-year-old daughter as soon as he heard the news anchor start to announce Obama's decision on his living-room television set. "I told her, 'Come! Come! You have to come see this! This is a historic occasion that should inspire you,'" he said. "When I first got to this country, this would have been unthinkable."

Several hours later, Reyes was still glowing as he recounted the moment to a group of construction workers who accompanied him to lunch at a local Mexican restaurant. Like many local Hispanic immigrants who work in blue-collar jobs that start shortly after dawn, the construction workers had not followed the morning's announcement closely, and they still knew little about Sotomayor in the early afternoon.

"Is she liberal or conservative?" asked Sergio Roa, 55, a Mexican immigrant who is applying for U.S. citizenship.

"She's more liberal," answered Reyes. "It's important because we're starting to be represented in all the levels of government," he continued. "Now there's only one thing we're still missing."

"What's that?" Roa asked.

"To have a Latino in the White House," Reyes said. "I think we'll have that in 30, 40 years."

He paused.

"Or you know what? Maybe much sooner," he said. "Today, everything seems possible."

[abbe91]

This is a heartwarming story....if your an illegal grunt.
Posted by sky_five at 2:48 PM : May 27, 2009

Yes ...if "your" an illiterate illegal grunt.

[saturn05]

Do Hispanics think they will get something from this? Or do they understand it is just a Supreme Court Justice nominee that happens to be a woman and a Hispanic. I don't mean to sound sarcastic, but I just hope that people don't think that something is going to change except for maybe a more liberal view that protects people instead of companies.

[knowdalaw]

Sotomayor is a "Sheep in Wolves Clothing."

She is either a RACIST or terribly IGNORANT to make a STUPID statement like that. We do not need a RACIST on the Supreme Court.

Please nominate someone else.

STUPID is as STUPID Does.

[tmittelstaed]

"...Troubling ....... Sonia Sotomayor. http://reason.com/news/show/133722..."

So what? I'll take a liberal activist judge on the Supreme Court any day. Don't you realize that the court has been stacked with conservatives for the last 30 years? Even during the Clinton administration, Clinton was prevented from appointing anyone who wasn't a centrist due to the Republican's power in Congress. By contrast the Republicans had so much power they nearly destroyed the right to filibuster judicial nominations during Bush's administration.

Sotomayor is going to have a very lonely fight on the Supreme Court for many many years. It's about time that the other side was represented on the Court.

[gravyboat69]

She said yesterday that she could provide better judgements than some white guy. If that isn't racist, I don't know what is.
Posted by mrcrosbyll


She didn't say this yesterday, it was at lecture, years ago. And you're to stupid to understand what she was saying.

This however...


They are not Spanish because they don't come from Spain. Use "wet-back" it fits like a glove
Posted by mrcrosbyll at 12:28 PM : May 27, 2009

is completely racist. Oh, and proves that you aint to brite.

Continue with the mornic racist rants.

[gravyboat69]

She does go after all the different ethnic groups when she is working her corner though
Posted by mrcrosbyll

Wow, that was uncalled for.

[gravyboat69]

skyk-2009, are your panties getting too tight toady. Tell your mommy to get you some bigger ones. maybe you should try silk and stop trying to wear her satin ones
Posted by mrcrosbyll

I just LOVE my silk boxers.

[louiville2]

You gotta be Klan... Nobody does this better than they do.. Now this loser wants all of you out there to be VERY scared of this AMERICAN Citizen because HE can link her to the Gangs in LA. Never mind that she was BORN in America and that she is from NEW YORK! That doesn't matter to the Klan folks... If she ain't White and a Male, they any scare tactics is okay... any length necessary right pal?
Posted by skyk-2009 at 12:48 PM

This is a typical bigot who slanders others they know nothing of. This article is about uniting "disparat hispanic groups" (racist groups) which for anyone with half a brain would know is extreamly dangerous.

[louiville2]

Racist Hispanic gangs targeting African Americans for ethnic cleansing-

''They Wanted All Blacks Out''

http://www.blackvoices.com/boards/cities/oklahomacity/oklahoma-city-ok/racist-hispanic-gangs-targeting-african/235/1

The bloody gang collaborates with the Mexican Mafia, the dominant force in ... Also see the list of contributors to the National Council of La Raza,Saying the NAACP is with them is just another attempt by La Raza to appear main stream,Democrats wanted to cave in completely to the Mexican Mafia and the Mexican invasion,Maxine Waters and the Congressional Black Caucus & ?Why isn?t anyone talking about the Mexican Mafia (a gang of illegal Mexicans that controls the California prison system)?? she thundered. ?I don?t care if you?re pink or purple or white or black or brown, I want you out if you?re committing crimes.?

"Principal Norm Morrow told the Los Angeles Times:"We just have a lot of issues with race," said Morrow. "It's coming out of the community, into the school." Cops in riot gear now patrol the school. BOTH Hispanic parties state/local/ and federal contribute to La Raza (THE Race), Mecha, LULAC, etc etc etc.. ]. "

[skyk-2009]

I guess you missed the documentary of the ongoing race war in LA on the history channel, dating tback to the fifties. But has increased in the last few years.

Oh that's right you have a democrat brain see: http://www.thepeoplescube.com/images/Brain_Socialist_550.gif
Posted by louiville2 at 12:41 PM : May 27, 2009

You gotta be Klan... Nobody does this better than they do.. Now this loser wants all of you out there to be VERY scared of this AMERICAN Citizen because HE can link her to the Gangs in LA. Never mind that she was BORN in America and that she is from NEW YORK! That doesn't matter to the Klan folks... If she ain't White and a Male, they any scare tactics is okay... any length necessary right pal?

[louiville2]

Are you Klan dude? I ask that because during our battle with them on Civil Rights they'd use the same scare tactics against all blacks. The Klan found that scaring people is MUCH easier than trying to come up with an HONORABLE reason to keep Jim Crowe in place. Thus they would tie all civil rights leaders to intercity blacks. It was disgusting then and it's just as disgusting now. ANYONE who cares to look at the long and distinguished record of this Judge can NOT find any Racism... I KNOW I've fought it my entire life!
Posted by skyk-2009 at 12:35 PM


LOL Ohh you mean ALL the jim crow laws that were writen by DEMOCRATS. BTW she would NOT be the first Hispanic on the Court. (See Cardoza)

[skyk-2009]

She said yesterday that she could provide better judgements than some white guy. If that isn't racist, I don't know what is.
Posted by mrcrosbyll at 12:37 PM : May 27, 2009

Well kid WHEN you get married you'll understand that... Wife said it to me at least Twice this week... how women are better than men at things. It is only something to fear if you're a kid like yourself. Adults would ask you to show CASE evidence that she actually BELIEVED it. When you grow up you'll understand.

[louiville2]

asnd your Theory comes from which GOP ThinkTank?
Posted by Retarded_Conservative at 12:24 PM

I guess you missed the documentary of the ongoing race war in LA on the history channel, dating tback to the fifties. But has increased in the last few years.

Oh that's right you have a democrat brain see: http://www.thepeoplescube.com/images/Brain_Socialist_550.gif

[skyk-2009]

You obviously don't know what you want. The he is a she so figure out what you want. She is not a he
Posted by mrcrosbyll at 12:32 PM : May 27, 20

Just went right over your head there didn't it? LOL What grade are you in? 8th? LOL

[skyk-2009]

They are not Spanish because they don't come from Spain. Use "wet-back" it fits like a glove
Posted by mrcrosbyll at 12:28 PM : May 27, 2009

To be a Racist is one thing but to be an IGNORANT Uneducated One? Now that's priceless! LOL Let me guess! YOU think She's from another Country? LOL The folks who live in Mexico and come to America Illegally? They are called Wet Backs because they have to cross the Rio Grande!! LOL Have you thought about maybe taking a few night classes? LOL I mean honestly you HAVE to have enough intelligence to keep from embarrassing yourself!! LOL

[skyk-2009]

A story carried on the liberal website Alternet, charts an explosion in brutal murders of blacks by Hispanic street gangs in L.A. Far from being gang on gang violence, the Latinos are targeting innocent blacks in accordance with a concerted ethnic cleansing campaign that seeks to eradicate all blacks from Hispanic neighborhoods."
Posted by louiville2 at 12:21 PM : May 27, 2009

Are you Klan dude? I ask that because during our battle with them on Civil Rights they'd use the same scare tactics against all blacks. The Klan found that scaring people is MUCH easier than trying to come up with an HONORABLE reason to keep Jim Crowe in place. Thus they would tie all civil rights leaders to intercity blacks. It was disgusting then and it's just as disgusting now. ANYONE who cares to look at the long and distinguished record of this Judge can NOT find any Racism... I KNOW I've fought it my entire life!

[skyk-2009]

To all the Hispanic Citizens out there, congrats! It's been far to long in coming but a very impressive choice here. Talk about a story of beating all odds. IF you want a judge that's the kind of judge I want, one that WASN'T born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

[louiville2]

THE KKK ALL JOINED THE REPUBLI'CON' PARTY

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN,

AND WHY WOULD YOU CONSERVATIVES WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH

THE KLU KLUS KLAN ANYWAY?
Posted by Strike-Hold at 11:16 AM

Man are you naive!!!!! There?s been an ongoing race war for decades.
"Racist Mexican gangs are indiscriminately targeting blacks who aren't even involved in gang culture, as part of an orchestrated ethnic cleansing program that is forcing black people to flee Los Angeles. The culprit of the carnage is the radical Neo-Nazi liberation theology known as La Raza, which calls for the extermination of all races in America besides Latinos, and is being bankrolled by some of the biggest Globalists in the U.S.

A story carried on the liberal website Alternet, charts an explosion in brutal murders of blacks by Hispanic street gangs in L.A. Far from being gang on gang violence, the Latinos are targeting innocent blacks in accordance with a concerted ethnic cleansing campaign that seeks to eradicate all blacks from Hispanic neighborhoods."

[louiville2]

All major hispanic groups such as LULAC, LaRaza, GI Forum, etc and all hispanic radio shows are behind Sotomayer. Any Republican Senator who votes againist her does so at his/her political peril. They can forget about any re-elections.
Posted by ramos1129 at 9:05 AM

Ohhh you mean all those racist KKK groups like La Raza (The Race). Yeah we wouldn't want them upset.

[YCantWeAllGetAlong]

"one of us". Everything is racist. Who cares what nationality, ethnicity, race or religion she is?