One Latinegra's Opinion on 'Soto-Gate'

By Alicia Cruz

Senior writer
TheBlackurbantimes

¡Hola mi gente y todas mi gente!
¿Que la estapa? ¡Ahi va otra vez!

If you're a Spike Lee fan (like me), you probably agree that "Malcom X' is one of his best films. Denzel Washington's striking resemblance and outstanding portrayal of the late civil rights leader was phenomenal.

A scene from that movie always puts me in mind of what type discord and injustice the "cry wolf" tactics of an individual or group can stir up. Which brings me to giving my two-cents on all of the uproar over Justice Sotomayor's "wise Latina" comment. Soto-gate (as I call it) is totally ridiculous.

First off, I was in reverent awe as I watched Texas Senator John Cornyn work himself into a conniption fit over her comment then fixate himself on Justice Sotomayor's involvement with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, an organization whose mission is to provide equal opportunity for Latinos—a large part of Cornyn’s constituency. So how dare he.

Throughout the course of her intense questioning by the Republican, Justice Sotomayor clarified, rationalized and explained what she meant to convey by calling herself a "wise Latina." She even apologized.

I feel that apologizing is an admittance of guilt or a bad act. I felt her comment was just that, a comment. It was not a racial insult nor was it a malicious comment.

She had nothing to apologize for, but, in order to be politically correct, I guess, she had to kowtow.

Many of my friends title themselves as "strong Black women." By their saying so, does that make them racist?

No, they are merely expressing themselves and adding to it what race they are made of.

If I do not agree with their self-imposed title, that's just my opinion, but their saying it does not make them any more a racist than my standing in a church building makes me a Christian.

In a day where a woman calling herself a "real bit--" or a Black man calling himself a "real nig---" is considered "keeping it real," a Latina calling herself a "wise Latina" can hardly be considered a slant or insult let alone a racial remark. Now that's keeping it real, mi gentes!

Now if Justice Sotomayor had said, "I am a wise Latina...unlike my lame-brain, country bumpkin, hillbilly, honky, red-neck counterparts..." I could have clearly understood members calling for her head on a silver platter and I might have joined in on it. Maligning another race to highlight your own is immature, ignorant and racist.
That is not what Justice Sotomayor did. She merely expressed and patted herself on the back for all of her accomplishments.

If a Black Justice had said, "I am a wise, strong, beautiful, brown-skinned African American woman and I will be the first Black female in the high court..."

Africandos and Black Americans all over the world would have cheered and rallied for weeks with no backlash - - as they did after President Obama became the first Black President.

So what was wrong with Justice Sotomayor and Latinos all over the world cheering on her and her comment?

Inundating our tellies and internet for days over such a harmless comment only shows that certain people have little or nothing else better to do but to make mountains out of molehills for their own reasons.

I am a latinegra raised in the South Bronx whose life experiences have served to make me a stronger, wiser Latinegra and I will not apologize for that.
Hispanic women, mothers, grandmothers, and our bisabuelas, with the richness of their heritage, their culture and their experiences (like Justice Sotomayor) are wise women.
Our husbands, children, families and home are our castillo's and many of us run tight ships to send intelligent, wise, productive children into the world.

We, like members of other races, are within our right to be proud of those attributes and share that with the world.
If we all viewed Justice Sotomayor’s comment from this perspective, it would be easier to understand that there was no malice let alone racial overture intended.

Please, for the love of God, don't allow the "cry wolf" tactic of someone to

A. Deflect attention away from the real issue at hand

B. To cause unrest and get your minds off of important issues

C. To manipulate

These individuals' intentions are to deter our eyes and ears from the real matters at hand and have us gnawing at one another over minute "issues" by screaming racism or favoritism so that we're too spent and angry to rally over the real issues.

This is how the real enemy...the real racists' creep in (right under our noses) and take over. They divide and conquer. And we're left holding the bag.

Be smart.

When someone is turning a minor issue into a mountain ask yourself why and really listen to them and more importantly...watch them.

If we minorities had banned together and refused to allow Justice Sotomayor to be called out of her name and persecuted over nothing...you have no idea what strides we, as a people, would have made in the human race. Think about that.

Peace, love and Lechón grease to one and all.