It is spring time again, meaning that the oh-so-not-diverse New York Times is messing up (yet again) when it comes to representation.
Here is this week’s example, first Twitter explained by Gustavo Arellano:
1. NY TIMES FUCKS UP SOCAL FOOD COVERAGE, PART XXIX: The @NYTmag story published a story this week about how avocados became a global industry. That story’s like a decade old, but that’s not my point for this rant—my point is the lead illustration. https://t.co/qxup8ayi8f
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) April 1, 2018
2. Let’s zoom in on this homie here in the illo. Órale, ese! Face and neck tattoos, Pendleton, mad doggers, Dickies shorts, and even a bandanna? What does Little Puppet have to do with avocados? NOTHING. pic.twitter.com/CMWLx6ghtS
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) April 1, 2018
3. The NY Times Mag piece does talk about cartels running the avocado trade (again, story is like a decade old) and so try to do a cutesy illustration about how "gangs" are part of the avocado trade chain. Except…the avocado cartels in Michoacán don't dress like that
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) April 1, 2018
4. But for the NY Times Mag editors (and readers), Mexican criminals are Mexican criminals, so who cares if you illustrate them the same? The greaser is the desperado is the bandito is the cholo is the narco—BARF
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) April 1, 2018
5. It might seem like a trivial issue, but it ain't. Any editor with even some idea of cartels or gangs would know that this is a ridiculous image that has nothing to do with the story at hand. And even the homies don't really dress like that anymore
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) April 1, 2018
6. NY Times just released a diversity report that showed only 5% of its writers are Latinos, and about 4% of of its editors. It shows #diversitymatters
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) April 1, 2018
7. Repeat: cholos have nothing to do with the avocado industry. But to illustrate a cartel member is apparently too hard for the New York Times, so they just got lazy and whipped up an stereotype that their liberal audience would immediately understand and chuckle at #pendejos
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) April 1, 2018
8. PS, I take no joy in dragging NY Times, even though I've done it thrice this year. They do so much great, essential work. But their SoCal cultural stories are either years late, already known, arrogant, or just wrong. And so, I drag
— GustavoArellano (@GustavoArellano) April 2, 2018
As expected, we weren’t the only ones who cringed:
Still very confused about the “cholo” (top, middle) and who (whom?) he represents. It’s all so baffling and it would be kinda funny if it weren’t so insulting. SMH…
— Marcela E. García (@marcela_elisa) April 2, 2018
Seriously. It’s like, “hey I have a few racist stereotypes rattling around in my head, I’m sure I can fit em in here somewhere”
— Pinche Macha (@PincheMacha) April 2, 2018
You cracked it! The @NYTmag illustration clearly shows the @IAMGUILLERMO to @robertlasardo to @edwardjolmos In A Wonderful Ice Cream Suit to #SeanPenn As Jeff Spicoli System of Avocado Harvesting and Distribution…
— Cortez Brothers (@cortezbrothers) April 2, 2018
We did reach out to the illustrator via Twitter. We don’t expect him to reply to us. And we also think that if we contacted the Times, they would just give us a typical Times non-apology.
