Written by a Latino:

I live in the Bay Area in California, which is quite racially diverse.  One time, while travelling for business, I was in the Spokane airport.  I’m surprised to notice that all the people walking through the airport are white.  I see a group of four young white men, college age - talking, laughing and playfully rough- housing with each other.

A few minutes later I decide to use the restroom.  While standing at a urinal, I hear somebody in a jesting voice yell out, "Hey Jose!"  I turn my head and see one of the young white men from the group looking at me and laughing as he leaves the restroom.

Commentary to Latino/Latina Vignette #5

The Latino who wrote this vignette comments:

“My name is not Jose; I’d never met the man who called me that.  It felt like a racial putdown. When I was growing up I sometimes heard white people refer to Latinos as ‘Jose’.  There was a popular comedian who made up the character Jose Jimenez.  Jose was ignorant, naive and stupid.  Everyone laughed.  Actually all he had to do was say was, ‘My name eees Jose Jimenez,’ and everyone would start laughing.”

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