I am pissed - Where's the green peppers?

[kpete]

ByBRENDAN JAMESPublishedMARCH 16, 2015, 2:30 PM EDT

The Economist magazine faced ridicule on Monday after it revealed its cover for an issue focusing on America's Latino population: an American flag fashioned out of chili peppers.

"A special report on America's Latinos," the cover read.

The thinking man's weekly tweeted the issue's cover on Thursday, adding the text, "This week's cover: Firing up America."

But the backlash didn't bubble up until Monday morning. Several people faulted the cover as cringeworthy; Vox Media went so far as to call it "embarrassingly racist."


no me gusta:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/economist-cover-latinos-peppers

[riversedge]

1. I live in NM for a while-home of chile peppers. Anyway, EVERYthing is made out of chile peppers....

I think the flag is quite cute.

[kpete]

3. you might like this too?

:small
https://twitter.com/Carrasquillo/status/577433358868869120

[riversedge]

6. chuckle

[Warpy]

4. I live in NM and I'm not offended

You need to put chile into everything at this altitude, otherwise it all tastes like airline food.

[frazzled]

2. Ouf

In case you don't get the level of offense, think about a cover of the Economist featuring a special report on America's Black Community, with an American flag made out of fried chicken legs.

[yeoman6987]

5. Peppers are racist now? Add to the list.

[frazzled]

9. It's all in the context

Fried chicken and watermelon aren't racist in and of themselves (nor are chili peppers), unless you're using them in the context of stereotyping a group.

America's Latino population, the subject of this issue, is more than a bunch of hot-sauce eaters. It's a rich and extremely varied group of people from all walks of life with all kinds of backgrounds and all kinds of interests and professions—from lawyers to lawn men, professors or investment bankers to maids. To symbolize them through this symbol of South-of-the-Border food is to make a statement. Think of all the other covers they could have made. And then think about this again.

[Throd]

10. I still don't see the offense.

Perhaps the graphic designer used the chilis as a shorthand reference of how Latinos are woven into the fabric of America.

[Throd]

7. But it isn't that.

[el_bryanto]

8. That's a tricky one -

Chili Peppers are a cultural stereotype for Latino culture - a shorthand. It's not a really negative stereotype; but it is a stereotype.

Bryant