Brown & Black Sonoro | Jack Rico, Mike Sargent

Are Latinos becoming the new whites, and what role does politics play in this ideological shift?
We talk to Political psychologist Efren Perez, a UCLA Professor of Political Science and Psychology, who holds a PhD from Duke University. His research focuses on race, ethnicity, politics, and society.
He recently wrote an article in Newsweek titled "Why the Politics of Republican Latinos Suggests They Want to be White." In it, he argues that some Latinos view whiteness not as a race but as an ideology associated with power, privilege, and dominance.
In this episode, Professor Perez uses data and scientific analysis to explore the psychological and political factors that drive some Latinos to aspire to "whiteness." Is it a survival mechanism or is it status-seeking? What are the long-term implications of this negotiation of identity?
This episode's discussion promises to challenge everything you thought you knew about Latino identity in the U.S.
Episode Summary:

Perez on his recent Newsweek article and the concept of "ideological whiteness."

Exploring Latino identity and the political landscape.

Impact of personality traits on political ideology among Latinos.

Latino Republicans and their alignment with conservative ideologies.

Discussion on how historical shifts have redefined racial categories.

Potential future of Latino identity and politics in the U.S.


Key Quotes: ❞
Efren on the potential transformation of Latino identity through political allegiances:
"Are you going to say, “I can acknowledge that's my social position, but in order for me to get something better, I got to distance myself from these other groups?”
Efren on the interplay between internal group dynamics and external political pressures:
"We've been talking about Latinos and African Americans and other groups as if they sort of naturally belong together. They don't."
Efren on the Political Shifts in Latino Identity
"The main point is that the category of white has expanded and narrowed across the centuries. And we are living in a moment, awash in data where we can show you that it's going through expansion right now."
Efren on Racial and Political Dynamics
“Quit focusing on the outliers, visible as they may be, tempting as it may be, and focus your energy on organizing, mobilizing the two-thirds that are already convinced, but don't have the time to vote, don't have the time or resources to make their perspective felt."
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Sheila E broke barriers as both a talented percussionist and an Afro-Latina artist. In this episode, she reveals the personal motivations behind creating her first salsa album now, "Bailar," and explores her relationship with Latin music and identity. Her answers offer a unique window into the challenges and triumphs of embracing heritage and language through music.
She also discusses how personal this salsa album was to her as a way to connect with her father, Latin jazz artist Pete Escovedo. This project was a challenge as she doesn't speak Spanish, but she was determined to share her passion for salsa with the world and inspire the younger generation to learn about this important genre in Latin music history.
Episode Summary:

Sheila E.'s inspiration for her first salsa album

Salsa's legacy and Sheila E.'s Afro-Latina identity

Challenges in creating Sheila E.'s salsa album

Sheila E.'s learning process while making the album

Personal significance of salsa for Sheila E.

Sheila E.'s Hollywood Walk of Fame star

Sheila E.'s collaborations with Gloria Estefan

The future of salsa and Sheila E.'s role in it


Subscribe and listen to 'Brown & Black': 🎧
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/47JgORF
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/2uwVWk2

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https://www.instagram.com/brownblackpodcast
https://www.instagram.com/jackrico
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In tribute to the life and career of legendary actor Louis Gossett Jr., we are re-airing our 2020 interview with him regarding his role as Luis Garcia in 'The Cuban'. In this conversation, Mr. Gossett Jr. shared his insights on embracing international cultures and his love for Cuba.
'The Cuban', where Gossett plays a Cuban jazz musician in a nursing home with dementia. The episode explores the sensitivity around the importance of cultural representation in film, and the unification of Brown and Black communities in art and society.
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Mike and Jack have an in-depth discussion with a claimed Afro Cuban singer Daymé Arocena about her new album Alkemi, she opens up about her struggles as a black Latina woman in this industry, how we perceive black skin, how we perceive Latina women with black skin, body image in the pop music industry and how has that all impacted and Influenced the way she sees herself as an artist. What kind of reclamation does a black Latina woman in the music industry today have to go through?
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In this episode, progress vs. preservation. We discuss the alarming white backlash targeting Latino interns and how AI is impacting the film industry and creators of color. We explore how these two stories set the stage for a broader debate on diversity in the digital age.
The Smithsonian Latino Museum is being sued for its pro-Latino internship program designed to increase Latino representation. What other Latino programs are next? We discuss why they are the latest target in a growing wave of racial backlash. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2024/02/23/smithsonian-latino-diversity-lawsuit/
Tyler Perry paused an $800 million investment due to advancements in OpenAI's Sora, raising concerns that traditional creative jobs could become obsolete. If workforces of color are displaced by AI, could we be creating "the new poor," a new class of permanently unemployed? https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/tyler-perry-ai-alarm-1235833276/
Episode Summary
[04:00]: Edward Blum's legal strategies toward Latino interns
[08:45]: White backlash against DEI efforts
[12:00]: The strategy behind attacking pipelines for minority progress
[14:30]: Tyler Perry's pause on a major investment due to Open AI's Sora
[22:15]: Invisible effects of tech advancements and their ethical considerations
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Does Colman Domingo's Blackness overshadow his Latino heritage, making him invisible to the Afro-Latino community?
In this episode, we'll analyze how Latino and Black films and actors fared in the 2024 Oscar nominations. We'll also discuss Colman Domingo's groundbreaking Best Actor nomination as the first Afro-Latino LGBTQ+ actor, and whether his potential win will resonate with the broader Afro-Latino community.
We then dissect America Ferrera's historic Oscar nomination as the third Latina to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress and the first person of Honduran descent to be nominated for an Academy Award. But was her nomination overshadowed by white feminism?
Episode Summary:
What the Oscar nominations say about us and our tastes
Analysis of Best Picture nominees of color
Analysis of the Best acting nominees of color
The Latino Renaissance is coming
Why America Ferrera's Oscar nomination is so rare and special
Colman Domingo's identity: Black man or Afro-Latino?
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