A Reuters study on consumer spending indicates that Latino spending for non-essential goods and services is in a sharp decline. A recent surge in deportations is causing Latinos, even those who are U.S. citizens, to curtail their shopping out of fear of deportation or harassment. The CEO of Target, Brian Cornell, says that Latinos are staying home and going out less often. Experts say that brands popular with Latinos such as Nike, Sketchers, and Vans could take a big hit however, essentials, such as food and household items, are showing less of an impact. In my view, this is only the tip of the iceberg. Latinos are the U.S. economic drivers behind everything from consumer spending to labor force growth. While Latinos are extremely resilient, bounce back spending typically occurs very gradually. It will be fascinating to see how our policy makers respond once corporate profits and the national GDP start to tank.
We hear frequently how Latinos are not a monolithic community. In other words, we are not all the same. We come from different countries, have a variety of political views, and even eat different foods. I get all of that, but I also think focusing constantly on our differences versus our similarities undermines our political and economic power as a community...
This might be my most provocative blog in a while. Let me first state that I am happily married to a beautiful gringa. My kids are half- White and some of my best friends throughout my life have been White, so don’t let the title of this blog throw you.
A few weeks ago, Twitter was blowing up when John Leguizamo spoke out against the recent casting of James Franco as Fidel Castro in the independent film ‘Alina of Cuba’. Leguizamo took plenty of heat for his stance and was ridiculed by some including Bill Maher.