The Unknown

Rodriguez 1

Cinthia Rodriguez Marin

Ms. Mckoy

English 2-Block 2

10/9/13

The Unknown

Is it you that defines me,

Is it society that puts us as a whole,

Is it our actions that construct our characteristic of humanity,

Or is it our digging for a place in life that put us in a cold-blooded hole?

The truth must be told, she is lost in that cold-blooded hole

A world where jokes, discrimination, stereotypes revolve,

A problem that grows but no one bothers to solve it,

An action from another causes betrayal for those who never want to get involved,

There are others pleading for salvation but all they get is “deal with it,”

  Tears run down her light colored cheeks with the most hidden pain

The sun beams in summer on everybody but only a few get sunburn,

Color and beauty of Hispanics is hidden,

The reason is each individual is not their concern,

No one cares about the truth, they only look at what is given,

She soon becomes obsessed to make the blind see

Taking a walk in their shoes? No one dares,

The bravest find freedom by the thirst in dry land,

The uneducated become numb and don’t care,

Freedom is found but judgment is gained,

All she wanted was a brighter shine in her doomed life

Look at me, I am Hispanic,

Given a glare for what I didn’t do,

You will never see me panic,

Race does not define me, but the understanding of that seem to be known by few,

I come out that fake cold-blooded whole full with cruelty

Walking with my head up high shows power,

My determination to succeed is mine,

The lies that are told make them cowards,

I bring no harm, I CAUSE no violence, but I’m seen as a bloody crime,

Yes, I once was lost, but I am who I am

So tell me…

Is it you that defines me,

Is it society that puts us as a whole,

Is it our actions that construct us our characteristic of humanity,

Or is it our digging for a place in life put us in a cold-blooded hole,

Letter to the editor

Early College High School

2050 Hwy. 501 E.

Conway, SC 29526

The Sun News,

Letter to the Editor,

P.O. Box 406,

Myrtle Beach, SC 29578

Dear Editor and Chief

       

My name is Cinthia Rodriguez Marin. I am a sophomore at Early College High School in Conway.

I am writing to address that Hispanics are left at the bottom of the social class due to how media portrays them. People in society are being educated by media; such as, the news, comedy, movies, TV shows, and even advertising. Hispanics are viewed as negative people. Therefore the outline on their behavior, culture, personality, religion, and their daily activities are not seen in a halcyon way. Yes, some are immigrants and cause negativism, but don’t other races do too. I am a strong believer that a rotten apple shouldn’t rotten the others.

        

Jokes are the punch lines that lead to discrimination. Discrimination may lead to hatred, violence, segregation within society, and opportunity lost. People say actions speak louder then words but actions of individuals should not be a reason to place Hispanics at the bottom of the social class by media.

Sincerely,

Cinthia Rodriguez

Exploratory Essay

Cinthia Rodriguez Marin

Ms. Mckoy

English 2- Block 2

September 11, 2013

Media In Crime

        Very often we unknowingly judge people for their race, color, what they have on, how they walk or how they talk. When we act upon these judgments whether it is negative or positive it is called profiling. Too often the Hispanics’ population is victim of said act. In high school teens befriend peers based on commonalities, to find comfort, or simply because of insecurity. Hispanics in America are viewed as low class. Illegal immigration, poverty stricken, little or no English, is usually the punch lines of crude jokes regarding the Hispanic community. In recent years the Hispanics community has been a victim of being placed at the bottom of the social class.

        Most Hispanics come to the United States to live “El Sueño Americano”, the American Dream. It’s like an open door that allows them to escape poverty, injustices, violence, government abuse, and corrupt authority (The history Channel). On top of being completely virgin to America’s life styles, customs or language is hard enough! Add people constantly profiling, making assumptions, and vulgar jokes and comments among their friends, and in their homes can make the Hispanic community feel less united (Guadagoni). Society furthers the degradation by publicizing these same comments, and jokes are used in the media, magazines, news and television (Guadagoni). Once again, that’s not just making assumptions; it is racial profiling! Unfortunately this is the part most people won’t recognize, especially when the words are slipping through their own mouth. Not only does this affect how Hispanics are categorized in the social class but their level of self-esteem. “It is likely that people who learn about Latinos and immigrants from news outlets that paint them in a threatening, pejorative, or other wise negative manner will have negative impression about both groups”(Latino Decision). Hispanics may appear on the news as people you could distain or describe them as a corruption to the U.S, but the news can be bias for only showing the negative looks of Hispanics. Therefore it educates news viewers to have a negative view on Hispanics.

        Hispanics are forcibly being seen in a negative way. A race of people adapting to a life that is believed to bring a better outcome than their life in their native country. Times have changed.  It took African American’s one hundred years to become socially acceptable. It took violence, protest rallies, government and media help. Truth be told, times have changed depending on who and why and what’s currently going on. How long will it take Hispanics? We have to be open-minded for those Hispanics that want a better future, but are stuck in a view of negativism because of how they are portrayed. Minorities are still discriminated against. America is controlled by society, but is society portrayed in the media?