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LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS National Office |
2000 L Street, NW, Suite 610 PRESS RELEASE |
| For Immediate Release February 3, 2003 |
Contact: Lorraine Quiroga |
Washington, DC-LULAC is very disappointed with NBC's decision to air a new program called Kingpin. Aside from the fact that the program is violent, glorifies drug dealers and seems to have no social value, the program also reinforces negative stereotypes against Hispanics. Kingpin, which portrays Hispanics as drug dealers, murderers, and unpatriotic American citizens, opens the door to more negative feelings toward Latinos in our community.
"As it is Hispanics are increasingly the target of hate crimes and racial profiling. We are concerned that this program will only add to this wrongful treatment," said Hector Flores, LULAC National President. The program is aired at 10 p.m. when many children are still watching television and may lead many to associate Latinos with drug trafficking and other crimes. "The fact is Kingpin is a reflection of the values of NBC and not those of the Hispanic community," states Flores. "The vast majority of Hispanics are law abiding, hard working, patriots and their story is rarely portrayed on television."
While LULAC appreciates that the program increases Hispanic representation at NBC both behind and in front of the camera, this inaccurate representation of Hispanics ultimately hurts the community. "What is so difficult to swallow is that Latinos are barely on TV and when they are, they are usually in negative roles, such as criminals," added Flores. In fact a study released by Children Now, a child research and action organization entitled the Fall Colors Report for 2001-2002, found that 63 percent of the major networks feature Latino characters on prime-time programs who are either criminals, service workers, or unskilled laborers.
"Now more than ever immigrants are placed under intense scrutiny by others in America. The last thing Hispanics need is a program like this that reinforces negative stereotypes and teaches people to fear or hate Latinos," added Flores.
We discourage corporations from advertising during this program hour. In addition, we are urging Hispanics to refrain from watching the program and purchasing products advertised on the show. "I don't think corporate America wants to miss out on the Latino dollar, especially when our purchasing power is approximately $580 billion annually and growing," added Flores.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the oldest and largest Latino civil rights organization in the United States. LULAC advances the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, health, and civil rights of Hispanic Americans through community-based programs operating at more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.