LULAC Responds to "Patrona" Article

By Jose Luis Jimenez
LULAC District 8 Deputy Director

In a city that is over 40% Hispanic, the Hispanic community continues to struggle with negative stereotypical references that continue to degrade our diverse community. Lori Rodriguez and Kristen Mack’s article “RACE MAY CROWN HOUSTON’S 1ST POLITICAL PATRONA’ on February 12, 2007 is a prime example of the ignorance that we continue to battle. The unsubtle references to corrupt politics and gangster innuendos paralleled with today’s Hispanic political progression gracelessly portray the image that Hispanics deplore within the Houston Chronicle. The most disheartening detail in the story is that it was written by the hands of one of our own.

First, let us define the word that was used in Spanish: ‘PATRONA’: ‘PATRONA’ means Female Boss. In our Spanish Speaking Communities, EL PATRON or LA PATRONA is synonymous with THE GODFATHER or THE BOSS. The Spanish translation carries the same negative stigma as in English.

Second, now why would the Houston Chronicle reference today’s Hispanic Political figures with Gangster style terminology? Does stereotyping Hispanics as Gangsters sell more newspapers? We are very well aware that Ben Reyes committed a crime and served his sentence. Now, must all Hispanics that rise in political power be referenced to Ben Reyes? Does referencing Ben Reyes as the city’s original political ‘patron’ establish expectations that the next ‘patron’ or ‘patrona’ will follow in his footsteps? Will Carol Alvarado or Sylvia Garcia see the same fate as Ben Reyes? Will their political successes be referenced to Ben Reyes’ ‘power-brokering exploits’? These negative stereotypes are seldom found within the ‘Anglo’ political scene, especially not on the front page of the Houston Chronicle. Will the Chronicle now create a political battle between John Whitmire and Bill White and reference them as the next ‘PATRON’? I think not.

Third, in a day where speaking English has become such a passionate issue, why does the Houston Chronicle insist on using the Spanish word ‘PATRONA’ within the English written article? Why does the Houston Chronicle allow the butchering of the English Language on the Front Page of its own newspaper? If the Houston Chronicle wants to write in Spanish, write in Spanish. Do not degrade readers by mixing languages to create sensationalism.

Finally, the Chronicle’s focus SHOULD be on the positive work done by the candidates within District I. Will that sell newspapers to the client base of the Houston Chronicle? Will there be enough sensationalism within those stories to sell newspapers? Will the controlling factors within the Houston Chronicle approve of Hispanic Politicians or Hispanic Programs being portrayed positively? At the end of the day, until Houston’s only major newspaper begins to follow the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics we can guarantee that we will only receive sensationalistic, stereotypical rhetoric veiled under the pretext of fair journalism.

Jose Luis Jimenez is the Deputy District Director of the League of United Latin American Citizens District VIII Greater Houston Area.

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 run by more than 700 LULAC councils nationwide.