First Lady Jill Biden rebuked after saying Latinos as unique as ‘breakfast tacos’
Jill Biden has been on the receiving end of criticism after she appeared to bizarrely stereotype one of the US’ biggest minorities.
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A Hispanic journalist group rebuked first lady Jill Biden after she said Latinos were as unique as “breakfast tacos” during a speech in San Antonio on Monday.
Biden was praising civil rights icon Raul Yzaguirre during the annual conference of Latino civil rights and advocacy UnidosUS when she made the bizarre compliment, reported the New York Post.
Mr Yzaguirre led the advocacy organisation, which used to be known as the National Council of La Raza, for three decades.
“Raul helped build this organisation with the understanding that the diversity of this community — as distinct as the bodegas (convenience stores) of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio — is your strength,” Dr Biden said.
When addressing the Bronx bodegas, though, she mispronounced the convenience stores and said “bogedas”.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists panned the remarks, stating: “We are not tacos.
“Using breakfast tacos to try to demonstrate the uniqueness of Latinos in San Antonio demonstrates a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the diversity of Latinos in the region,” the association wrote.
“NAHJ encourages Dr Biden and her speech writing team to take the time in the future to better understand the complexities of our people and communities. We are not tacos.
“Our heritage as Latinos is shaped by a variety of diasporas, cultures and food traditions, and should not be reduced to a stereotype.”
San Antonio in Texas has a population of about 1.5 million people of which 65 per cent is Hispanic or Latino, according to US Census data.
Conservatives also criticised Dr Biden and wondered what liberal outrage would ensue if a Republican made those comments.
“No wonder Hispanics are fleeing the Democratic Party!” Republican politician Andy Biggs tweeted.
The story was published in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.
Originally published as First Lady Jill Biden rebuked after saying Latinos as unique as ‘breakfast tacos’
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