"Latino" blogs at the 2008 Democratic Party Convention in Denver

These are four blogs related to the Latino American community in the US, that have been included in the official website of the Democratic Party Convention.

Yes there are only 4 blogs there!

Photo Democratic Party

The good thing is that these bloggers are right now in Denver, Colorado and they plan on telling us readers all about the historic event where Senator Barack Obama will be nominated as the Presidential candidate.

But as a good party pooper I am -ask my friends- here are some observations I have on each blog:

• VivirLatino written by Maegan Ortiz and Estevan Montemayor from NYC and California, this blog is fully written in English, sometimes Spanglish. This is mostly a blog that has comments about mainstream news. It can be fun to read, but almost nothing of its content is actually created by its authors. Mostly copy and paste of what you can find on most gossipy media.

I don't like: its content reinforces stereotypes about "latinos" as if we were one homogeneous ethnic and cultural group, but Megan puts a lot of effort on letting everyone know she is Puertorican. I have a feeling that its authors are very conservative when it comes to Latin American politics. They add this "ghettoish" way to write Spanglish, intended to make you laugh, I think. They focus too much on mainstream "latino" media, and little on community, real life news. The blog design is a bit boring.

What I like: They keep their blog updated about current issues in a daily basis, and yes always have something interesting that catches my attention.

• USAmérica Vota'08 by Carlos Hernandez, a blogger from Madrid, Spain who has traveled to Denver to cover this event. He writes in Spanish since January this year.

As a first time reader, can't say much about this blog. But my first impression is that Carlos is writing about interesting things that get his attention, as a visitor. Things that most Americans wouldn't even care about, like an old guy dressing as Uncle Tom. Reading this blog can be fun.

Now if you ask me, I don't find much things in common with the author, other than we speak the same language (actually his slang is different). Hernandez is a truly a Hispanic guy, he is a white man from Hispania.

I like his insider point of view on things that others might not notice, so I will be reading this blog often.

• Yanqui Mike is a very dynamic blog in English from an American guy living in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the last 5 years, and who traveled to Denver as a State Delegate. Mike Skowronek puts a lot of work and passion into his blog, which is full of text, videos, photos and what not.

YM is a very interesting blog that I will be reading also. Now why is Mike included among "latino" blogs? Well, the author will try to write in Spanish during the Convention. That's right if you want to be a Latino, learn some Spanish today. Perhaps the Democrats included this blog due to the lack of more Brown bloggers in Denver.

• HispanicTips.com by Tomas Custer, a Mexican American from Columbia, Missouri, it's written 99% in English with links to translations into Spanish in every post. Very informative.

Interesting fact: this blog is good to stay updated on news related to "Hispanics" as the US media and government call us. I personally feel that this blog is mostly about making money, the author says he doesn't speak Spanish but most of his publicity ads are in that language.

I don't like: the blog design is boring, needs an update I think. The name? I really never understood why people accept the term Hispanic, I never will. Most of my ancestors are Native peoples of this continent and my culture has very multi ethnic background. In the case of Tomas, he has clearly Native roots also, but he has accepted this term which implies an exclusive Spaniard origin. What I like about this blog: not sure what.


In Spanish

By the way, the Democratic Party has set up a blog about its 2008 Convention, and they announce that will have content in Spanish.

Now, I must say this: if anyone wants to really learn and understand politics, society and laws in the US, that person ought to be able to fully understand English. I know Spanish-speaking citizens want to participate also, but please you all need to register to an English school immediately -- it's not that hard. So why the Democrats include Spanish in their website? they are desperate on getting more votes I guess.

For the webmasters: the real translation of Democratic in Spanish is Democratico, not Democrata like you have it in your website.


Hasta luego

I will continue searching for other "Latino" bloggers in Denver, and yes I will criticize them out of jealousy. I wish I was in Denver right now so I can also witness Obama's historic nomination. Seating here in DC watching the news can be as exciting as any other day of a hot summer in the east coast.



UPDATE:

Some more blogs of Americans who sometimes speak Spanish, that the Democratic Party hasn't included who knows why:

• Para Justicia y Libertad also known as Xicano Power, I read this blog often, the author Edmundo Rocha, social worker, an activist, freelance writer and founder and editor of The Sanctuary writing from Texas but right now he is in Denver.

Rocha is a is very much into the Chicano experience, community and the rights of undocumented workers in the US . He writes "My interests include: immigration reform, critical race theory and it's interaction with equality/inequality and freedom/oppression as they relate to the experiences of people of color in the Americas. Para Justicia y Libertad is a Latino-centered political blog focusing on pctfqthe humanistic perspective of politics, history, and society as they relate to the Latina/o community throughout Texas and the United States."


More blogs to come...


UPDATE 2 - More "brown" blogs at the DNC:

Courtesy of ElenaMary, a Mirish Xicana blogger:

"The DNCC starts tomorrow, and I recommend keeping an eye on the following bloguerros who will be in attendance:
• Al Giordano: of Narco News has his blog, The Field: Al Giordano Reports the U.S. Presidential Election, where he will be covering the convention.
• Edmundo Rocha (aka Xicano Power): his bog ¡Para Justicia y Libertad!: Because there are some things still worth fighting for. I like Xicano Power’s blog a bit more than some in that he’ll put more smack down while others tip-toe around what they want to say in order not to offend…and Xicano Power is not worried about offending.
• Liza Sabeter (AKA Blogdiva): Bloguerra of Culture Kitchen and the Daily Gotham. Blogdiva gives a radically honest perspective on everything she covers. I tend to read Culture Kitchen a lot more than the Daily Gotham. Culture Kitchen covers many topics I am interested in (Race, Politics, Gender, Class, Pop Culture) and Daily Gotham focuses mostly on issues concerning the State of New York.
• Mamita Mala: one of the first blogs I ever started reading was this one. I expect most news to be slanted by a either a male or heterosexual or white perspective, you won’t get that with Maegan’s blog, Mamita Mala - One Bad Mami: One Radical Nuyorican Mami Writer Livin’ In the Revolutionary Mami’hood.
• Matt Ortega: One of my favorite bloguerros will also be at the convention. His blog is crisp and easy to read, his blog is self titled Matt Ortega.

(If there is a bloguerro you think should be added to the list, and I am sure there are, please let me know)

Thanks for the info ElenaMary.

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