March 15, 2009

Nuyorican...Not So Much


I happen to come from a group of people that have a ton of synonymns for their cultural identity. Puerto Rican/U.S. Puerto Rican/Boricua/Borinqueno/puertoriqueno/(and yes) Nuyorican.

So I've never claimed this moniker mostly because its not my fave one and because it didn't wholly fit my identity. BUT I accept that it's a derivative that is often a synonym. For those that don't know its history it's a term that evolved in the late '60's and early '70's to identify second, third and now fourth generation Puerto Ricans born and/or raised in New York City whose parents, grandparents and great grandparents who migrated to New York during the wave of the Great Migration during the 1930s and 1940s. It later became a pejorative term island Puerto Ricans utizlied to describe non-island born Puerto Ricans. It would become a badge of pride as well as identification for those born stateside regardless of geography. In short: I own it whether or not I readily utilize it. So why bring it up at all?

Because I'm just appalled by MTV's recent True Life episode, "I'm A Nuyorican." But probably not for the reasons you think.

I don't theoretically take issue with the people they chose to highlight. Why? Because ...

a)Who on the Lord's green earth knows who showed up for that casting call. You tend to choose from the pool you have access to. Were these three young people ideal or optimal? Likely not. And lest we forget, this is afterall, a show for an entertainment network so whatever or rather whoever is going to make good TV will be what/who will get chosen.

b) These kids realities were the realities of their Nuyorican lives-you can't deny it, you can't erase it or conceal it. It simply is. But note the major and really key difference: it represents THEIR individual lives, experiences and issues. Whether we as a community want to acknowledge or support those lives is a whole other issue all together.

c) While some of these kids represent and reify stereotypes about our people and community (loud and obnoxious, hostile attitudes, ignorant, uneducated, etc.) remember people: stereotypes exist because there are people and experiences like them that exist. And we (individually and/or collectively but certainly not always intentionally) perpetuate those stereotypes each time we don't heighten expectations or don't present an alternative narrative.

Which in short leads to my actual beef...

Don't call this show "I'm A Nuyorican." Call it, "My P.R. Family Is Smothering Me" OR or "I'm Trying Not To Be Stereotype." This did NOT represent what ALL stateside born Puerto Ricans, Nuyoricans, etc. live like. It's a story of individual identity experiences. And speaking of that horrific title...would they call a show: "I'm an Indian," "I'm A Black" or "I'm a Guido" ? Get it together MTV. I'm not the only one who feels/thinks this way either. Check out this article in New York's Daily News.

I'm also disappointed that what is usually a quality doc series I've been a fan of for years missed the boat in a big way. Nuyoricans have such a rich history in New York and the network gave it a terrificly bad misnomer. In truth, I was waiting the whole time to understand how these kids "culture" was keeping them back (as their promo advertised), how they juggled it or how they struggled as a result. I'm still waiting...

As a story telling medium, the show failed failed to provide the audience with context the way other shows have. As I sat and watched it, I was bothered that none of these kids were asked to speak on anything but their personal histories. I thought: "Wow! Either they weren't asked or these kids don't know ANYTHING about their culture besides food, music, dancing and sports." As a journalist I realize that stories often times present themselves differently than originally planned. But appropriate and accurate language should be utilized as a result.

And the other alarms? These kids each in some way, shape or form had serious identity crisis. "I do my best JLo" or "All Puerto Ricans dance salsa and I hate it" or "All Puerto Ricans are loud and have attitude." Really? Then clearly you haven't left your hood or your building or your block for that matter. I know plenty of non-rhythm, classic rock loving, uncoordinated Nuyoricans and then some.

What I saw were three young people struggling with issues of their cultural identity, violence, familial dynamics, self-hate and esteem. But it was all disaplyed under a singular banner" I'm a Nuyorican. Oh pop culture/mainstream media...when are you ever gonna get it together? And better yet get someone (directors, producers, writers, etc.) in those creative meetings and casting calls with better judgement than to deliver this and expect it to get the pass. *Tsk, Tsk*