LATINO VOTE: DISPATCHES FROM THE BATTLEGROUND SCREENING
Image courtesy of PBS VOCES
The following is in partnership with VOCES - a PBS broadcast.
When I think about my most meaningful friendships, they’ve evolved through connected conversations. Tough conversations. The ones that leave me thinking about who I am as a person and who I want to be in the world. The ones, where we often disagree.
Why is this? Because we all want to be heard. That doesn’t mean we need to have everyone agree with us, we just want to know our opinions were listened to and taken into account. That’s what builds friendships and community. At this time, we should be listening to our comunidad, all sides of us.
As such, I always want to create a safe space for others and that means respecting their opinions even if I may not agree with them. After all, we can’t expect anyone to hear us if we don’t offer the same courtesy. In fact, telling you not to listen to both sides is the opposite of democracy. So please, listen, watch, learn, and act!
Which brings me to todays partnership with PBS. I think there’s one thing we can all agree on and that is that the home of Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street has remained unproblematic through very trying times. Fair, insightful media and journalism that is much needed at a moment like now.
So, I was immediately onboard when asked to partner with VOCES, the acclaimed PBS documentary series exploring Latino arts, culture and history.
I had the pleasure of screening their upcoming documentary examining the bipartisan effort to get Latinos to the polls: LATINO VOTE: DISPATCHES FROM THE BATTLEGROUND.
In this hour special, we hear from Latino community leaders and activists on all sides. Immediately as it began, I was feverishly jotting down impactful one liners. Such as - ‘for the first time Latinos are expected to be the largest racial or ethnic group eligible to vote in a Presidential election’. And,
“ The Latino vote is like the chupacabra - talked about, but never seen,” Chuck Rocha, Senior Advisor for Bernie Sanders.
That really resonates with me, because I’m right here! I’ve been a voter for the past 10+ years and it’s always been important to me, largely because my honors Politic Science teacher engraved its significance in me (rest in Power Mr. Post). Equally important has been my relationship to my race and women’s rights. I’ve faced many battles that leave me firmly on the Democratic side. I was also raised in Texas where conservative values are strong and I can understand that perspective. I also accept that my family and friends who are strongly conservative are not bad people, they’ve just had life experiences that leave them on a different side of the party lines. I think about them when I hear impassioned arguments or ideals I do not share.
That said, this documentary does an excellent job at capturing varied points of view from hard working Latinos across the country that lends insights into why they may vote a certain way.
Of course every opinion can never be accounted for, but I’d urge you to take a pause and digest this historical commentary as we take on the biggest vote of our lives this November.
If you hear something that inspire you, vote. If you hear something that enrages you, vote. If you have any interest in having your opinions counted, vote. I understand that we are in a moment that is terrifying for many.
Our Latina community is literally having our babies and our organs taken from us. Our mothers and fathers are being sent to countries they never called home, all while working to make a honest life. Our educational institutions are not set up to support systemic issues that put us as at disadvantages. We have to take the power we do have and use it. We have to vote!
Latino Vote: Dispatches from the Battleground airs on PBS Tuesday October 6th at 9pm EST.
To learn about our choice for Presidents platform please head to https://joebiden.com/joes-vision/.
