Apt. 64 W11

Arizona’s strong immigration law (the one that will allow police to stop anyone they suspect of being here illegally to ask for papers) is the result of shifting demographics, an embattled state economy and increased violence in Mexico, as well as the perception that the federal government has failed to act (I.e., not defending the borders).

72% of adults in the U.S. approve of it according to a latest poll. That’s up 12% from 3 days ago.

All eyes are on AZ.  Here’s what they’ll see.

AZ resisted adopting MLK’s birthday as a holiday years after most other states embraced it. The sheriff in its largest county forces inmates to wear pink underwear, apparently to assault their masculinity. Residents may take guns almost anywhere, but they may not cut down a cactus. The last truly independent Western outposts, carries on. (From NY Times 4/29)

AZ is made of the stuff that makes audiences rush to watch.

Tonight many Latino eyes will be on Telemundo as it broadcasts Premios Billboard (Billboard music awards for Latino music).  On a Twitter promotion Telemundo’s  points out that music is a big passion point for Latinos. So is the Arizona issue at hand. I had hoped they combine the two.  It will make for a passionate moment in Latino media (TV, digital, web) with lots of users leaving #1 Univision to join the heated discussion and dance to our tunes.  

Music is indeed our passion - It is our form of storytelling (that, an novelas). It makes us aware of whom we are. Here in NY my day gets to a good start when I encounter Mariachis playing the subway.  

Premios Billboard will be live from Puerto Rico, all the way east and in the middle of the Atlantic - far from wild wild west Arizona.  Puerto Rico has major economic and crime fighting  issues of its own also contextualized by a confusing relationship with the U.S.  What a fantastic stage to let Latino audiences make a national statement for or against the AZ law! A message from the Far East for the West that represents the whole US Latino nation.

Don’t get me wrong. Discussing AZ at the Premios Billboards wont solve this complex issue, but it could be a great platform to draw bigger audiences into a discussion that would keep them engaged (MAGIC WORD) for a long time.  In the process they would be helping to set the record straight. For example: Most studies have shown illegal immigrants do not commit crimes in a greater proportion than their share of the population, and Arizona’s violent crime rate has declined in recent years.