Monday
Mar172008
Don't Mess With A Latina
Monday, March 17, 2008 at 01:26PM
Michael Arrington was nice enough to cover my Univision news on TechCrunch this morning. As soon as I read his coverage, I knew that the people who post in the TechCrunch forums might be nasty because that is often the very nature of the TechCrunch forums. Having worked for Michael, I know this first hand. I promised myself not to read the forum comments but that proved to be as impossible as trying to drive passed a car accident without looking.
I feel like the people who commented on this post are trying to assert that I am not Latina enough to make videos for Univision. I usually don't respond to that kind of negativity but the Latina in me cannot keep quiet so I am about to prove myself to be a true Puerto Rican woman and have a little fit. I am usually reserved and polite but this is my mother's sangre running through me so please bare with me. Here it goes:
Most of the people posting nasty comments on TechCrunch probably don't even speak Spanish. True, Spanish is my second language, not my first and it skipped a generation. My grandparents opted not to teach my mother Spanish so my sister and I had to teach ourselves. My grammar is solid and the professionals at Univision think my accent is acceptable. This is also my first time in front of a camera speaking Spanish so inevitably it will improve. The point is that I am trying something new and challenging. If I could improve my accent, I would but why is it an issue? You don't see people criticizing Om for his Indian accent in English on The GigaOm Show. It is unfair, rude, unwelcomed, and frankly sexist. When I wrote for TechCrunch in 2006 I was criticized for being a woman. Now I'm not Hispanic enough? Would this audience be more comfortable if I wore an apron and made a video of myself cooking Puerto Rican pasteles and arroz con gandules? Would that be authentic enough? If we were all as lambasted for trying something new, the Web culture that we know and love would cease to exist! I don't think I am perfect and I do think that I have room to improve. But I am proud of my first efforts and so are the Hispanohablantes that I care about, namely my editor at Univision and my brother-in-law Juan. The rest of you should steer clear of me today.
Okay, nice Natali is back. That did feel good though. Chale!
I feel like the people who commented on this post are trying to assert that I am not Latina enough to make videos for Univision. I usually don't respond to that kind of negativity but the Latina in me cannot keep quiet so I am about to prove myself to be a true Puerto Rican woman and have a little fit. I am usually reserved and polite but this is my mother's sangre running through me so please bare with me. Here it goes:
Most of the people posting nasty comments on TechCrunch probably don't even speak Spanish. True, Spanish is my second language, not my first and it skipped a generation. My grandparents opted not to teach my mother Spanish so my sister and I had to teach ourselves. My grammar is solid and the professionals at Univision think my accent is acceptable. This is also my first time in front of a camera speaking Spanish so inevitably it will improve. The point is that I am trying something new and challenging. If I could improve my accent, I would but why is it an issue? You don't see people criticizing Om for his Indian accent in English on The GigaOm Show. It is unfair, rude, unwelcomed, and frankly sexist. When I wrote for TechCrunch in 2006 I was criticized for being a woman. Now I'm not Hispanic enough? Would this audience be more comfortable if I wore an apron and made a video of myself cooking Puerto Rican pasteles and arroz con gandules? Would that be authentic enough? If we were all as lambasted for trying something new, the Web culture that we know and love would cease to exist! I don't think I am perfect and I do think that I have room to improve. But I am proud of my first efforts and so are the Hispanohablantes that I care about, namely my editor at Univision and my brother-in-law Juan. The rest of you should steer clear of me today.
Okay, nice Natali is back. That did feel good though. Chale!
Reader Comments (60)
Natali, as a former Puerto Rican Revolutionary and supporter of the Latina's struggle in this society, I must give you all the props in the world, as well as the respect that you have earn in a machismo tech industry. I have never written or twitted you but am a fan since you were with Textra. You really stunned me with representing Boricua's all over. I am in California and constantly get mixed into the Hispanic thing. First let me tell you that the word Hispanic was made up by The J.Walter Thompson Group of Media Agencies that wanted to exploit the Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Latin American, and all Latinos to have us buy American products and lose our culture. So don't buy into that BS Hispanic stuff. You are and always be a Boricua Hasta La Muerte! Don't let the Techies in the suits try to bring you into that bag. Keep up the great work, and if you have any spare time pick up the book "We The Puerto Rican People" a story of oppression, as well as "Palante" the story of The Young Lord's Party. While you are in New York catch up with Pablo Guzman with WCBS check out his journalist approach to current events in the Puerto Rican Culture. Also he was a Former Young Lord's Party Co-Founder.
Sabor Siempre, con carino.
Blue Gomez
The problem that you've encountered is obviously due to ignorance. Americans hold such a unipolar and skewed view of the world that at times it is no wonder that the rest of the world thinks so negatively of US. It should be remembered that all people in the AMERICAS, except the Native Americans, are "non-authentic" ethnicities in the sense that they are an evolution of some other culture that emigrated into the Americas at some point in time. No one seems to question a Non-Hispanic White who claims German ancestry a fraud for not speaking German! Personally, as a Hispanic male I would feel blessed to be able to introduce such an intelligent and beautiful Latin woman to MAMA. Please continue being the prime example of what a true Latin beauty is. But of course you never needed a man's opinion any way!
Natali,
First Off - like Katt Williams Says "Haters will hate, so let the Haters Hate! There JOB is to HATE" ... so your goal is more haters because that means your Growing & Becoming more! You stepped out and you are following your Dreams. The nay-sayers of this world always sit on the sidelines of life and run a muck.
You are a refreshing bright spot in the Latin Community. You are a true example of Class, Intelligence, Beauty, and Passion.
Keep Being YOU.
God Speed,
MateO
I think your show at univision is great...
I am a latino and I watched your show Textra and now I notice you have a show on CNET.
Being honest I'm very glad to know that you're making a show for latin people living in the U.S.
Te deseo lo mejor en tu show en Univision y lo veré como veo loaded!!! Mucho éxito. Y sí, tu acento es aceptable, con el tiempo lo mejorarás y sonarás bien chévere!
Carlos
Keep doing your thing,we will always support you in anything you do.Don't mind those people cause they don't matter and those who matter don't mind, you know what i mean.
[...] crying because the boys are pulling her hair. But in a way, isn’t that what is happening? It isn’t that I can’t take it, although I certainly don’t have to like it. So since this is my personal forum, so I’m [...]
Damn... despues de un año es que leo este post. No sabia que eras Puertorriqueña y la verdad, me emocione bastante al saberlo porque yo tambien lo soy! No se si aun tienes tu programa en http://univision.com" rel="nofollow">univision.com, pero por lo menos he seguido Loaded desde el principio y te felicito por el buen trabajo que has hecho. Keep the good work!
Look people who are making this comment are losers in their mom's basement who do not know what a girl is. When they meet one, or see they have done a good job, they are threatened. Natalie, I watch you on loaded every day, and the 404 when I can. Your very informative and a true Latina. Don't bother with those losers, who don't know anything and are just threatened so they try to poke holes into anything, just to scare you off and intimidate you. Don't listen and just remember, you have got so many fans, including me. I enjoy watching your say day in and out.
You are my favorite Tech reporter because of the enthusiasm you convey when you speak. I don't speak a lick of Spanish, I'm actually French but it takes some guts to report in a second language where maybe you feel you do not have all the nuances, inflections, etc down pat. The more you do it, the better you get. Many people won't even try to speak a second language publicly if they don't feel 100% comfortable with it. I think the fact you are doing it says a lot about your willingness to learn and expand your knowledge and experience base. Forget about the haters and the jealous types. Don't even waste your breath on them again. They probably sit at home in their basements and never venture into a new restaurant, never mind learn a new language, or travel to another country. So what if its not your first language and it "skipped" a generation. I'm sure you will master it soon enough!
Vaya, the problem today with this generation and technology is that they are in the forest and can't see the trees. If you are not a Latin Poverty Pimp you don't get the respect and props for being Latina. I constantly run into this problem everyday. I speak to people about technology and my professional work and they(Hispanics) look at me like I am an Anglo Saxon and cannot believe that I am Boricua. Yes born in NYC but my Mother is Puerto Rican 100% and my Father 100% Boricua. I know what the problem is it's that there is so much jealousy in our community and they can never be happy when someone like yourself is a true professional that is proud of her roots and a role model. These people are all full of mielda. They also have a name it's called Come Mîelda. I was a former Young Lord Party member and also a former member of http://tinyurl.com/22p7cfo. Keep doing good for our people and showing that you are a True Latina and not a Paper Tiger.