Geraldo Rivera - The Great Progression: How Hispanics Will Lead America to a New Era of Prosperity

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Table of Contents

To Erica and the children, my loves

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To Dr. Ramn Emeterio Betances and General Juan Rius Rivera, for uncommon valor 141 years ago that helped forge a distinct Puerto Rico identity. To the Young Lords who ignited a young mans passion. To Representatives Luis Gutierrez and Silvestre Reyes, who wont let our consciences rest until there is sensible justice for migrants. For U.S. Army Specialist Israel Candelaria Mejias, twenty-eight, of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, at press time the last Boricua hero down in Iraq, killed by an IED. For Governor Luis Fortuo, who is reminding us of our civic duty and personal responsibility. To Judge Sonia to mayor, for being way good enough for the U.S. Supreme Court. And to President Barack Obama, the first brown president and a mutt like me.

PROLOGUE

La Alfombra Roja (The Red Carpet)

I was actually in the studio and Im looking up watching TV and the tears come into my eyes and you could just feel this amazing energyit was palpable. Something was happening; you could feel something positive. I get goose pimples thinking about it now.

Jennifer Lopez to me,
Latino Inaugural Gala,
Union Station, Washington, D.C. (January 2009)

Having evolved from urban to elegant and from street to salon, the woman still fabulously known as J. Lo surfed the wave of camera flashes and reporter questions as she and husband Marc Anthony glided toward my camera position at the end of the red carpet. Washingtons historic Union Station was made over into a ballroom for the occasion and packed shoulder-to-shoulder for the Latino Inaugural Gala celebrating Barack Obamas sweeping election to the presidency.

Despite my high-profile forty-year career in the television news business, this was only my second inauguration, and this gala had a much different vibe from the January 2005 events celebrating George W. Bushs second term. Then, with Iraq going to hell in a handbasket, I hosted the Red, White and Blue Inaugural Ball for wounded veterans from Walter Reed Army Medical Center and elsewhere. Roadside and suicide bombings were escalating, casualties were mounting and there was no end in sight to the war.

Crammed with brass including Donald Rumsfeld, the defense secretary, all the Joint Chiefs and assorted general officers, that event had a somber tone of honoring our GIs and the need to stay the course. I told the gathered service members that they were American societys new rock stars, and thanked them for everything they and their families were doing for the country. Everyone applauded, but the mood was grim and gritty and overshadowed by the certain knowledge that there was a lot more sacrifice ahead.

This January 2009 Latino gathering celebrating President Obamas victory could not have been more different. It was joyous, optimistic and self-congratulatory, buoyed by the realization that a Latino rising had made a difference in picking the presidentmaybe the difference. Viewed in retrospect, although not an official inaugural ball, which it should have been, the gala was nevertheless a seminal event for the Latino community. It was a Hispanic version of Truman Capotes 1966 Black and White costume ball at the Plaza Hotel, a defining social moment, in this case heralding an entire communitys coming-of-age.

Everyone hip and Hispanic was there. Aside from Jennifer Jenny from the Block Lopez, there was her rival, pop queen Shakira of My Hips Dont Lie fame, Colombias most famous ever entertainer. Shakiras bold lyric, Makes a man want to speak Spanish! aptly captures her smoldering, sexy, charismatic appeal.

In a nod toward bipartisanship, Puerto Ricos new governor Luis Fortuo, a John McCain supporter, joined one of the nations highest-ranking Hispanic officials in the brand-new Obama era, former Colorado senator Ken Salazar, President Obamas new Secretary of the Interior, not to mention most of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; the major Hispanic advocacy organizations, like the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC); along with half of Holly-woods Hispanics, all black-tied or begowned.

Even American Idols tiny teen David Archuleta showed up to sing the national anthem, telling me how much he regretted not being able to vote for Obama, turning eighteen only after election day. I made a fool of myself calling him Archie on live television, only to be corrected by a red-faced public relations guy, which forced me to say, I knew his name is David; Im cool. That got a big laugh from anchor Shep Smith back in the FOX studio. David rolled his eyes.

Sporting stiletto heels, her hair piled high, her face literally sparkled, and her mood sparkling, J. Lo wore an electric blue strapless gown, and gorgeously towered over Marc Anthony, her diminutive pop-star husband, father of their ten-month-old twins. Defying rumors of marital strife, overcoming her normal reticence to speak on substantive issues and brushing aside criticism of her failure to endorse Obama during the campaign, the thirty-nine-year-old superstar was ebullient when I asked her about the historic nature of the Obama victory and, more specifically, its relevance to the Latino community.

Theres something great going to happen, like anything is possible. It restored our hope, gave the nation a new future to look to. It was just amazing. J. Lo spoke enthusiastically and sincerely.

And why the huge Hispanic voter turnout for Obama? I asked. But only after first earning major husband brownie points by introducing her to my own gorgeous wife, Erica. I knew that the audience wanted to hear from this extraordinary woman who captures the essence of the Nuyorican spirit better than Maria in West Side Story.

I honestly believe, J. Lo continued, totally focused despite a thousand distractions, that for the first time I really felt like he [Obama] gave the Latino community a lot of importance that we related to and could share. We have shared experiences in being minorities in this country. And I really felt that he understood what it was to be different. And I think Latinos showed up to vote because they thought, Well, somebodys going to be thinking about us. And I think that was a big part of the Latino community support for Obama.

He does look kind of Puerto Rican, I added glibly, not sure about the appropriateness of the remark. And I dont want to give short shrift to Jennifers husband, a Latino Sinatra for many Hispanic women. He later took the stage and got that big house swinging with three hot salsa numbers that fueled the celebratory mood.

Affecting a modern zoot-suit-hipster image, Marc also has a perhaps surprising ability to speak with intelligence and passion. Its so amazing how addictive the word possibility is, right? he gushed during the gala. Its almost like you cant get enough of it. You wake up different; you go to sleep different. I think that it was even the possibility of putting someone in the White House who knew what it was to be considered different in the U.S. You understand what Im saying? Thats about as close as any candidate has ever been to representing us.

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