A group of Latino journalists criticized First Lady Jill Biden for her speech on Monday, in which she compared the diversity of the Latino community to the uniqueness of “breakfast tacos.”
Biden addressed the progressive Latino nonprofit UnidosUS in San Antonio, Texas, where he said one of the group’s former presidents built it with diversity in mind.
She said Raul Izaguirre built it “with the understanding that the diversity of this community is as distinctive as a bodega in the Bronx, as beautiful as the colors of Miami, and as unique as breakfast tacos here in San Antonio.” She also seems to pronounce misspell “bodegas” in speech.
The comments drew a slight cheer from the crowd and Biden laughed, according to video footage of the event.
The National Association of Hispanic Journalists responded to Biden’s speech, saying, “Using breakfast tacos to try to demonstrate the uniqueness of Latinos in San Antonio demonstrates a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the diversity of Latinos in the region.”
“NAHJ encourages Dr. Biden and her speechwriting team to take time in the future to better understand the complexities of our people and communities.”
“We’re not tacos. Our heritage as Latin Americans is shaped by different diasporas, cultures and food traditions. Don’t reduce us to stereotypes.”
A number of Republicans also took advantage of Biden’s speech, with Congressman Andy Bigg of Arizona tweeting: “Jill Biden says Latinos are ‘unique’ like tacos and calls bodegas ‘bogida.’ No wonder Latinos are fleeing the Democratic Party!”
And Steve Guest, an adviser to Sen. Ted Cruz, tweeted: “Which White House speechwriter just won a bet to get the First Lady to say something like this?”
Janet Murgia, the president and CEO of UnidosUS, tweeted that the group was “honored” to host Biden, saying, “She has been a great educator in our community and a great friend to our community for years. I am privileged to call her a friend.”
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