The First Lady said that the Hispanic population can be described as “as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio ” when she spoke at the Latinx IncluXion Luncheon on Monday.
“Raul helped build this organization with the understanding that the diversity of this community – as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio – is your strength,” Biden stated, referring to UnidosUS the founder Raul Yzaguirre.
NAHJ condemned Biden over her remarks, in a press release issued shortly following her remarks.
“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 stated.
The statement also criticizes Biden's speechwriters who did not understand “the complexities” of the local San Antonio Hispanic community.
“NAHJ encourages Dr. Biden and her speech writing team to take the time in the future to better understand the complexities of our people and communities.”
“We are not tacos,” NAHJ continued. “Our heritage as latinos is shaped by a variety of diasporas, cultures, and food traditions, and should not be reduced to a stereotype.”
Additionally, Biden butchered the pronunciation of “bodega,” which drew criticism from a lot of social media users.
“Once again, Dr. Jill Biden butchers the Spanish language in furtherance of pandering to a client constituency (the org FKA National Council of La Raza),” tweeted Media Resource Center director Jorge Bonilla. “I hereby bless your timelines with Dr. Jill's rendering of ‘bodega.'”
