Do you agree with radio station statement KMYL Radio: Calling Rapist Hispanic is 'Racist'?

Question

If a person of Hispanic origin rapes a woman and, in an attempt to catch this violent criminal, police publish a description identifying the suspect's general racial makeup, is that a "racist" thing to do? Apparently the folks at KMYL (1190 AM) in the metro Phoenix, Arizona area think it is. It appears that we cannot even discuss the basic appearance of a wanted criminal now without being "racist" about it all.

The story comes to us from The East Valley Tribune, where the paper quotes the vice president for programming at KMYL as saying that calling a criminal an Hispanic is "racial profiling." And what is her reasoning?

(Mayra) Nieves said Hispanic is an ethnicity, not a race -- and many Hispanics are white or black. She said ethnicity should not be used when describing an attacker. Instead she said she would describe the Chandler Rapist as having "dark skin."
Even her "explanation" contradicts itself. If a "Hispanic" can be white or black, why should the rapist be called "dark skinned"? After all, what is the definition of "dark"? To an albino, even a white person is dark skinned... or can I say albino without somehow being a racist?
Is it really a racist thing when we are given a generalized description of a wanted criminal's race or is it just good police work? It would seem to anyone with an ounce of sense that the later is the answer here. After all, if police are looking for a white Ford Bronco, should the police report describe the auto in oblique terms? (Such as calling the vehicle a "somewhat colorless, large American car that could be thought of as a sport utility vehicle, not that we are impugning all SUVs.") Or should the police just say it is a white Ford Bronco? Which one would more easily get the public to lend assistance with finding the vehicle? http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/101714
Mayra) Nieves said Hispanic is an ethnicity, not a race -- and many Hispanics are white or black.
OK, let's then be accurate, and refer to "mestizos" (people who are a genetic mix of Indian and European) and mulattos (people who are a genetic mix of Black and European)

The term "Hispanic" is fairly bad as a descriptive term, as it can refer to a

Black, Portuguese-speaking Brazilian,
a white person from Spain,
a South American native Mayan who only speaks his indigenous language rather than Spanish
in addition to the common sense of somebody of mixed white/Indian ancestry who speaks Spanish as his primary language

Answer 1

NO! When victims give a description to police they tell them EVERYTHING THEY remember about the perpetrator.

Answer 2

I’ve got a newsflash for you Mayra Nieves; it is time to retract your hyper-sensitive ethnicity/race force field that you have erected around your mind, because it is obviously blocking out your common sense. It would be insane to adopt a policy such as you suggest; one restrained by some politically or socially correct ideology regarding ethnicity and/or race sensitivities. Whereas, police would be unduly and unwisely constrained from providing the best easily understood descriptive word[s] to identify a serious criminal offender, so not as to risk offending anyone or any group of people. Common sense is what tells the majority of people, that such a policy would greatly hamper police from quickly as possible apprehending dangerous suspects, thus allowing them to continue to commit more grave crimes against innocent people.

Answer 3

'Hispanic' is generally treated as a 'race' in America, even though it is a made-up ethnicity that can aply to persons of any actual race, if they happen to be spanish-speaking, and from Mexico or Central or South America.

Not, BTW, that Brazilians and even Spaniards are not 'Hispanic' by the US Census definition! OTOH non-Spanish-speaking Chicanos are, if they care to so identify, and yes, a Peruvian of Japanese decent, or an Argentian of German decent or a Costa Rican decended from African slaves are also hispanic!

In fact, there's no term that's particularly consistently aplied. 'Latino' for instance, includes Brazilians, but not Spaniards. 'Hispanic' can be used to refer to any native spanish-speaker, which would include Spaniards (but exclude many 'Hispanic-Americans.') Brazilians and Iberian Portuguese can be lumped together as 'Lucitanic' (which, I'm sure, you've never heard of), and Americans, non-Quebecois Canadians, Brits, and Aussies (among others) constitute the 'Anglophone world,' not that anyone cares.

In common usage, though 'hispanic' seems to be used as the north-of-the-border word for 'mestizo.' It's improper usage, but that's the way it is.


Finally, if KMYL is so committed to propper usage, they should be aware that what they're complaining about is not 'racism,' but 'ethnocentrism.'

Answer 4

It isn't racist. In Chandler this creep is raping and stalking 12 yr old girls and needs to get caught. Was it racist when the Baseline Killer was described as a Black Male? PC needs to quit being this friggin ridiculous when many are in danger. Look out for a Hispanic male who is a serial rapist, It isn't racist and as a community we need to get this creep. They are dumb to even insinuate such. What are the people of Chandler suppose to do? Look for a non descriptive rapist because they need to be Politically correct instead of worrying about the safety of their kids? Give me a break.. He is Hispanic.. deal with it.

Answer 5

Yes, in order to find the rapist, you have to know who you are looking for. I have heard many radio stations say, "a white male, a black female, a hispanic male, etc" I've heard ALL groups used in describing suspects.

Answer 6

While this man is Hispanic, you can't use that as a description to find him. Dark skinned Hispanic might be better.
How is it racial profiling if it is true? It is what he is. That doesn't make sense.

Answer 7

that dumb cuunt wants us to go back about 100 years!! by using the word dark skin seems more racist then using hispanic. that's like calling blacks colored skin. and whites cracker. i hope someone sticks a fricken dildo in her damn racist mouth. that remark really ticked me off.

Answer 8

Enthnicity should absolutely 100% be used in a descritption of a criminal...

Answer 9

The language the guy speaks and/or his accent if he speaks English are important for identifying him. In addition, hair color, skin color, build, height, etc, have ALWAYS been critical descriptors.

...

Answer 10

If it was a white guy no one would care.