Why Do I Always Hear the Term "La Raza" on My Local Spanish-Language Radio Stations?

[BuddyRey]

I was listening in to a local station here in Charlotte, NC, 106.1, which the announcer kept referring to as "La Estación de la Raza" or "The Station of The Race."

I speak very little Spanish, but every time I tune in to this or any other among a panoply of Spanish-language stations in my area, I continually hear the term "La Raza" at every ad break and every announcer cut-in.

My attitude toward immigration is pretty laissez-faire, so please understand that I'm not trying to race-bait or demonize immigrants. I'm just wondering what's up with this "Raza" stuff, and why it seems to be everywhere on my radio dial lately. For those of you who may be more fluent in Spanish than I am, are these stations fomenting some kind of a Nationalistic uprising or race-hatred among Mexican immigrants? :(

[Andrew-Austin]

It just means the race, referring to Latino peoples. It does not sound unusual that a Spanish radio station would use that term to describe its audience.

"The Station for Chicanos".

I don't think it necessarily has to do with that racist movement.

[LATruth]

Its mostly used with "Viva la Raza" which equates to Long live the people (and or race). And can and is most definitely associated with their "movement".

A simple google search for Viva la Raza will bring up many mexican gang affiliated pages, organization pages, mexican rights pages...

[paulitics]

I was listening in to a local station here in Charlotte, NC, 106.1, which the announcer kept referring to as "La Estación de la Raza" or "The Station of The Race."

I speak very little Spanish, but every time I tune in to this or any other among a panoply of Spanish-language stations in my area, I continually hear the term "La Raza" at every ad break and every announcer cut-in.

My attitude toward immigration is pretty laissez-faire, so please understand that I'm not trying to race-bait or demonize immigrants. I'm just wondering what's up with this "Raza" stuff, and why it seems to be everywhere on my radio dial lately. For those of you who may be more fluent in Spanish than I am, are these stations fomenting some kind of a Nationalistic uprising or race-hatred among Mexican immigrants? :(

Propbably so. All media is now trying to create division in this country. I'm starting to think that they want all hell to break lose, because none of this needs to be happening. THey are being used as pawns, and this is why I am against the agenda overall.

[Dr.3D]

The term 'la raza' may be thought of in more than one way....

http://www.search.com/reference/La_Raza
http://redletterpress.org/viva_la_raza.html

[LATruth]

The term 'la raza' may be thought of in more than one way....

http://www.search.com/reference/La_Raza
http://redletterpress.org/viva_la_raza.html

I have heard "la raza" is a urban slang term used for the mexican revolution in america. Nothing I have read or seen gives it a positive connotation to America.

[dannno]

It would be like saying "the station of the people"

It's probably the name of the station.

Check this out:

http://www.google.com/search?q=La+Raza+FM&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a


and


http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=K0R&q=La+Raza+AM&btnG=Search

[Andrew-Austin]

I can't imagine a station named "the station of the (white) people".

Pride in one's race = dumb

[LATruth]

Unless you believe the white devil stole your land and this is an opportunity to use lax illegal immigration laws to "colonize" certain areas for "readjustment", the silent revolution.

[Zolah]

I was listening in to a local station here in Charlotte, NC, 106.1, which the announcer kept referring to as "La Estación de la Raza" or "The Station of The Race."

I speak very little Spanish, but every time I tune in to this or any other among a panoply of Spanish-language stations in my area, I continually hear the term "La Raza" at every ad break and every announcer cut-in.

My attitude toward immigration is pretty laissez-faire, so please understand that I'm not trying to race-bait or demonize immigrants. I'm just wondering what's up with this "Raza" stuff, and why it seems to be everywhere on my radio dial lately. For those of you who may be more fluent in Spanish than I am, are these stations fomenting some kind of a Nationalistic uprising or race-hatred among Mexican immigrants? :(

I'd never even heard of La Raza talked like this til I came to this forum :p From all that I knew previously, the mixture of the Spaniard conquest with the local populations of the Americas, hundreds of years on, had to lead to a bit of an identity crisis of sorts, and Mexicans, etc. thought "screw this - let's just be proud of what we are, who cares if it's Spanish blood, Aztec, whatever, we're just 'the race'" - that's how I interpret La Raza, and I never thought about it much anyway, apart from thinking that it sounds cool, as do many Mexican expressions.



I can't imagine a station named "the station of the (white) people".

Pride in one's race = dumb

I wouldn't be at all surprised if there were stations along those lines already in America and Europe :p

[Andrew-Austin]

Unless you believe the white devil stole your land and this is an opportunity to use lax illegal immigration laws to "colonize" certain areas for "readjustment", the silent revolution.

I can't take the so called La Raza 'threat' that seriously. I work alongside Mexicans everyday, have never gotten the impression that they are racist or would take the above seriously. All I see is just Mexicans coming to this country looking for a job and a less ghetto standard of living. There is probably only a small number of racist nationalists among Latino immigrants, just as there is among white folk.

[apropos]

There is probably only a small number of racist nationalists among Latino immigrants, just as there is among white folk.

Difference is, La Raza is a primary pressure group for illegal aliens. They're the ones congressionals talk to; they're the ones dictating the legislation for amnesty. If amnesty happens, a racialist group like La Raza becomes the entrenched representatives for all those newly-minted American citizens. And in my experience, those folks aren't interesting in shrinking Leviathan.

[Brian4Liberty]

It's become a mainstream word, most Hispanic people who use it don't intend it in a racist way.

But it does have it's origins with other terms like Aztlan, Reconquista, and MEChA. It is not uncommon to hear discussion of a goal to retake (Reconquista) a majority of the southwestern United States via massive immigration. They will often profess Anarchism, but that is just a means to their ends, as they are pretty much Communists.

These organizations are also involved in other activities such as education, community organizing and medical care...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEChA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconquista_(Mexico)

and a biased opinion:

http://www.mayorno.com/WhoIsMecha.html

[BKV]

I think it's very commonly misunderstood a phrase.

Yes, la raza literally means "the race"

but even in English you have to admit "race" and "nation" changes meanings.

When Spanish speakers refer to "the race" it's no different than how Americans would use "people", it can refer to the human race, the white race, the workers and comrades...etc.

You need to see context.

[Athan]

Guys, I'm Hispanic. Just admit the truth.

The culture has large racial issues. Hispanics have NO leadership like Dr. Paul teaching us libertarianism and individuality. Shit, I think Carlos Mencia is the closest thing we have to compare. Ceasar Chavez is about the only Hispanic political leader anyone has had in America. (I actually admire Jose Antonio Navarro which brings up question marks in a Spanish class.) Most hispanics are bombarded with racial rhetoric from their elders who experienced racism and have passed on resentment. Our "historical leaders" don't exactly espout liberty. It has never been translated well from english. I say now is the time for a "Campana por Libertad" to change that.

[BuddyRey]

Yes, la raza literally means "the race"

but even in English you have to admit "race" and "nation" changes meanings.

When Spanish speakers refer to "the race" it's no different than how Americans would use "people", it can refer to the human race, the white race, the workers and comrades...etc.

You need to see context.

I must humbly differ with you on this point, because as you may know, one of the hallmarks of racialist or extremist groups seeking legitimacy in the larger public sphere is the tendency to adopt the title of "nation" to their movement. This gives them a veil of legitimacy (like all *conventional* nations erroneously enjoy as well) with the added benefit of masking their true intentions. For example, those black Muslim groups who emerged in the '50s with the belief that whites were soulless creatures engineered in a lab by an evil scientist named Yakub called themselves "The Nation of Islam." Conversely, all major prisons in the country have branches of a race-gang calling itself "The Aryan Nation."

[sailor]

Well "race" can mean different things. For example "the human race". So this la raza thing really only means something like "the nation" by which all Hispanics are meant.

It`s not a racist thing. Maybe a little bit nationalistic thing, but you could say the same about POTUS when he goes to "address the nation".

[angelatc]

I think it's very commonly misunderstood a phrase.

Yes, la raza literally means "the race"

but even in English you have to admit "race" and "nation" changes meanings.

When Spanish speakers refer to "the race" it's no different than how Americans would use "people", it can refer to the human race, the white race, the workers and comrades...etc.

You need to see context.

Nonsense. They need to see our context.

I will not believe that "The Race!" does not imply racial superiority .

[BKV]

Nonsense. They need to see our context.

I will not believe that "The Race!" does not imply racial superiority .

nobody forced you to agree with anybody.

[BKV]

I must humbly differ with you on this point, because as you may know, one of the hallmarks of racialist or extremist groups seeking legitimacy in the larger public sphere is the tendency to adopt the title of "nation" to their movement. This gives them a veil of legitimacy (like all *conventional* nations erroneously enjoy as well) with the added benefit of masking their true intentions. For example, those black Muslim groups who emerged in the '50s with the belief that whites were soulless creatures engineered in a lab by an evil scientist named Yakub called themselves "The Nation of Islam." Conversely, all major prisons in the country have branches of a race-gang calling itself "The Aryan Nation."

Veil of legitimacy that people who don't think will give them

some people are cool with racism, some are cool with nationalism, some are cool with socialism, I prefer to judge by acts and actually ideology, not names.

[Bryan]

Guys, I'm Hispanic. Just admit the truth.

The culture has large racial issues. Hispanics have NO leadership like Dr. Paul teaching us libertarianism and individuality. Shit, I think Carlos Mencia is the closest thing we have to compare. Ceasar Chavez is about the only Hispanic political leader anyone has had in America. (I actually admire Jose Antonio Navarro which brings up question marks in a Spanish class.) Most hispanics are bombarded with racial rhetoric from their elders who experienced racism and have passed on resentment. Our "historical leaders" don't exactly espout liberty. It has never been translated well from english. I say now is the time for a "Campana por Libertad" to change that.

Thanks for posting this.