After reading the fall issue of La Voz Magazine, I felt upset, degraded, disrespected, embarrassed and confused. I asked myself why a self-proclaimed Latin magazine would deem “ratchet” and “twerking” appropriate topics for its entire magazine issue. I didn’t understand why it was OK to instruct the Syracuse University student body on how to “twerk,” especially knowing that it is a degrading and disrespectful act that the hip-hop community has foolishly glorified.

I was ashamed to be a part of the black community. I felt disrespected by the magazine’s choice to give such an inappropriate matter a large voice. The choice to give this magazine to the student body, showcasing it as a representation of one negative aspect of the African-American community was upsetting to say the least.

If the cover of the magazine was meant to be a statement of some sort, it was not a good one. The image was both degrading and disrespectful to all women. To my dismay, I realized that the entire basis for this issue was to present “ratchet” to the Syracuse University student body. From twerking to jungle juice to the “ratchetnary”, the articles in this Latin magazine took the opportunity to broadcast a pitfall of the African-American society in such a manner that disgusted me.

I’m not sure why the magazine would want to support a step-by-step tutorial on twerking. I’m not sure why a Latin magazine has an entire issue dedicated to nothing Latin-relevant. No current events, no Latin star highlights, no news on immigration laws, nothing on deportations in The Dominican Republic; the only thing Latin about this Latin Magazine issue was the title.

If your goal was to help the SU student body “stay away from being perceived in a negative light” you failed. You made the choice to define a word and consequently aided in defining and degrading a culture of people. You have however successfully given students, ignorant to the “ratchet” stigma, a free-for-all jab at anyone who speaks loudly, says whatever comes to mind, wears a lot of makeup, and seeks attention. You have given them ammunition to see the “ratchet” in women and the classlessness you chose to highlight from the African-American society. I’m all for La Voz opening its voice to non-Latino readers but this was a voice better kept silent.

Nicasha Martin
School of Education Class of 2014
Syracuse University