COLORLINES - Jorge Rivas

Jorge Rivas

Multimedia Editor / Pop Culture Blogger
Los Angeles, CA

Jorge Rivas is multimedia editor and pop culture blogger for Colorlines.com. A firm believer in the power of visual communications to inform and move people into action, Jorge uses multimedia presentations to help readers build stronger connections to stories. Jorge has covered the public housing crisis in a post-Katrina New Orleans, the effects of deportation on families, and brought live images of the President Obama's inauguration to Colorlines.com readers.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jorge started in broadcast as an intern at the age of 16 and since worked in the entertainment industry and on international advertising campaigns. Jorge received his B.A. in Raza Studies from San Francisco State University where he studied immigration, healthcare perspectives and the interrelationship of culture, community, and the internet. Prior to joining Applied Research Center (ARC) and Colorlines.com in 2005, Rivas worked on a living wage campaign in Brooklyn, NY through the Minority Activist Apprenticeship Program (MAAP).

Jorge uses his media and ethnic studies background to deconstruct representation of people of color in pop culture, illustrating how pop culture can shape opinions, perceptions and even public policy. Jorge's work has appeared on Elle.com, Essence.com, Racialicious, The Root, Alternet, and Feministing.

Check out Jorge's media appearances here.

Follow Jorge on Twitter at @thisisjorge.

Jobs Report Still Bleak for Black Workers Under 30

by Jorge Rivas on February 1 2013, 12:59PM

The U.S. economy added 157,000 jobs in January, according to a Labor Department report released Friday.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Reviews ‘Girls,’ Calls Donald Glover Role ‘Some Jungle Fever Lover”

by Jorge Rivas on February 1 2013, 11:02AM

His review touches on race, sex, name drops “My So Called Life” and says directors and artist Miranda July may be a more accurate “voice of a generation adrift.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Just in Time for the Super Bowl: An Op-Ed About Coca-Cola’s Racist History

by Jorge Rivas on January 31 2013, 4:06PM

Coca-Cola kept their products away from African-Americans for years. While Pepsi deliberately marketed to black customers.

Topics: Arts & Culture, History, /NOW Blog

Black Women Least Likely to Binge Drink, But That’s Not True for Latinas

by Jorge Rivas on January 31 2013, 2:45PM

White and Latina women, and those with incomes over $75,000, are more likely to become binge drinkers, according to the study.

Topics: /NOW Blog

NY Border Patrol Agents Got Home Depot Gift Cards As Bonus For More Arrests

by Jorge Rivas on January 31 2013, 12:23PM

Report also reveals almost $1 million in cash and other incentives.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Man Who Killed Latino For Pulling in to Wrong Drive Way Out on Bail

by Jorge Rivas on January 31 2013, 11:29AM

Phillip Walker Sailors, the man who shot and killed 22-year-old Rodrigo Diaz for pulling in to his driveway is out on bail.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

Win, Fail or Racist? 5 Super Bowl Commercials For You to Chime in On

by Jorge Rivas on January 31 2013, 10:41AM

Take a look at the commercials and tell us if you think they’re a win, a big fail or racist.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Watch Jamaicans React To Volkswagen’s Super Bowl Ad [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on January 31 2013, 8:54AM

The Jamaica Gleaner went out and asked the Caribbean island’s citizens how they felt about the ad and found some didn’t agree with the minister of tourism.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Louisiana Cuts Health-Care for HIV Patients, Low-income Moms and Children

by Jorge Rivas on January 30 2013, 5:01PM

State officials say they only cut programs that were also available through other federally funded programs but acknowledged some residents will lose care:

Topics: Health, /NOW Blog

Meet RJ Brewer, the Anti-Immigrant SB1070-Loving Lucha Libre Wrestler

by Jorge Rivas on January 30 2013, 3:52PM

Yes, ‘RJ Brewer’ — real name, John Stagikas — says his mama is Arizona governor Jan Brewer.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Chicago Leads Nation in Murders, With Young People Under 25 Dying Most Often

by Jorge Rivas on January 30 2013, 2:53PM

Last year the windy city experienced 100 more murders than New York City, even though NYC has three times as many residents.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

Former 49ers Player Outed After Domestic Abuse Court Charge

by Jorge Rivas on January 30 2013, 10:43AM

Former NFL player Kwame Harris has been charged with allegedly attacking his ex-boyfriend outside a California restaurant. Harris was the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick in 2003 and played offensive tackle for five seasons. He also played for the Oakland…

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

Georgia Man Kills Latino After GPS Sends Him to Wrong Driveway

by Jorge Rivas on January 30 2013, 10:10AM

Phillip Walker Sailors, 69, has been charged with malice murder in the killing of Rodrigo Abad Diaz, a 22-year-old Cuban immigrant who mistakenly pulled into his driveway due to faulty GPS directions.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

A Painfully Ironic Day For Boy Whose Dad Awaits Deportation

by Jorge Rivas on January 30 2013, 9:45AM

President Obama’s landmark speech on immigration came on the same day 11-year-old José Garcia’s father was scheduled to be deported.

Topics: Immigration Reform, /NOW Blog

Obama Immigration Speech Wordcloud: Undocumented vs. Illegal

by Jorge Rivas on January 29 2013, 5:46PM

Take a look at the word cloud below that illustrates which words were used most often during the speech.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Obama Immigration Plan Fact Sheet

by Jorge Rivas on January 29 2013, 3:07PM

President Obama announced his vision for a comprehensive immigration reform plan in Las Vegas Monday. His plan includes four parts: 1) “Strengthen borders” 2) “Crack down on companies that hire undocumented workers.”3) “Hold undocumented immigrants accountable before they can earn their…

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog