Colorlines

Jorge Rivas

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.

Watch 'Glee' Star Harry Shum Jr. Compete in a Pole Dancing Contest [Video]

Watch ‘Glee’ Star Harry Shum Jr. Compete in a Pole Dancing Contest [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on June 21 2012, 1:50PM

Kev Jumba from You Offend Me, You Offend My Family” aka YOMYOMF invited Harry Shum Jr. to a pole dance off.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

857 Desks Installed On National Mall to Call Attention to Drop Out Rates

857 Desks Installed On National Mall to Call Attention to Drop Out Rates

by Jorge Rivas on June 21 2012, 1:03PM

Each desk represents one of the 857 students who drop out of high school in the United States every single hour, every single school day, according to the College Board.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

64-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Takes 2nd Place at Bikini Contest

64-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Takes 2nd Place at Bikini Contest

by Jorge Rivas on June 21 2012, 11:23AM

A Los Angeles grandma beat a bunch of women half her age in a bikini contest in Atlanta, Georgia earlier this month.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

FOX Picks Up Jesus Orellana’s Sci-Fi Movie Project ‘Rosa’

by Jorge Rivas on June 20 2012, 2:45PM

20th Century Fox has purchased the rights to create a full length feature film based on the sci-fi short-film ROSA that was created entirely by young comic-artist Jesús Orellana.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Investigators Find Forced Labor at Louisiana Walmart Seafood Supplier

Investigators Find Forced Labor at Louisiana Walmart Seafood Supplier

by Jorge Rivas on June 20 2012, 2:17PM

Mexican “Guest Workers” at Louisiana plant peel and boil crawfish for 15 to 24 hours straight for less than minimum wage.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Jelani Cobb's Moving 'New Yorker' Piece on the Legacy of Rodney King

Jelani Cobb’s Moving ‘New Yorker’ Piece on the Legacy of Rodney King

by Jorge Rivas on June 20 2012, 12:49PM

William Jelani Cobb pens moving piece about Rodney King.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

New Beautiful Short Film Highlights Three DREAMers

New Beautiful Short Film Highlights Three DREAMers

by Jorge Rivas on June 20 2012, 12:21PM

Though an important step was taken with the president’s order to halt the deportations of some young undocumented residents, we must remember that his executive order could change as early as January under a new administration.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Apple Stores in Georgia Won't Sell iPads to People Speaking Farsi

Apple Stores in Georgia Won’t Sell iPads to People Speaking Farsi

by Jorge Rivas on June 20 2012, 12:07PM

WSB-TV in Alpharetta, Georgia has interviews with two people who were denied iPads and iPhones at two different Apple Stores after employees learned they were from Iran.

Topics: Global Affairs, /NOW Blog

Somehow Kelly Ripa Managed to Make a Deportation Joke While the First Lady Double Dutched

by Jorge Rivas on June 19 2012, 2:38PM

First Lady Michelle Obama went on Live! With Kelly Monday morning and she double Dutched in wide-legged pants!

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Spanish Talk Shows Biggest Name Cristina Saralegui Endorses Barack Obama

Spanish Talk Shows Biggest Name Cristina Saralegui Endorses Barack Obama

by Jorge Rivas on June 19 2012, 1:50PM

This is the first time that Cristina Saralegui has endorsed a President or actively participated in a presidential campaign.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

Southern Baptists Poised to Elect First Black President

by Jorge Rivas on June 19 2012, 1:19PM

The Southern Baptist Convention is expected to elect its first black president at its annual meeting on Tuesday

Topics: History, /NOW Blog

Amazon.com on Pace to be Bigger Than Walmart by Decade's End

Amazon.com on Pace to be Bigger Than Walmart by Decade’s End

by Jorge Rivas on June 19 2012, 1:08PM

Amazon.com is already the world’s largest online retailer and if they continue growing at the current pace they’ll be bigger than Walmart by the end of the decade.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Biggest Wave of Immigrants is Now Asian

Biggest Wave of Immigrants is Now Asian

by Jorge Rivas on June 19 2012, 11:37AM

Asian Americans are the best-educated, highest-income, fastest growing race group in the country.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Adidas Pulls Shoe in Response to Slavery Controversy

Adidas Pulls Shoe in Response to Slavery Controversy

by Jorge Rivas on June 19 2012, 10:34AM

He may not be a household name but Jeremy Scott’s designs have been worn by Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Madonna and Kanye West.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Arkansas Tea Party Rally Kicked Off With Racist Icebreaker Joke

Arkansas Tea Party Rally Kicked Off With Racist Icebreaker Joke

by Jorge Rivas on June 19 2012, 10:07AM

Not only was an Arkansas Tea Party rally kicked off with a racist joke but then a Senator went ahead a tweeted the speaker did a great job.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

Trayvon Martin's Dad has a Moving Message for Father's Day

Trayvon Martin’s Dad has a Moving Message for Father’s Day

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 1:56PM

This Father’s Day, join Trayvon Martin’s father, Tracy Martin, and add your name to this national petition demanding that all “Stand Your Ground” laws be repealed.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

Jon Stewart Takes on Rick Scott's Voter Suppression in Florida [Video]

Jon Stewart Takes on Rick Scott’s Voter Suppression in Florida [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 1:14PM

Check out the ‘Florida’ tag page to get the latest on voter suppression in Florida.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

TIME Mag’ New Immigration Cover Story: ‘We Are Americans - Just Not Legally’

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 12:55PM

Jose Antonio Vargas is on the cover of the new issue of TIME Magazine.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

A Guide to the U.S.' Worst Restaurants for Workers

A Guide to the U.S.’ Worst Restaurants for Workers

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 12:35PM

A guide to America’s worst restaurants for workers.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Police Chief Defends Detaining Teen's Mother After Neighbor's Fatal Shot

Police Chief Defends Detaining Teen’s Mother After Neighbor’s Fatal Shot

by Jorge Rivas on June 14 2012, 11:15AM

After a 13-year-old boy was shot and killed in front of his Milwaukee home last month, police forced his grieving mother to sit in a squad car for more than an hour rather than let her hold her dying son or join him at the hospital.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog