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.

Oscar Grant Film 'Fruitvale' Now Has a July Release Date

Oscar Grant Film ‘Fruitvale’ Now Has a July Release Date

by Jorge Rivas on April 8 2013, 1:53PM

“Fruitvale,” the film based on the 2009 shooting of Oscar Grant, is set to hit theaters on July 26—three months before its originally scheduled release date.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

AP Stylebook Revises Definition of 'Islamist'

AP Stylebook Revises Definition of ‘Islamist’

by Jorge Rivas on April 8 2013, 11:47AM

Last Thursday the AP moved to disassociate the term “Islamist” from its negative connotations with “Islamic fighters, militants, extremists or radicals, who may or may not be Islamists.”

Topics: Media, /NOW Blog

 Jay Smooth Discusses Roger Ebert's Legacy with MSNBC's Chris Hayes

Jay Smooth Discusses Roger Ebert’s Legacy with MSNBC’s Chris Hayes

by Jorge Rivas on April 5 2013, 11:42AM

Ill Doctrine and Colorlines.com producer Jay Smooth was a guest on “All in with Chris Hayes” on Thursday night to discuss film critic Roger Ebert’s legacy

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

L.A. Times Considering Changes in Use of 'Illegal Immigrant'

L.A. Times Considering Changes in Use of ‘Illegal Immigrant’

by Jorge Rivas on April 5 2013, 10:37AM

The L.A. Times is in a unique place because Los Angeles is home to the largest population of undocumented immigrants in the United States. But also because they received a $1-million grant to cover immigration and other interests for people of color.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Juan Williams' Son To Run GOP Outreach To African Americans

Juan Williams’ Son To Run GOP Outreach To African Americans

by Jorge Rivas on April 3 2013, 1:57PM

A significant part of the Republican Party’s future rests on the shoulders of Raffi Williams, the 24-year-old son of Fox News’ Juan Williams.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

Michelle Obama Hosts '42' Screening With Jackie Robinson's Widow

Michelle Obama Hosts ‘42’ Screening With Jackie Robinson’s Widow

by Jorge Rivas on April 3 2013, 11:40AM

First Lady Michelle Obama hosted 80 high school and college students from across the country for a screening of “42” at the White House on Monday.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly 'Wanted to Instill Fear' in Black and Latino Men

NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly ‘Wanted to Instill Fear’ in Black and Latino Men

by Jorge Rivas on April 3 2013, 11:08AM

The testimony of a New York state senator in landmark trial reveals the commissioner’s stop-and-frisk intentions.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics, Stop-and-Frisk

Watch Snoop Lion and His Daughter Sing About Gun Violence

Watch Snoop Lion and His Daughter Sing About Gun Violence

by Jorge Rivas on April 3 2013, 10:15AM

The song’s called “No Guns Allowed” and features footage from the scenes of school shootings at Sandy Hook and Columbine.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

Artist You Should Know: Laura Mvula

Artist You Should Know: Laura Mvula

by Jorge Rivas on April 2 2013, 4:07PM

It’s been a good day at Colorlines.com and so it’s only appropriate we share a song with you that includes lots of bells and hand clapping. I’ll let Pop Africa introduce you to Laura Mvula: Singer and pianist Laura Mvula…

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Associated Press Stylebook Drops 'Illegal Immigrant'

Associated Press Stylebook Drops ‘Illegal Immigrant’

by Jorge Rivas on April 2 2013, 3:24PM

The Associated Press announced on Tuesday they will no longer recommend journalists use the term illegal immigrant when referring to immigrants in the United States without legal permission.

Topics: Immigration, Media, /NOW Blog

Two Things You Should Know About Chris Brown's 'Fine China' Music Video

Two Things You Should Know About Chris Brown’s ‘Fine China’ Music Video

by Jorge Rivas on April 2 2013, 2:18PM

Chris Brown released his latest video on Monday for his song “Fine China,” off his upcoming album “X.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Tennessee Gets Closer to Passing Bill That Ties Welfare to School Grades

Tennessee Gets Closer to Passing Bill That Ties Welfare to School Grades

by Jorge Rivas on April 2 2013, 12:13PM

The measure is taking “a carrot and stick approach,” one of the sponsors of the bill says.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Magic Johnson Says He's Proud of His Gay Son

Magic Johnson Says He’s Proud of His Gay Son

by Jorge Rivas on April 2 2013, 11:22AM

TMZ cameras caught Magic Johnson’s son walking hand-in-hand down the Sunset Strip with another man.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

HRC Apologizes for Mistreating Trans and Immigrant Activists

HRC Apologizes for Mistreating Trans and Immigrant Activists

by Jorge Rivas on April 1 2013, 5:59PM

The Human Rights Campaign today was the last group to issue an apology for what they referred to as “two unfortunate incidents at the United for Marriage event at the Supreme Court last week.”

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

A Non-Grotesque Picture From the Hospital Room of Louisville's Kevin Ware

A Non-Grotesque Picture From the Hospital Room of Louisville’s Kevin Ware

by Jorge Rivas on April 1 2013, 5:10PM

After last night’s victory, Kevin Ware’s teammates went to visit him in the hospital, and they brought the regional championship trophy along with them.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

Watch Kid President Introduce Mexican-Filipino Singer Jessica Sanchez at White House

Watch Kid President Introduce Mexican-Filipino Singer Jessica Sanchez at White House

by Jorge Rivas on April 1 2013, 4:25PM

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome children and their families to the South Lawn of the White House for the 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

March Madness: Native American Guard Shoni Schimmel Delivers 'One of the Biggest Upsets in History'

March Madness: Native American Guard Shoni Schimmel Delivers ‘One of the Biggest Upsets in History’

by Jorge Rivas on April 1 2013, 3:21PM

For weeks, ESPN has been asking only one question in women’s college basketball: Who’s going to stop Baylor University Brittney Griner?

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

Study: Undocumented Latinos Get Into HIV Treatment Dangerously Late

Study: Undocumented Latinos Get Into HIV Treatment Dangerously Late

by Jorge Rivas on April 1 2013, 3:18PM

Undocumented Latinos and black Americans both arrive in care later than others. But undocumented Latinos are still likely to do well in treatment once there.

Topics: Health, /NOW Blog

Wu Tang Clan's GZA Teaching Science in NYC Schools

Wu Tang Clan’s GZA Teaching Science in NYC Schools

by Jorge Rivas on April 1 2013, 11:40AM

The goal: to use the students love of music to help them discover science “one rhyme at a time.”

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

NYPD Using Facial Recognition Software on Facebook and Instagram Photos

NYPD Using Facial Recognition Software on Facebook and Instagram Photos

by Jorge Rivas on March 29 2013, 1:13PM

The New York Police Department is using facial recognition technology to match photos of suspects with images in online databases like Facebook and Instagram.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog