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.

Brooklyn Boxing Coach Kicks Wall Street Where it Hurts [Video]

Brooklyn Boxing Coach Kicks Wall Street Where it Hurts [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 4:02PM

Meet Eric Kelly, a four-time National Amateur Boxing champion and two-time NYC Golden Glove tournament winner, who isn’t afraid of anyone, even Wall Street dudes.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Pixar is Jumping on Boat to Capture Latino Audience with New Día de los Muertos Movie

Pixar is Jumping on Boat to Capture Latino Audience with New Día de los Muertos Movie

by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 2:36PM

Last month Pixar announced the filmmaking team behind the Academy Award-winning “Toy Story 3” is working on a film that delves into the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Seven-Year-Old Aspiring Rapper Mir Money Breaks Down on 'America's Got Talent'

Seven-Year-Old Aspiring Rapper Mir Money Breaks Down on ‘America’s Got Talent’

by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 1:47PM

Leave it to Howard Stern to make a 7-year old cry.

Topics: Media, /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

EBONY Magazine Commissions Street Artist Shepard Fairey to Illustrate Trayvon Martin

by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 1:20PM

Graphic designer and illustrator Shepard Fairey, who created Barack Obama’s 2009 “Hope” poster, has illustrated a new figure: Trayvon Martin. via Fairey’s blog: I have followed Trayvon’s case closely and I think any compassionate human being can relate to Trayvon…

Topics: Arts & Culture, Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

Obama Holds 34-Point Lead Over Romney Among Registered Latino Voters

Obama Holds 34-Point Lead Over Romney Among Registered Latino Voters

by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 12:30PM

Despite broken immigration promises and a record number of deportations Latinos continue to support the President.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

Poll: People of Color More Likely to Support Gay Marriage Than Whites

Poll: People of Color More Likely to Support Gay Marriage Than Whites

by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 12:04PM

The majority of those surveyed said Obama’s stance on gay marriage will not play a big role in their vote for president.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

Kanye West, Beyonce Lead BET Awards Nominations

Kanye West, Beyonce Lead BET Awards Nominations

by Jorge Rivas on May 23 2012, 10:28AM

The nominees for the 2012 BET Awards were announced Tuesday and leading the way with seven nominations is Kanye West.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Proposed Book Project ‘My White Friends’ Explores Photography’s Description of Race

by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 5:08PM

Photographer Myra Greene has been exploring photography’s description of race and the challenges of describing whiteness by photographing her white friends for the past 10-years.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Meet the Nguyen Seniors Whose Yearbook Quotes Went Viral

Meet the Nguyen Seniors Whose Yearbook Quotes Went Viral

by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 4:30PM

Meet Presentation High School seniors Alexandra, Angela, Angelica, Elizabeth, Emily, Isabella, Madeline, and Vi Nguyen who submitted senior quotes for the yearbook that once combined read “We know what you’re thinking, and no, we’re not related!”

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

Donald Glover Seen Canoodling With Lena Dunham on Set of 'Girls'

Donald Glover Seen Canoodling With Lena Dunham on Set of ‘Girls’

by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 2:42PM

Now everyone is dying to know if Glover is a new love interest on the show.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Louisiana School Psychologist: 'Young Black Thugs Who Won't Follow the Law Need to Be Put Down'

Louisiana School Psychologist: ‘Young Black Thugs Who Won’t Follow the Law Need to Be Put Down’

by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 1:51PM

“Young Black Thugs who won’t follow the law need to be put down not incarcerated. Put down like the Dogs they are!” read one tweet made by Mark Traina, the Jefferson Parish school psychologist, who has worked with alternative schools and in central administration.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

50 Percent of Those Exonerated in National Registry are Black

50 Percent of Those Exonerated in National Registry are Black

by Jorge Rivas on May 22 2012, 11:15AM

The University of the Michigan Law School and the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law have partnered to launch a National Registry of Exonerations that keeps an up to date list of all known exonerations in the United States since 1989.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

Listen to the Last Song Whitney Houston Recorded for 'Sparkle' Soundtrack

Listen to the Last Song Whitney Houston Recorded for ‘Sparkle’ Soundtrack

by Jorge Rivas on May 21 2012, 5:46PM

The Song features Jordin Sparks and is written by R.Kelly.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Most immigrants Sent Back to Mexico Detained at Work or Home, Border Apprehensions Decline

by Jorge Rivas on May 21 2012, 5:18PM

While the number of people crossing from Mexico into the United States has fallen to 40 year lows, the rates of deportation have reached historic highs.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

Jay Smooth On Not Freaking Out About Nonwhite Births Becoming Majority

Jay Smooth On Not Freaking Out About Nonwhite Births Becoming Majority

by Jorge Rivas on May 21 2012, 3:35PM

Jay Smooth breaks down new Census findings and says there is little to fear.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Dharun Ravi Sentenced to 30 Days, May Not Be Deported

Dharun Ravi Sentenced to 30 Days, May Not Be Deported

by Jorge Rivas on May 21 2012, 12:54PM

On Monday, Dharun Ravi, the 20-year-old Indian immigrant, convicted on 15 counts of illegal spying on his Rutgers dorm mate was sentenced to 30 days in jail.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

NAACP Endorses Same-Sex Marriage

NAACP Endorses Same-Sex Marriage

by Jorge Rivas on May 21 2012, 11:36AM

The NAACP announcement comes just two weeks after President Barack Obama announced his support for gay marriage.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

Second Grader Removed From School for Honoring MLK with Blackface

Second Grader Removed From School for Honoring MLK with Blackface

by Jorge Rivas on May 21 2012, 11:28AM

A Colorado Springs second grader showed up to school in blackface.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth

American Apparel Ad Uses 'California Farmer' As Accessory in Ad

American Apparel Ad Uses ‘California Farmer’ As Accessory in Ad

by Jorge Rivas on May 21 2012, 11:04AM

Meet Raul, American Apparels latest accessory.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Calif. Court to Decide if Undocumented Immigrant Can Practice Law

by Jorge Rivas on May 18 2012, 1:01PM

The California Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to consider whether an undocumented Mexican immigrant who attended law school and passed the State Bar can practice law

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog