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.

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

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

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

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

Romney Releases First Spanish General Election Ad and Does Exactly What Latino Marketers Say Not to Do

by Jorge Rivas on May 18 2012, 12:00PM

GOP Presidential candidate Mitt Romney just released his first Spanish general election ad called “Día Uno,” which is the exact replica of his English ad except for the Spanish voice and copy on the screen.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

Michel Gondry’s New Film Follows Black and Latino Teens in the Bronx

by Jorge Rivas on May 18 2012, 11:30AM

The film is said to explore the group dynamics of a dozen or so black and Latino teens from the Bronx as they make their way through town on a bus.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

For Rep. Gwen Moore, the Violence Against Women Act is Personal

by Jorge Rivas on May 18 2012, 9:08AM

And Colorlines.com gender matters blogger Akiba Solomon notes that the opposition to VAWA doesn’t just affect women.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

Class-Action Suit Challenges NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Program

by Jorge Rivas on May 17 2012, 4:06PM

The ruling allows all persons unlawfully stopped and frisked since January 2005 to be plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

Ya Es Oficial: White Births No Longer a Majority in the U.S.

by Jorge Rivas on May 17 2012, 11:15AM

Latinos continue to be the nation’s fastest growing group with their population increasing by 3.1 percent since 2010.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Ice Cube Says He’s Cool with Gay Marriage

by Jorge Rivas on May 16 2012, 6:15PM

“I’m already married, so I ain’t worried about too many other people, what they’re doing,” the rapper said when asked about gay marriage.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Manny Pacquiao: ‘I’m Not Against Gay People, I Have a Relative who is Also Gay’

by Jorge Rivas on May 16 2012, 5:43PM

Pacquiao explained his true feelings towards the gay community.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Petition for Trans Fire Victim: New York Times’s Apology Isn’t Enough

by Jorge Rivas on May 16 2012, 4:45PM

In response to criticism from the LGBT community and allies over its coverage of a fire that killed a transgender woman this weekend, the New York Times released a statement that reveals a lack of understanding of how serious this problem is.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Writer Admits to Beefing Up Manny Pacquiao’s Anti-Gay Comments

by Jorge Rivas on May 16 2012, 12:53PM

The same week that President Obama and rapper Jay-Z came out for gay marriage, boxer Manny Pacquiao quoted scriptures that say a man who lies down with another man “must be put to death.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog