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.

ABC Announces One of ‘Dancing With The Stars’ Most Diverse Casts: ‘Steve Urkel,’ Sherri Shepherd and William Levy

by Jorge Rivas on February 28 2012, 12:31PM

Two words for you: STEVE URKEL.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Felipe Montes’ Fight to Reunite His Shattered Family on Al Jazeera [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on February 28 2012, 11:30AM

More than 20,000 people have signed a petition to reunite Felipe Montes and his children.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Angela Davis Calls DREAM Act One of Today’s ‘Most Important’ Fights

by Jorge Rivas on February 28 2012, 9:29AM

Author/activist Angela Davis speaks during the Independent Lens Examines Black History Month panel at the 2012 Winter TCA Tour on January 5, 2012 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog, Politics

New York’s Mostly Black and Latino Stop-and-Frisk Victims Speak Out

by Jorge Rivas on February 27 2012, 4:43PM

New York City Police Department released new data to the City Council earlier this month revealed there were 684,330 stop-and-frisks in 2011—close to 90% of those stopped were black and Latino.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

Natalie Portman Used the Term ‘Undocumented’ to Introduce Demián Bichir

by Jorge Rivas on February 27 2012, 4:08PM

Speaking to Bichir, Portman said “As Carlos Domingo, an undocumented immigrant fighting to give his son the opportunities he never had, you made us face very true portrait of a human being no one had ever dared us to consider before.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, Immigration, /NOW Blog

Ben & Jerry’s Apologizes for Linsanity Fortune Cookie Ice Cream

by Jorge Rivas on February 27 2012, 2:45PM

A Boston Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop has apologized for creating a “Taste the Lin-sanity” frozen yogurt flavor that included lychee honey swirls and crumbled fortune cookies.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Jeremy Lin, /NOW Blog

More on Oscar for Best Documentary Short ‘Saving Face’ and Where to Watch [Trailer]

by Jorge Rivas on February 27 2012, 1:54PM

Directors Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy won a Best Documentary Short Oscar for their film “Saving Face” at the 84th annual Academy Awards on Sunday.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

22k ‘Chavo Del Ocho’ Fans Meet for Flash Dance in Mexico City [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on February 27 2012, 1:31PM

The first episode of “El Chavo del Ocho” premiered in Mexico on June 20, 1971 and it still syndicated in most Spanish speaking countries including the United States.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Oscar Viewers Meet Aurora Guerrero’s ‘Mosquita y Mari’ During Commercial Break [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on February 27 2012, 1:00PM

During commercial breaks in Sunday’s Oscar telecast viewers met film director Aurora Guerrero and her first feature film, “Mosquita y Mari.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Jorge Ramos Tells Sheriff Arpaio That Latinos Think He’s ‘Worst of America’

by Jorge Rivas on February 27 2012, 10:55AM

Univision’s Jorge Ramos had a heated exchange with Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio on his show Sunday.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Immigration, /NOW Blog

And the Oscar for Most Racist Host Goes to Billy Crystal in Blackface?

by Jorge Rivas on February 26 2012, 11:51PM

During the opening sequence of the Oscars on Sunday night a blackfaced clad Billy Crystal revived his Sammie Davis Jr. impression.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog, Oscars 2012

Viola Davis Walks the Oscar Red Carpet with Her Natural Hair

by Jorge Rivas on February 26 2012, 7:19PM

Viola Davis walks the Oscar red carpet with her natural hair.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

No Acting Oscar in the Last Decade Has Gone to Latino, Asian, or Native American

by Jorge Rivas on February 26 2012, 5:20PM

And Oscar winners and nominees of color are less likely than their white peers to receive subsequent nominations.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

True Story: Oscar Statue Modeled After Mexican Man

by Jorge Rivas on February 26 2012, 3:08PM

The most recognized trophy in the world known simply as “Oscar” is modeled after Mexican filmmaker and actor Emilio Fernandez.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog, Oscars 2012

Today’s Love Goes to Arizona’s Banned Book Smugglers

by Jorge Rivas on February 24 2012, 6:50PM

The Librotraficante Caravan is bringing contraband books—or “wet-books”—to Arizona.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

NYPD Also Spying on New Jersey Muslims for the Past 7-Years

by Jorge Rivas on February 24 2012, 6:15PM

The New York Police Department has secretly been conducting surveillance on Muslims in New Jersey and they have done it with the permission of the governor’s office — granted in 2005 by former Gov. Richard Codey.

Topics: National Security, /NOW Blog

Yahoo Sports Contributor Uses Yao Ming Picture in Jeremy Lin Story

by Jorge Rivas on February 24 2012, 4:51PM

Add this one to the list Jeremy Lin media coverage FAILS.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Jeremy Lin, /NOW Blog

Viola Davis at Black Women In Hollywood Luncheon [Photo]

by Jorge Rivas on February 24 2012, 3:30PM

Viola Davis attended Essence Magazine’s Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel last night.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Biracial Man Mistakenly Included on Time Mag’s Latino Voter Cover

by Jorge Rivas on February 24 2012, 12:15PM

TIME mistakenly includes a half Chinese and half white guy on their Latino voter cover.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Politics

Group Files Paperwork to Find Out Who Gave NYPD Money To Spy

by Jorge Rivas on February 24 2012, 11:19AM

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund has submitted Freedom of Information Law requests to obtain public information regarding the sources of funding for these NYPD initiatives.

Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog

Jorge Rivas

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