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.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor Rules for Goldilocks on Sesame Street [Video]

by Jorge Rivas on February 8 2012, 1:47PM

Sesame Street gets a visit from one wise Latina.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Starbucks Barista Draws ‘Chinky Eyes’ on Korean-American Customer’s Cup

by Jorge Rivas on February 8 2012, 11:53AM

First it was “Ching Chong” at Chick-Fil-A in Irvine then it was it was “Lady Chinky Eyes” at a Papa John’s in Harlem and now a Starbucks Barista in Georgia drawing “chinky eyes” on a cup to identify two Korean-American customers.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Bankruptcy Attorneys Report Major Jump in Student Loan Debtors

by Jorge Rivas on February 8 2012, 11:11AM

The United States faces a real possibility of another major economic threat on a par with the devastating home mortgage crisis, according to the survey.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog

Rep. Barbara Lee Recognizes Black HIV/AIDS Awareness on House Floor

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 5:51PM

“We are our brother and sister’s keeper,” - Barbara Lee

Topics: Celebrate Love, /NOW Blog

Roland Martin Insists He’s Not Coaching Bullies on #Teamwhipdatass

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 5:26PM

During the Superbowl game on Sunday CNN commentator Roland Martin made comments on Twitter that both GLAAD and National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) have said could be interpreted to promote violence against gays.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, Media, /NOW Blog

CDC: 1 in 16 Black Men Will Be Diagnosed with HIV During Their Lifetime

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 4:12PM

The impact of HIV has been devastating among black youth, with approximately 40 percent of new infections among blacks now occurring among those between the ages of 13 and 29.

Topics: Health, /NOW Blog

ICE Creates Public Advocate Position to Serve ‘Those in Immigration Proceedings’

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 3:38PM

Advocates say ICE would do better to halt programs like Secure Communities than patch things up with these sorts of minor reforms.

Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog

Hoekstra Also has a Weird ‘Debbie Spend it Now’ Website

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 1:54PM

A look at the html code behind the website describes the Asian woman seen in his commercial and website as “yellowgirl.”

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog

Univision in Talks With ABC News to Launch 24-hour Cable News Network

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 1:33PM

A “long-brewing business plan” between the Walt Disney Co. and Univision Communications Inc. to create a new 24-hour cable-news channel that will broadcast in English was uncovered by the Washington Post on Tuesday.

Topics: Media, /NOW Blog

Prop. 8 Ruled Unconstitutional

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 1:13PM

“Proposition 8 served no purpose, and had no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California,” the court said.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, /NOW Blog

House GOP Memo: ‘Abortion Is Leading Cause of Death’ for Blacks

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 12:36PM

A new bill in the House, pushed by the GOP, would separately classify ‘black abortions’ from abortions in general.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, Health, /NOW Blog

Karen Handel Resigns From Komen Foundation

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 10:58AM

Karen Handel just announced her resignation as a senior vice president for public policy of Susan G. Komen for the Cure on Tuesday morning.

Topics: /NOW Blog, Planned Parenthood

Romney: “I Also Feel Government Should Cut Off Funding to Planned Parenthood”

by Jorge Rivas on February 7 2012, 10:40AM

In an interview on Monday, when asked whether he thinks Komen should provide funds to Planned Parenthood, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said “I don’t think so.”

Topics: /NOW Blog, Planned Parenthood

Viola Davis Goes With Her Natural Hair for LA Times Mag

by Jorge Rivas on February 6 2012, 6:18PM

Viola Davis like you’ve never seen her before.

Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog, The Help

Komen Founder in 2010 Memoir: Dropping Planned Parenthood Would Be “Turning Our Backs” On Poor Women

by Jorge Rivas on February 6 2012, 4:26PM

Just two years ago Komen for the Cure founder Nancy Brinker wrote that cutting funding to Planned Parenthood would be turning “our backs on these women.”

Topics: /NOW Blog, Planned Parenthood

Latinos: Only Group Whose Employment Numbers Have Returned to Pre-Recession Levels

by Jorge Rivas on February 6 2012, 3:33PM

The LA Times is reporting that Latinos recovering more quickly from the recession than other demographic groups.

Topics: Economy, /NOW Blog