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.
Infographic
Interactive
Photo
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LAX Officials Threaten to Deport Palestinian Filmmaker On His Way to Oscars
by Jorge Rivas on February 20 2013, 5:37PM
An Oscar nominated Palestinian filmmaker and his family traveling to Los Angeles for the Academy Awards this Sunday were detained for hours at the Los Angeles International Airport by U.S. Customs officials. Emad Burnat, whose film “5 Broken Cameras” has…
Topics: /NOW Blog
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Actor Jesse Williams Offers Tips On How To Portray Slavery
by Jorge Rivas on February 20 2013, 3:54PM
Actor Jesse Williams, known for his role as Dr. Jackson Avery on the TV series “Grey’s Anatomy” just published an essay on CNN.com that juxtaposes the Quentin Tarantino films “Django Unchained” with “Inglorious Basterds,” the 2009 fantasy involving a band…
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Introducing the 2013 ‘Official Portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama’
by Jorge Rivas on February 20 2013, 1:00PM
This morning the White House released the First Lady’s 2013 official portrait.A poll conducted by CNN found seventy-three percent of Americans approved of the way Michelle Obama was handling her job as first lady, compared to 20% who disapproved….
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Watch the 2013 State of Indian Nations Address
by Jorge Rivas on February 20 2013, 12:37PM
Last Thursday, Jefferson Keel , president of the D.C.-based National Congress of American Indian, delivered the annual State of Indian Nations Address….
Beyoncé’s HBO Doc Most Watched Since Katrina Series
by Jorge Rivas on February 20 2013, 11:47AM
Bey’s doc has become the most-watched documentary in nearly 10 years on the network.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Harlem Residents React to ‘Harlem Shake’ Videos
by Jorge Rivas on February 20 2013, 10:57AM
Actor and filmmaker Chris McGuire took his camera to Harlem to ask the community what they thought of the current ‘Harlem Shake’ video craze. McGuire recorded Harlem’s residents watching videos of folks dancing to DJ and producer Baauer’s hit song…
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
North Carolina Issues ‘Deferred Action’ Driver’s Licences
by Jorge Rivas on February 19 2013, 1:06PM
North Carolina DMV will tag DACA driver’s licenses with “No Lawful Status” and “Deferred Action” labels.
Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog
Quvenzhané Wallis On The Moment She Learned About Her Oscar Nod
by Jorge Rivas on February 18 2013, 1:23PM
Quvenzhané Wallis was a guest on CNN’s “Starting Point” with host Soledad O’Brien this morning. Wallis, the youngest best actress nominee in Oscar history, discussed what it was like when she found out she was nominated for her role in…
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
![San Francisco Jail Inmates Dance to Stop Sexual Violence [Video]](http://colorlines.com/assets_c/2013/02/one-billion-rising-v-day-san-francisco-jails-thumb-120x120-7654.jpg)
San Francisco Jail Inmates Dance to Stop Sexual Violence [Video]
by Jorge Rivas on February 18 2013, 11:49AM
A global activist movement to end violence against women and girls reached San Francisco jails last week. As part of the One Billion Rising movement a group of choreographers visited San Francisco County jails to make sure inmates were able…
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
ACLU Obtains Emails That Prove ICE Officials Set Deportation Quotas
by Jorge Rivas on February 15 2013, 4:22PM
U.S. immigration officials laid out plans last year that would ratchet up expulsions of immigrants convicted of minor crimes as part of an urgent push to make sure the government would not fall short of its criminal deportation targets.
Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog
Good Lord, Herman Cain Joins Fox News Channel as Contributor
by Jorge Rivas on February 15 2013, 2:12PM
Fox News announced on Friday that it has signed former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain on as a contributor. “Cain’s impressive resume makes him a valuable addition to the Fox News and Fox Business lineup. As a political expert with…
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Pew Study Finds Blacks and Latinos Love Instagram and Twitter
by Jorge Rivas on February 15 2013, 1:44PM
26% of black Internet users surveyed use Twitter, compared to 14% of white users.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Navajo Nation Plans to Become First Tribe to Manage Its Own Medicaid System
by Jorge Rivas on February 15 2013, 12:01PM
The Navajo Nation is on its way to becoming the first tribe to manage its own federally funded medicaid program.
Family Creates Personal PSA to Encourage Adopting ‘Not So Little Newborn’ Foster Kids
by Jorge Rivas on February 14 2013, 11:43AM
Two years ago Kelli Higgins and her husband adopted two children, a 10 and 5-year old, and recently realized they didn’t have any pictures of them as newborns. Higgins, who is a photographer, improvised her own solution of sort: she…
Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth
Little Rock Teen Wins $75K on ‘Jeopardy’
by Jorge Rivas on February 14 2013, 11:13AM
Cooper is a senior at Little Rock’s eStem Public High Charter School and said he hopes to go to Brown University.
Topics: Arts & Culture, /NOW Blog
Jose Antonio Vargas at Senate Immigration Hearing: We’re Not ‘Alien People From Mars’
by Jorge Rivas on February 13 2013, 1:30PM
On Wednesday, Jose Antonio Vargas spoke at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on immigration. Vargas told the panel that immigrants “dream of not being seperated from our families and our loved ones, regardless of sexual orientation, no matter our skill…
Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog
‘Illegal Immigrant Hunting Permit’ Stickers Sold in Colorado Gas Stations
by Jorge Rivas on February 13 2013, 12:15PM
Colorado’s 9News reporter Jeremy Jojola purchased an offensive anti-immigrant sticker at a Cenex gas station in Eaton, Colo., about 60 miles north of Denver. The green sticker includes an outline of the continental United States with the words “ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT…
Topics: Immigration, /NOW Blog
Another Black Ex-LAPD Cop Writes Manifesto, Says He Understands Dorner
by Jorge Rivas on February 13 2013, 11:19AM
Joe Jones wants to make it clear he doesn’t support Chris Dorner, he just wants to share his own experience working for the LAPD. On Monday, the former officer posted a note on Facebook detailing experiences he had while in…
Topics: Criminal Justice, /NOW Blog
Not Loving It: Young Students Forced to Go to McDonalds for WiFi After Libraries Close
by Jorge Rivas on February 12 2013, 3:02PM
Wifi… would you like fries with that?
Topics: /NOW Blog, Schools & Youth
Hadiya Pendleton’s Parents Will Join Michelle Obama At The State Of The Union
by Jorge Rivas on February 12 2013, 11:06AM
The parents of Chicago teen Hadiya Pendelton will attend President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday as guests of first lady Michelle Obama, according to local news reports. “It’s bittersweet,” Cleopatra Cowley told NBC News after she and her…
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