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.

North Carolina Woman on Eugenics Program: ‘I Was Never Feebleminded!’

by Jorge Rivas on August 17 2011, 1:07PM

Elaine Riddick, one of thousands of mostly black women who were forcibly sterilized under the state’s eugencis program, speaks out for other victims.

Topics: History

Deadly Secrets: Supporting Documents

by Jorge Rivas on August 17 2011, 9:50AM

Deadly Secrets: How California Law Has Shielded Oakland Police Violence A fathers side of the story. Toddler’s Murder Begs Hard Questions About Violence—and Policing East Oakland has demanded more cops. They’ve also demanded less violence from the police who…

Topics:

Philly Mayor Michael Nutter Joins Bill Cosby in Bashing Black Teens and Parents

by Jorge Rivas on August 16 2011, 2:19PM

But while he lectures on personal responsibility, Mayor Nutter should take another look at his job description.

Topics: Politics

Dave Chappelle Sits Down for First Interview in Five Years

by Jorge Rivas on August 16 2011, 12:52PM

He explained his infamous 45-minute silent performance that made headlines in June, recovering from his addiction to being famous and life in Ohio.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Protestors Interrupt San Francisco Bay Area Transit System (BART) Service

by Jorge Rivas on August 16 2011, 12:29PM

Transit agency had to temporarily close all four downtown stations during the evening commute, but not before cutting cell phone service to people protesting the police shooting of Charles Hill.

Topics: Criminal Justice

Hundreds Remember Mississippi Hate Crime Victim James Anderson

by Jorge Rivas on August 15 2011, 1:55PM

The crime has shocked the nation and put local officials in the hot seat.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Video

How the Koch Brothers Tried to Segregate Wake County Schools

by Jorge Rivas on August 15 2011, 10:43AM

The billionaire brothers backed local candidates to take down an effort to integrate the country’s 18th largest school district.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Guatemalan Girl Stuck in Gut-Wrenching Adoption Scandal

by Jorge Rivas on August 12 2011, 12:08PM

A Guatemalan court has ordered a 7-year-old returned from her adoptive U.S. parents after determining she was snatched by local kidnappers five years ago. If U.S. intervenes, it’ll be a first for international adoption.

Topics: Global Affairs

BBC (Sort of) Apologizes for Accusing Darcus Howe of Rioting in London

by Jorge Rivas on August 11 2011, 11:48AM

As outrage continues to mount in London, the country’s news agency apologizes for a shady interview.

Topics: Criminal Justice, London Riots

TBS Cancels ‘Lopez Tonight,’ Leaving TV Even Whiter Now

by Jorge Rivas on August 11 2011, 10:44AM

Whether or not you think George Lopez’s jokes are funny, it’s alarming that a country that’s quickly becoming more diverse has a media that seldom shows it.

Topics: Media