COLORLINES - Jorge Rivas

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.

Jennifer Hudson Is Among World's Most Beautiful, Says People Mag

Jennifer Hudson Is Among World’s Most Beautiful, Says People Mag

by Jorge Rivas on April 13 2011, 3:37PM

We agree.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Grammys Chop Award Categories, Worrying Some Artists of Color

Grammys Chop Award Categories, Worrying Some Artists of Color

by Jorge Rivas on April 11 2011, 3:46PM

A number of award categories for Latin and other ethnic music are gone.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Unfazed by Blackface Fiasco, Beyoncé Eyes 200 African Dancers for Video

Unfazed by Blackface Fiasco, Beyoncé Eyes 200 African Dancers for Video

by Jorge Rivas on April 8 2011, 2:05PM

Could be cute. Or could be the “return to Beyoncé’s African roots” is spiraling out of control.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Celebrating Cesar Chavez's Work, Love and Legacy

Celebrating Cesar Chavez’s Work, Love and Legacy

by Jorge Rivas on March 31 2011, 3:48PM

Today the worker rights icon would have turned 84 years old.

Topics: Celebrate Love

Remembering Selena's Trailblazing Music

Remembering Selena’s Trailblazing Music

by Jorge Rivas on March 31 2011, 1:49PM

Today marks the 16th anniversary of the singer’s death.

Topics: Arts & Culture

Black Anti-Choice Group Compares Abortions to Japan Death Toll

Black Anti-Choice Group Compares Abortions to Japan Death Toll

by Jorge Rivas on March 29 2011, 11:37AM

Life Always takes its genocide meme to another, more shameless, level.

Topics: Health

Jay Smooth Takes Chris Brown to School With a History Lesson

Jay Smooth Takes Chris Brown to School With a History Lesson

by Jorge Rivas on March 25 2011, 11:44AM

Quit crying, Chris. You’ve got it pretty easy.

Topics: Media, Video

Chris Brown Apologizes for GMA Outburst, But Still Plays Defense

Chris Brown Apologizes for GMA Outburst, But Still Plays Defense

by Jorge Rivas on March 24 2011, 12:50PM

Chris Brown apologizes, sort of, for “letting off some steam” after Good Morning America.

Topics: Media

Elizabeth Taylor's Decades-Long Effort to End the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

Elizabeth Taylor’s Decades-Long Effort to End the HIV/AIDS Epidemic

by Jorge Rivas on March 23 2011, 1:18PM

The actress was one of the first public personas willing to discuss the epidemic, and did so until her death.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Health

Report: Chris Brown Breaks ABC Studio Windows After Rihanna Questions

Report: Chris Brown Breaks ABC Studio Windows After Rihanna Questions

by Jorge Rivas on March 22 2011, 4:04PM

He says he’s never been better, but his actions speak louder to his young fans than his words.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, Media

Jay Smooth Remembers ALL of Nate Dogg's Legacies--Sexism Included

Jay Smooth Remembers ALL of Nate Dogg’s Legacies—Sexism Included

by Jorge Rivas on March 22 2011, 3:12PM

We can’t ignore the iconic rapper’s role in making misogyny catchy.

Topics: Arts & Culture, Gender & Sexuality

Juan Williams: 'I Get Nervous Walking Past Young Black Men'

Juan Williams: ‘I Get Nervous Walking Past Young Black Men’

by Jorge Rivas on March 22 2011, 1:26PM

Is there anyone he isn’t afraid of?

Topics: Politics

Ricky Martin Urges GLAAD to Spread the Love in Latin America

Ricky Martin Urges GLAAD to Spread the Love in Latin America

by Jorge Rivas on March 21 2011, 2:17PM

Meanwhile, hip hop mogul Russell Simmons earns the group’s praises for taking on Donald Trump.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality

Alexandra Wallace's Anti-Asian Rant Draws...Misogyny and Death Threats

Alexandra Wallace’s Anti-Asian Rant Draws…Misogyny and Death Threats

by Jorge Rivas on March 18 2011, 3:16PM

Some of the most popular comedic riffs on the UCLA student’s infamous viral video are as sexist as she was racist.

Topics: Gender & Sexuality, Media, Schools & Youth

Cyber Dating: Whites Get Messages; Blacks and Latinos Get Split Verbs

Cyber Dating: Whites Get Messages; Blacks and Latinos Get Split Verbs

by Jorge Rivas on March 16 2011, 3:28PM

As Alexandra Wallace would say, there are hordes of white people on dating sites.

Topics: Media

Why Does Charlie (Irwin Estevez) Sheen Get So Many Passes?

Why Does Charlie (Irwin Estevez) Sheen Get So Many Passes?

by Jorge Rivas on March 15 2011, 5:26PM

Does race have anything to do with Charlie Sheen getting a free pass in both the criminal justice system and the court of public opinion?

Topics: Arts & Culture

Alexandra Wallace Says Sorry for

Alexandra Wallace Says Sorry for “Asians in the Library” YouTube Rant

by Jorge Rivas on March 15 2011, 12:00PM

“I cannot explain what possessed me,” writes the student who’s racist video went viral over the weekend.

Topics: Schools & Youth, Technology

UCLA Student's Viral Video Rant:

UCLA Student’s Viral Video Rant: “Hordes” of Asians Annoy Me in Library

by Jorge Rivas on March 14 2011, 12:00PM

“I swear they’re just going through their whole families, just checking on everyone from the tsunami thing—I mean, I know, that sounds horrible…”

Topics: Schools & Youth, Technology

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer's Teleprompter Fail

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s Teleprompter Fail

by Jorge Rivas on March 11 2011, 11:42AM

For a woman who seems to have an answer for everything, it’s news when she’s at a loss for words.

Topics: Immigration

Antoine Dodson is Coming to a Theater Near You

Antoine Dodson is Coming to a Theater Near You

by Jorge Rivas on March 10 2011, 10:00AM

But the film looks like a cross between the Blair Witch Project, Hackers and Alice Wonderland.

Topics: Media