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March 29, 2011

Waste that is an Ignorant Writer

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Recently a friend passed a review of one of my favorite musicals, In The Heights. The review was written by Nashville magazine theater critic, Martin Brady. Well, at least the first draft was. The one that wasn’t supposed to see the light of day. The one that so blatantly demonstrates his distaste for not only the musical, but the culture it represents.

And though I see distaste and racism, like many other offended readers, what I see even more is a complete lack of understanding of the Latino culture, in this case Dominican/Puerto Rican, and a demonstrated ignorance of the neighborhood of Washington Heights.

You can read more about his comments and the reactions here. You can read my review of In The Heights here.

I live in Washington Heights. I am both Dominican and Puerto Rican. I have seen the play, twice. I loved it, because I related to it completely. Because, for better or worse, it was genuine in its representation of not only my neighborhood, but of the people who live here.

Now, I’m not talking about the affluent, newly name “Hudson Heights” recently taken over by downtown baby boomers and artists looking for cheap rent and more space. I’m talking about those below Broadway, along St. Nicholas, Amsterdam and Audobon Avenue. I’m talking about the lady who everyday tries to sell me a fritura, or the dude who knows better than to charge me more than 50 cents for a frio frio.

I’m talking about the guy that stands outside my bedroom window yelling ” Cinco por un peso!” repeatedly, or the 99 cents store owner who plays merengue really loudly because he believes it will make people feel more welcomed to come inside.

I’m talking about the kids who hang out on the corner store drinking maltas and flirting with the girls, and the old lady who sits on the stoop every Summer smiling at my kids and pointing out when their shoes are untied. And the old men who gather on the block to play dominoes and argue about politics and elections going on back home.

I’m talking about those very same people that Mr. Brady and every other ignorant, blind person fails to see beyond what their overprivileged, racist little eyes allow.

I feel sorry for any writer, traveler, human being who can’t see past the “exotic” “melting pot” “cool culture” in front of them to notice the people, understand the history, and respect the story behind it all.

We are more than salsa, sun, beach, rum, and empanadas. Yes we can be loud. I am. Very loud. And yes, we love to dance. Our music is not just joyous and festive, its the multiple rebirths of stories of slavery, survival, and broken hearts. Stories that are passed on from generation to generation.

Our food isn’t just interesting and flavorful, it is the collection, often of memories, from women in our families. Many of whom didn’t read or write but could feed entire families from the magic of their cuisine.

We came to this country, like the founders of this nation did before us, in search of a better life, to succeed. To survive. To live out a dream. That is what In The Heights, the play, is about. When you walk down the streets of Washington Heights, that is what you see till this day.

The magic of the pen is wasted on Mr. Brady and other writers like him who can’t see or hear past the stereotypes of their ignorant logic. Not only is he blinded by his ignorance, he lacks what it takes to do his job as a theater critic.

I hope that others take the gift that has been given to them as writers more seriously and push themselves to better understand a people before writing about them.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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7 Comments
  • Bill Koller
    March 29, 2011

    Love it! Thanks. Critic a mind as narrow as his knowledge. Has no right to be a critic with no experience in the real world! Annoying.

    Reply
  • jai
    March 29, 2011

    I agree! Sometimes people have complete tunnel vision. It's funny that the only musical that is representing Latinos (and won so many awards!!) is the one he's complained about? But of course that was a "first draft" never meant to see the light of day. I have also seen it and I actually bought the CD it was so good! I loved the musical it literally gave me chills. In my smaller city a lot of people left during intermission. But either you relate to it or you don't. Just because you don't relate to it doesn't mean it's not a good show. Ugh, the ignorance really upsets me. In this day and age you just can't play the whole "I didn't know better" card. I mean come on now, we're all adults. And we should definitely know better by now.

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      jai
      March 29, 2011

      Jai-I'm ok with him not liking the play. I wouldn't have cared if it was just a review that he didn't like it. Not everything is for everyone. My issue is his inability to get past the racist view points that tarnished his ability to judge this as a work of art or as a theatrical production. He was so caught up in the stereotypes that he missed the point because of it…Maybe because it was a bunch salsa and melting pot mush as he put it, maybe that's the reason he didn't like it. Or maybe it's difficult to see a stage full of Latinos with a story to tell. A story that in his pompous opinion doesn't matter.

      Reply
  • Stephanie
    March 31, 2011

    Please be aware that Nashville and its journalists are not represented by the kind of tripe Brady decided to offer to his readers. The vast, vast majority of us are educated, thoughtful and well aware there's more to the world than "Hee Haw."

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Stephanie
      March 31, 2011

      Hi Stephanie – I never thought that Brady represents Nashville, or even journalists…but rather the worst of what a person can be. We've been to Nashville, have featured the city here on our site, and have met some wonderful, beautiful people from there. Brady and people like him everywhere are in a league of their own.

      Reply
  • Sarah Got A Passport
    April 17, 2011

    I'm a fan of In the Heights…amazing that a student production at Wesleyan University could end up on the big Broadway stage. Paciencia y fé 🙂

    Reply
    • Carol Cain
      Sarah Got A Passport
      April 18, 2011

      I live it Sarah, paciencia y fe!

      Reply

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About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

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Follow @girlgonetravel

A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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