For Hispanics, this is our soft spot. We pull each other down, crabs in a bucket. And our modus operandi hasn’t evolved in 500 years: We always make it personal. We can’t just disagree; we discredit. And we do it by accusing each other of being less authentic than we are. The whole subject is taboo.
On Monday, during another interview, Richardson said his comments were misinterpreted and that what he meant to say is simply that Cruz “shouldn’t be defined just as a Hispanic” because there is more to him than that.
If that’s where he meant to go, he took the long way there.
If Hispanics want to attack Ted Cruz, fine. Have at it. But attack him for his policies, his politics and his public statements. Not his ethnic authenticity.
As for the territory that is off-limits, I know it well. Memory carries me back to my freshman year in college where, 28 years ago, I indulged in an unfortunate ritual for Hispanic students. It might as well be called: “I’m a real Hispanic, you’re a coconut.” Brown on the outside, but white on the inside.
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