Ramos has seemingly paradoxical outlooks for the future. While he bubbles with optimism for the opportunities of Latinos in the United States today, he also warns of the devastation current immigration policy will cause if it continues down its current path.
“As long as there are workers in Mexico making five dollars a day, and there are jobs for them here in the U.S. where they can make exactly the same amount of money in just a few minutes; they’re going to keep on coming; so we have to be realistic and propose something that will work,” he said.
Outlook for the Hispanic Community Today
Other issues he sees as vital to the Hispanic community are education, jobs and the relationship between the United States and Latin America. Many Hispanic families come from other countries to provide their children with a better life, and education is a great opportunity to make it happen. He also mentioned discrimination against immigrants and the fact that it is harder for them to find jobs than other groups.
Despite the challenges Hispanics face, Ramos said if there is reason to be optimistic about any group in the United States it is the Latino community.
“The possibilities are endless. The presence of Latinos in politics, in show business, in journalism in television, in the business world, in economics, is growing by leaps, and I don’t see an end to this,” he said. He believes the first Hispanic U.S. president has been born, and he thinks there’s nothing a Latino can’t do in the United States any more. “I’m not trying to minimize the cases of prejudice and discrimination against Latinos,” he said. “However, there is no question in my mind that the positive outlasts the negative by much here.”
The Future for Latinos in the United States
Ramos is an example of what is possible for Latinos in the United States. Born in Mexico City, he came to the United States in 1983. He is an anchor on Univision’s news program Noticiero Univision, a syndicated columnist and an author of bestselling books on a variety of current events. He’s the number one Hispanic correspondent on television, and his newscast is seen across the United States and in 13 Latin American countries.
Ramos deals with high pressure every day. He copes by exercising four or five days a week. He jogs, and plays tennis and soccer. He also says writing and speaking his mind relieve stress. He spends what little free time he has with his family and loved ones. His two children were born in the United States. He said the most difficult part of being a journalist is spending time away from his family. “The families of journalists suffer the most because of our profession,” Ramos said.
With all the sacrifices and hard work, Ramos still loves journalism and is grateful for his unique opportunity to bring news to two cultures.
“After 23 years in the United States I sometimes feel like a journalist without a country, but on good days I have finally understood that I do not have to choose, and I’m part of Mexico and the United States.
Read more about Ramos' biography in An Interview with Jorge Ramos.
Portions of this article by the same author orginally appeared in print in the bilingual weekly Dos Mundos.
Libby Black - Libby Black is a journalist, copywriter, and web designer. She has been writing for publication since 2002, and her work has appeared in ...
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