KenBurnsHatesMexicans.com began three years ago in response to the controversy regarding the filmmaker Ken Burns’ lack of Mexican American stories in “The War,” his then-upcoming World War II series for PBS. The title of the blog was intentionally chose to be provocative and satirical.
I wanted to use humor not only to question Ken Burns’ narrow take on American history, but I also wanted to critique the general tendency by the mainstream to consistently leave out a Latino presence in their day-t0-day discouse. I did this with writing, links, tongue-in-cheek observations, and, of course, many well-deserved Wet Burrito Awards to my fave Brown pundit Ruben Navarette.
Since my first blog in April of 2007, I have posted nearly 1000 pieces on topics ranging from politics to music to immigration to American history to Alberto Gonzales to the playoff chances of the Spurs. They have, consequently, been re-linked in the Washington Post, the LA Times, the San Antonio Current, the Austin Chronicle, the Chicago Reader as well as countless other blogs and websites, not to mention re-posts in literally hundreds of individual Facebook pages and Twitter accounts.
While Ken Burns Hates Mexicans is a funny title, it has outlived its usefulness and relevancy. I don't know how many times of late I've had to explain the title to people. And in dealing with various web hosting sites when I have technical issues? Try telling the computer expert on the phone your blog is called Ken Burns Hates Mexicans with a straight face. Sometimes they get the joke, sometimes not.
In any case, I am in the planning stages for a name change and, hopefully, along with this new title, some new features, a new design, and a renewed commitment to the upkeep of the site.
Details in the coming weeks...