Who knew that an e-mail could lead to a stylebook change in the New York Times? That’s what happened last week.
I read an article in the New York Times about Newt Gingrich’s nuanced position on immigration, which unfortunately referred to undocumented immigrants as “illegals”. This is what I wrote to the paper:
I am wondering if you refer to rapists and murderers as “illegals.” This is a made-up word with an agenda, which is why I had a difficult time reading your otherwise informative piece.
We can’t have a civil conversation about immigration in this country with this derogatory, made-up word tossed around. As a Latina, who was born and raised in the United States, I find this deeply offensive.
Also, it is important to note the complexity of simply labeling people “illegals.” Many immigrant families, as I have seen here in California, have mixed status households. One spouse will lack documentation while another spouse is a U.S. citizen. (It isn’t enough to marry a U.S. citizen to gain papers anymore.) Or, the parents are undocumented and the children are U.S. citizens.
Imagine my surprise to see the letter published in a New York Times blog with a note that the New York Times style handbook will be updated so that reporters will no longer use the made-up and pejorative term “illegals”. Reporter Bill Keller also tweeted this out: ‘Illegals’: Readers challenge the word, and win a change in the almighty NYT Stylebook. http://nyti.ms/…
Yay! Write those letters, people, they really make a difference!
Awesome!
I’m impressed by your letter and their response. Way to go, Elisa!
woo-hoo!
way to go!
Fabulous job, mujer!
And I’m totes quoting your letter the next time I see/hear “illegal”
Wow!
I saw that post by him when he tweeted it out – of course had no idea it was one of your letters!!
Well done and excellent advice – we need to keep speaking up – someday our voice may be heard.
Excellent!
Power to the people baby!
Gracias mujeres!
Yes, feel free to use my letter next time you see this derogatory word!
You rock!
Next, I’d like to see the media ban the use of the term “sex scandal” when referring to Penn State. Sex scandals happen between two adults. This is abuse, it’s rape, it’s pedophilia. It should in no way be equated to something like Clinton & the cigar.
Thank you.
ITA! The way we use language is important as it really does influence public opinion. Think, “entitlement benefits” as opposed to “investments.” Or, a FOX News favorite, “anchor babies,” when referring to, really, “U.S. citizens.”
Good for you!
Similarly, it disturbs me how many people use the term “illegal” for “brown people who I think might speak spanish”. As in, “I was in the ER and it was full of illegals.” I like to ask if they’ve checked the citizenship status of all the people in the ER on a regular basis, and remind them that Spanish speakers were in the southwest before the english speakers were.
That’s great!
I’m so proud of you – and so glad to see the NYT change because of it. What a powerful exchange – congrats. And thanks!
Go Elisa!
I saw that article and was more than annoyed. Good for you for taking the time to write a letter and even better, getting the style manual changed!
You go girl!!!
This. Is. Awesome.
Elisa, that is
fantastic! Congratulations on making a BIG difference.
woo hoo!! well done!!
So cool!
Language is, indeed, powerful. Thanks for getting the NYT to recognize that!
Sweet!
You can’t beat that
Gonna start writing more letters…
Coming late to this discussion…
Fantastic work, Elisa!
Language is powerful, and derogatory language perpetuates stereotypes, disenfranchises people and shuts off discussion.
Well done. This is a big coup.