MTV TRUE LIFE: I'm Nuyorican! Are you kidding me?

I'm surprised that almost a week later my blood is still boiling from that ridiculous MTV TRUE LIFE I'm Nuyorican episode. That's how I know I need to keep talking about it!

My gripe? MTV had the balls to produce a show about three young Nuyoricans and title it: TRUE LIFE: I'M NUYORICAN. The three participants consisted of Jose the boxer from the Bronx, (how original) Rose a belly dancer who doesn't like to dance Salsa because she doesn't like to feel submissive, (since the man always leads), yet she girates seductively for an audience of men and all the while calling her people spics in Arabic tongue. The worst of the lot is a young girl named Naizsha (pictured above) who wants to go into the Airforce but who would be better served working for the CIA torturing "enemy combatants" at Gizmo with her whiny ass voice.

Now I will say this, I think it's wrong to attack the participants of that show. I am simply describing who they are for the sake of this blog. Keep in mind, I'm still emotional. I truly believe they are not at fault. I know first hand that Jose, is really unhappy with the outcome of that episode.

So who is at fault? Carlos Puga the producer of that episode and MTV. The minute I finished watching that episode I immediately went looking for the responsible rat bastard who obviously lacked the research skills and high moral ground to produce an episode with three positive and proud Nuyoricans (as stated in their audition notice). I found Carlos Puga immediately. To my surprise he replied back rather quickly. Here's our exchange:

Linda Nieves-Powell

January 26 at 7:19am

Are you the person responsible for the NUYORICAN True Life episode?

Carlos Puga

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January 26 at 7:24am

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Yes.

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Linda Nieves-Powell

January 26 at 7:27am

Carlos, man. What were you people thinking? Everyone I know is upset about that Nuyorican TRUE LIFE episode! We don't want that to air again! Who do I need to contact at MTV? We're serious. It was bad. Really bad and considering I like that series, I'm so disappointed! Read the boards on MTV...people hated it. I hope you can guide me. IF not, I'll find a way. I'm sorry for the intrusion but your name is on that episode.

Carlos Puga

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January 26 at 7:37am

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Sorry to hear you didn't like the show. I could pass your info along to my bosses... What is it you disliked about it? Do you know someone on the show? And do you have a contact number?

Thanks.

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Linda Nieves-Powell

January 26 at 7:58am

Oh, I can go on for days. But here is the gist of it: There was an opportunity to show three diverse Nuyoricans. Instead we saw three very stereotypical depictions. This is not an accurate representation of the community. I don't want America thinking this is who we are. There are those who do live in the ghetto who try hard to make it out and there are those who live in the suburbs who try hard to fit in. There are those who go back and forth from PR to NY who are confused about where home really is. Nuyoricans are the one group of Latinos who live in a state of flux because of our commonwealth status. There was an opportunity to explore that.
Linda

Carlos Puga

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January 27 at 5:22pm

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Linda,

i sent your info along... and once again, i regret to hear that you felt we missed the mark here, but True Life isn't a news magazine show and doesn't ever try to tell all that there is to tell about a particular subject. We focus more on individual stories and less on the overarching story of the topic we're delving into.

When possible we like to show different angles on the topic at hand, but it's impossible to cover it all w/ this sort of storytelling.

Sorry if we disappointed you...

cp.

Linda Nieves-Powell

January 27 at 8:05pm

Carlos,
I know that TL isn't a news magazine. I've seen some very well produced important episodes in the past. Again, my problem with the Nuyorican episode is that title suggests this is about Nuyoricans in general. If it were Nuyoricans - struggle for blah blah blah, then I could accept it -- Individuals stories of struggle. The title of the episode is misleading. It suggests that this is the story of Nuyoricans. Yes, I am very disappointed. So were many others.

I do appreciate you getting back to me.

Linda

He asked if I knew someone on the show. I find that incredibly insulting and funny actually. To think I could only be angry because I may know someone on the show. Oh, yes, that's right, all Puerto Ricans know each other. I forgot.

Here's what I want MTV to do: CHANGE THE TITLE! Change the title! I have gone through a list of previous TRUE LIFE show titles and I have yet to find one that labels a show based on someone's ethnicity. Instead, here is a sample of titles:

I have Tourette's
I can't stay thin
I'm supporting my family
I'm a sumo wrestler
I love another life on the web
I'm in a love triangle
I'm addicted to meds
I'm happy to be fat
I'm going to fashion week
and so on and so on

How unfair is this? How dare you MTV! Change the title people! It's not fitting to a community who takes great pride in who we are. I'll tell you what. Go ahead and produce a show called TRUE LIFE: I'm Dominican or I'm Cuban and show three stereotypical one dimensional depictions. I dare you!

AUDITION NOTICE: Are you Boriquo/a and proud of it? MTV's True Life is looking for people of Puerto Rican descent living in New York City to tell us their stories. For example...

-Does your PR identity impact your daily life?
-Do you experience prejudice from family and friends back home who question your authenticity and mark you with negative stereotypes?
-Are you trying to decide if you want to stay close to your Puerto Rican culture in New York City or get a fresh start by relocating to another city or state?
-Do you struggle with difficult issues that are part of city life, like peer pressure, drugs, or gangs?
-Are you full of Puerto Rican pride, and looking forward to putting that pride on display at the upcoming Puerto Rican Day parade?
If you identify with the term 'Nuyorican', MTV wants to hear from you

But I gather from the slew of negative portrayals on MTV that Carlos wasn't looking for positive or inspiring. He was looking for trash entertainment.

I may not get MTV to change the title of the show but I will use the power of my voice to make them think twice about producing another piece of crap that depicts an entire community in the most degrading of ways.

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