“Mexicano Mask”: Racist Gringos Fire Back

Courtesy of I Hate the Media

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


Well, huh. It appears the culture war over immigration has spawned a new journalistic beat: The culture war over race-based masks.

Regular MoJo readers will recall the controversy that broke out last month over Florida-based Zubi Advertising‘s “Gringo Mask,” which was intended as a playful, not-for-profit show of solidarity with brown people who are likely to be targeted for arrest under Arizona’s “Papers, Please” law, SB 1070. Zubi backpedaled on the promotion when it was inundated with angry calls from gringos; apparently, anti-immigration forces feared the racial underclass was getting too, um, uppity.

But Zubi’s comeuppance wasn’t denouement enough for some self-styled conservatives, like the dudes who run a website called “I Hate the Media” (and if they think they’re getting gratuitous link love, they’re dreaming). They took time out from their busy schedule of breast-beating over “Sestakgate” just long enough to Photoshop themselves a “Mexicano Mask.” And if you thought the Gringo Mask was offensive, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Here, in their own words:

Last week a Florida advertising agency created Gringo Masks designed to help illegal aliens pass as legal American residents.

Now IHateTheMedia.com has created Mexicano Masks™ designed to help legal American residents leach off the welfare system, overwhelm our public schools, overrun emergency rooms, crowd our criminal justice system, swamp our jails, and work without paying taxes. After all, who wants to look like an oppressive, racist gringo when there are so many reasons not to?…

“The spirit in which we conceived Mexicano Masks™,” the spokesperson continued, “is definitely to offend people. The time for dialogue is long gone.”…

NOTE: Neither rubber band nor green card is included.

Well, they’re clearly right about one thing: It’s hard to start a dialogue with someone who thinks brown people sit at home thinking up new ways to “swamp our jails.” That’s more the M.O. of Arizona legislators.

Also, guys, it’s “leech,” not “leach.” You must have been overwhelmed by immigrants during the English lessons in your public schools, eh?

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate