Focus is Latino, but the language is English
LAWRENCE -- Take a walk around the city, and you'll immediately notice all the Latino newspapers.
There's Siglo21, a weekly publication that focuses on state and local issues. There's Rumbo, another weekly that offers a mix of community news and global events. There's El Planeta, the weekly that tackles international stories and the occasional full-page blast about the hottest diva, such as Colombian recording artist Shakira. Overall, Lawrence has five newspapers dedicated to covering Latinos and the issues that affect them. And they all have one thing in common -- most, if not all, of their content is in Spanish.
Then, there's Latin Pride magazine, a colorful publication that is a year old. Inside aren't blow-by-blow accounts on Lawrence politics or editorials on proposed immigration legislation. Instead, the pages have profiles of up-and-coming ''heroes," accounts of fashion shows, and travel pieces. But the big difference with Latin Pride is that the stories, the advertisements, even the horoscopes are all in English.
In this northern Massachusetts city, where the majority of residents are Latino and many of the business signs are in Spanish, Latin Pride is an indication, some say, and that an emerging Latino middle class is becoming a substantial market in Lawrence and surrounding cities. And while many Latino adult immigrants in the area still struggle with learning English, their children are becoming more engaged in American culture and speak mainly English in school settings, at their jobs, and in public. Aliali Silverio Belkus, Latin Pride's managing editor and contributing writer, said this young, growing population is seeking to be recognized.
''There are so many Latinos in the area, but many of them are young and many of them don't speak Spanish," said Belkus. ''All of the [Latino] media in the city is in Spanish."
That's why local activist Santiago Matias decided to start Latin Pride magazine. The founder and current president of the magazine said he saw an untapped market hungry for positive, inspirational stories about Latinos who have made it in the United States. ''I remember asking my kids why they didn't read the Spanish newspapers. They told me that they didn't feel comfortable reading in Spanish," said Matias. ''I said, 'We have to do something about that.' "
Last month, the magazine celebrated its one-year anniversary and is now on racks throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, and even in a few places in New York City. Around 2,000 copies were printed for the first edition, said Matias, who put the magazine in beauty parlors, barbershops, dental offices, and libraries. It had Boston Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez on the cover.
Now, he said, Latin Pride has expanded to 10,000 copies and will likely expand its coverage area to include Philadelphia. The magazine also boasts big advertisers like Wells Fargo and
Most cities, such as Houston, Los Angeles, and New York, where a Latino middle class has evolved, have at least one English-language glossy magazine dedicated to covering Latino political leaders, educators, business leaders, and, of course, entertainers. Matias said he wanted Latin Pride to follow that trend.
In the latest issue, Latin Pride features Julia Silverio, the former Lawrence city councilor who was the first Dominican woman to win an elected office in New England, according to Dominican American National Roundtable.
In the August-September issue, the magazine's ''1st anniversary edition," the magazine profiled Lawrence public schools Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy and Janet Murguia, the new president of the National Council of La Raza, a national Latino civil rights group. The edition also profiled Wall Street businessman Cid Wilson, a Dominican, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, the country's only Latino governor. Richardson is Mexican-American, and some observers say he may run for president in 2008.
Cynthia Duarte, a graduate student at Columbia University who studies multigenerations of Latinos in the United States, said Latin Pride is typical of a magazine seeking to document the Latino experience from a specific point of view. ''The magazine is very middle class and idealist," Duarte said. ''It has a lot of success stories with an overall message that you can make it here."
Belkus said coming up with story ideas isn't a problem for the magazine since there are many untold stories. But she said the magazine seeks to remain ''positive" about its subjects. Almost all the magazine's writers write in Spanish and have the stories translated to English, she said.
Belkus said that, while there are several national Latino magazines printed in English such as Latina, Hispanic Business, and Urban Latino, getting one started in Lawrence filled a void.
''There's been a need for a magazine like this," she said.
