Fox News v. Fox News Latino: Cinco De Mayo Edition

Fox News continued its history of undermining Fox News Latino by ridiculing concerns raised by a Mexican-American student -- and shared by Fox News Latino -- after Dartmouth College cancelled an “exploitative” fundraising event.

An April 29 Fox News Latino article reported on a Dartmouth College fundraiser that was cancelled after a Mexican-American student complained about the highly “exploitative” event which included “virgin piña coladas, strawberry daiquiris and Mexican-themed snacks.” The article featured excerpts from student's email sent to Dartmouth officials outlining her objections to the “Phiesta”:

“As a Mexican-born, United-States-raised, first-generation woman of color, it was sadly unsurprising that a culturally-themed party was seen as a casual venture for such a privileged institution such as Dartmouth,” she wrote in an email to various college organizations, including the Office of Pluralism and Leadership, and Dean Charlotte Johnson. 

“There are various problematic structures and ideologies regarding a Cinco de Mayo-inspired event, and I am sure that we, as a Dartmouth community, could learn from the extensive literature written about the Americanization of Cinco de Mayo and its construction as a drinking holiday in the United States, cultural appropriation and the inappropriate usage of cultural clothing, and the exploitation of groups of people and cultures for the sake of business opportunities.”

On the same day, Fox News' The Five covered the story by lampooning the student's concerns as political correctness run amok. Co-host Andrea Tantaros boiled Mexican culture down to guacamole, sombreros, and margaritas:

TANTAROS: I guess I'm just wondering, what are the rules for cultural sensitivity? So on one hand, universities are encouraging multiculturalism and they're encouraging us to celebrate and include all these other cultures but when we do it we're called racist. So I just want someone to tell me the rules because I love to drink margaritas, I may or may not have been known to wear a sombrero from time to time on Cinco de Mayo, and eat lots of guacamole. Am I a racist? Am I allowed to do that on Monday or not?

Fox News Latino explained the origin and cultural significance of the holiday:

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the United States and in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

In the U.S., however, the date is observed as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

The differences in tone and sensitivity between Fox News and Fox News Latino exemplifies the longstanding tension between the network and the website. As Fox News Latino attempts to appeal to a growing Latino population in America, Fox News remains staunchly anti-immigrant.