As explained in Tuesday’s newspaper, the photo should have never been published. Although it is always beautiful to portray in a photo a celebration, specifically when it is an emotional one, the one published was clearly inappropriate.

Worse yet, I still do not understand how the photo was approved by editors in the editorial, photo and design departments.

It was a horrible action that made me feel sick. We called it a mistake, an error in our editorial judgment, but as a minority in this country and in this campus, I strongly believe there is no room for racial or ethnic mistakes.

I agree with the claim that media portrays minorities in a different way than what we really are. Sometimes it seems like the media outlets want to archive stories under the minority stereotypes file rather than putting our stories, your stories, in the community-as-a-whole file. It is sad, but it is something that still happens.

Part of my frustration comes from the fact that I also work for The State News. I feel proud to have accomplished many things thanks to the support of my editors, fellow reporters and professional staff. It is still hard to understand the situation, especially when the editorial staff has blacks, Indians, a Syrian and a Latino (me) on it. Everyone respects and admires each other. 

I do understand that there is a disconnection in our society between non-whites and whites. I don’t blame them. At the end of the day, they don’t know what racism looks like. It is not their fault. This has been a generational issue.

However, I also want to say that minorities do have a voice in our newsroom. Although we are not a majority (newsrooms are a reflection of society), we participate and we try to cover all the angles of the story — we try to connect with the underrepresented at MSU.  Minorities also occupy leadership positions in the newsroom. 

Personally, more than 80 percent of the opinion columns I have written are about being a minority in the United States of America and cultural appropriations — trying to change the panorama word by word. 

There is still a long way to go and I recognize there is a lot The State News needs to do to amend the situation. However, I do know we can do better, and I honestly feel we want to do better.

As the Staff Minority Representative at The State News, I can say that we need more voices in our newspaper and in other media outlets. We need to be in front of the camera, behind the computer and in front of the microphone. We need to. I encourage each one of you to apply to all these places, especially to The State News. I want you here. We want you here. We need you here.

In solidarity and respect,

Sergio Martínez-Beltrán

Sergio is a reporter and the staff minority representative at The State News. Reach him at smartinez@statenews.com