Lalo Alcarez: English-Only Foundations

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Lalo Alcarez: English-Only Foundations

NOT SURE, a comic by Lalo Alcarez, discusses English-only Foundations and the microaggressions minorities face. English-only Foundations are organizations that promote English as the official language in order to allow everyone to “to get ahead economically, academically and socially” (U.S. English Foundation, Inc). The strip is part of a series called ‘La Cucaracha’, which was the first nationally syndicated politically themed strip by a Latino. This comic depicts a Caucasian man calling out to two colored men in Spanish, and then asking them if they’d like to sign a petition to support the English-Only Foundation. The Caucasian man is promoting making English the official language, but he uses Spanish words or short phrases to appeal to the
two men in what seems like an attempt to be humourous and amicable. This instance of Spanish being used as a gimmick to market a change that is unfavorable is an example of a microaggression that racial minorities face on a daily basis.

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