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About this quote

What does it mean?
Leguizamo compares how Republicans view Latins to how Raid views roaches.
In plain terms
Republicans treat Latins like pests to be eliminated.
What can you take from it?
Metaphors like this reveal hostile political attitudes.

Where it applies

  • political rhetoric
  • community organizing
  • social critique

Putting it to work

  • identify harmful rhetoric
  • challenge dehumanizing language
  • build solidarity

Questions to consider

  • How does language shape policy?
  • What metaphors describe political hostility?

Another view

Comparisons like this may inflame division rather than solve it.

More from John Leguizamo

  1. There were no Latin people on 'Star Trek,' that this was proof that they weren't planning to have us around for the future.

    Permalink to quote #6

  2. I was familiar with that and 'Rio Bravo.' 'Rio Bravo' was what John Carpenter did, that brilliant move of taking a western and turning it into an urban flick. …

    Permalink to quote #8

  3. You grow up Latin in this country and you're a third class citizen from the word go, and so you have to deal with everything around you from that point of view…

    Permalink to quote #5

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