Just 2 Latinos among Kennedy Center’s 170 Honorees
Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser is in the center of controversy over a heated exchange with National Hispanic Foundation Chairman Felix Sanchez. Sanchez called Kaiser Sept. 14 to complain about the absence of Latino artists among the new group of Kennedy Center Honors recipients.
“Kaiser said to Sanchez: “F— yourself,” according to today’s Washington Post, in which the Kennedy Center chief expresses “regret” for using such strong language. Kaiser says he lost his cool at the suggestion that he was a racist.
Nevertheless the Post story notes:
Since 1978, the center has chosen two Hispanics among its more than 170 Honorees: Spanish tenor Placido Domingo and U.S.-born performer Chita Rivera, who is of Puerto Rican descent — both during Kaiser’s nearly 12-year tenure. “There will be more,” Kaiser said.
Recent Stories
