Wise Latinas Are Good for Business

Don't ya love this woman? The controversy started in 2001, when Judge Sonia Sotomayor gave a speech at the University of California's School of Law at Berkeley. The conference's theme was “Raising the Bar: Latino and Latina Presence in the Judiciary and the Struggle for Representation.”  At the time, the Puertorriqueña Sotomayor probably never dreamed she'd be contending for a post at the nation's highest court, and if she had, it's debatable whether she'd have altered her speech and left out the "wise latina" remark anyway. She may be rethinking her position now, as she backpedals and redefines her meaning, but Sotomayor is who she is — an outspoken minority leader, passionate about inspiring ethnic diversity — and having a Hispanic on the Supreme Court is not only destined, but essential for a functional and prosperous America.

Whether in the popular culture, the classroom, the marketplace or the workplace, diversity is essential for strength and longevity. According to AP race and ethnicity writer Jesse Washington, “Many of the nation's biggest companies believe that increased diversity helps them understand their customers, develop new approaches and do better business.” He went on to ask, “Should there be just one homogenous 'American Culture'? Or do the different traditions, beliefs and experiences that Americans have brought here from around the world create something valuable?”

These are good questions. There's that old joke about, “When the last American leaves Florida, make sure to tell him to bring the flag.” It's no secret that America is already 25 percent Hispanic, and by 2050 that number will reach 50 percent. California is already leading this charge ahead. The Spanish language is now neck-and-neck with English as the dominant language, and bilingual speakers are in high demand across the board, from teachers and managers to journalists, telemarketers and more. A dominant culture informed by Hispanics is coming and there's no turning back, and we stand at a turning point in American history unlike any other. Sotomayor's seating is part of the natural cultural evolution that's already been in play in the corporate world for the past decade, so what the fuss?

Photo courtesy of Stacey Ilys, White House Creative Commons.