Taos Hotelier Bans Spanish, Spanish Names, Hispanics
October 30, 2009
Hotelier Larry Whitten is getting roasted over the policies he put in place at his newest hotel acquisition in Taos, NM. He bought the weathered adobe-style Paragon Inn hotel over the summer and made plans to renovate and reopen, as he has with some 20 other properties around the country. It was business as usual until he made the decree banning the Spanish language from the hotel, since he doesn't speak Spanish. He also requested that his Hispanic employees go by “anglicized” first names, then allegedly gave some of them the boot for noncompliance. These new policies did not go over so well in the liberal town of Taos, which has long celebrated the Spanish language and culture. Whitten is now being accused with discrimination in the workplace and racism by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). Whitten claims that he is just trying to accommodate his out-of-town guests who most likely do not speak the language or understand Spanish names, and that he's no racist. The city of Taos, however, feels differently, and sent out a press release immediately after the skirmish hit the media.
“Mr. Whitten’s employment practices are not indicative of the way visitors are treated or the business practices of our hospitality community in Taos,” explained Jamie Tedesco, President of the Taos Tourism Council, a non-profit organization of Taos businesses that promote tourism in the area. “Taos has welcomed visitors from all over the world—and has been a destination within the U.S. for centuries. Our community is truly tri-cultural, with the majority being Hispanic and the balance a split between Native American and Anglo.”
“As I said when this story first broke, I do not condone nor support any business practice that would require a person to change his or her name because of race, background or ethnicity as a condition of employment. Furthermore I also stated that I do not condone nor support any business practice that would violate anyone’s freedom of speech,” echoed Taos Mayor Darren Cordova.
Comments (2)
Posted by anonymous on Sat Nov 14, 2009 at 08.16 pm
Is the Native American offensive? The term America was first used by a German mapmaker to honor an Italian invader of the western hemisphere.
Also, is Anglo offensive? The term refers to a warrior invading tribe from what is now Denmark. They did not call themselves Angles but this was given to them officialy by the pope after one of his “converting” army of priests said that the people of Britian looked like Angels. Do caucasians find the term offensive? Of course, caucasians, refering to those from the Caucus mountains might be offensive?
Some might suggest human but human is a “caucasian” word from those violent Romans (Latin)?
Any other suggestions?
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Posted by anonymous on Thu Nov 5, 2009 at 04.19 am
Has Larry Whitten ever heard of, seen, or read the novel or movie ROOTS, a novel by Alex Haley? Kunta Kinte is a small 10 or 11 year old African boy named by his parents on the African continent in American Slavery time. Kunta is one day captured and sold in to slavery here in the USA where he is put to the whip by a slave driver who nearly beats the young boy to death unless he submits right then and there to accept and say his new name Tobby. Sadly, before he passes out from the many lashes the slave driver has given Kunta Kinte, the boy cries out the the name the slave driver wants him to go by, Tobby, an acceptable Anglicized name for a slave in the South. I’d like to know if Larry were employing an African with a name like Kunta Kinte would he Anglicize his employees name to Tobby, or any other name he feels more Angllcized than Kunta Kinte? Would Larry Whitten consider changing President Barack Obama’s name? His name changing actions are so egregious that I shall be at his trial.