Marcelo Lucero

Every time I hear or read about the travesty killing of Marcelo Lucero here on Long Island I want to cry. It’s abominable that something like this still takes place in our society. To know this took place combined with all the racial b.s. that is now circulating about Pres. Elect Obama – yes here in affluent suburbs of Long Island is unconscionable.

Marcelo’s death hits a deep cord with me because for 5 years prior to starting this company I worked for a Spanish Language Newspaper and was immersed in the Hispanic culture. Beyond that I come from a diverse family with people of all types and grew loving them all. Working with the Hispanic market I found loving, caring people who wanted the very same things out of life as me for themselves and their families.

I was once asked by the an organizer of the Hispanic Day Parade in New York about my experience with the culture and the market. I told her how much I was enjoying the experience and also shared some of the racist war stories I encountered. I told her how sad it was to hear similar stories to some my father had shared relaying his experiences as an Italian kid in New York some 40 years earlier. His getting beat up and referred to as a dumb Dago on different occasions.

I recall saying it’s as if this country has a warped hazing ritual and if you survive it we accept you. How sad… That conversation was about 4 years ago and look how little has changed.

We as a society need to stamp out this thought process, expose those who tolerate it and shame them for their behavior. We are better then the experience Marcelo Lucero other people of diversity have with our country.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine