Caucasian aisle?

Here is an interesting Scholarly critique of the George Lopez show

The article is from Arizona State University.  I had hoped to find a clip of George Lopez' stand-up joke about wondering if supermarkets throughout Latin America should have "Caucasian aisles" stocked with items like mac & cheese, mayonnaise, pork & beans, etc.  This of course is in reference to the Hispanic section found in most American supermarkets.  I so far have not found a video clip, but the article actually quotes the same joke which he incorporated into his sitcom.

Comedy like this can be a great springboard for thought or conversation.  I am not at all saying that I represent anyone other than myself, but as a Hispanic man I have always been glad that there is a Hispanic section of most grocery stores; it is nice to easily find the Cafe Bustelo, plaintain chips, some Goya products that I like, and prayer candles that I need.  I remember positively thinking something like "Awww...." when I saw a southern Vermont supermarket first establish a "Hispanic Foods" section.   Last month, at Big Lots in Morrisville, one end of an aisle spontaneously featured chicharones, bagged churros, glass bottle Coke, and other products from Mexico.  Growing up in San Antonio, I was glad to see it, and bought a little of everything. Weeks later, even though it's also a little weird for these items to be sectioned off, I was disappointed to see the section gone.  I don't fault Big Lots, though...I think they only stock what they get and what they sell.  I appreciate that they tried.

Skeptics will say that it is simply a matter of available market/supply-and-demand.  But in a way, I think that having a Hispanic foods aisle speaks to not only a tolerance of diversity, but a respect for diversity.  Diversity, in all forms, is appreciated when "differences" are respected.  I think that many well-meaning people make the mistake of trying to pretend that diversity doesn't exist; I have done this myself.  It doesn't work.  The better route is to respect everything that makes each of us who we are.  It is far more wonderful to surprise someone with knowledge than with dismissal.

In the alternative, perhaps the dedicated store sections are simply a part of a process.  A Latin Food Market in California I know of simply stocks everything by type of item, placing the Jasmine rice side by side with the Goya rice and the Uncle Ben's.  It's all rice, after all.   That works, too.  In the United States, many shoppers have the luxury of choosing from a variety of flavors, styles, qualities, prices, and packages of similar items.  It's important in this context that everyone's tastes and preferences are represented.