Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw apologized Sunday evening, hours after he sparked criticism for his comments on Meet the Press about Hispanic assimilation.
During a panel discussion about the fight for President Donald Trump’s proposed wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, Brokaw said many Republicans fear an increase in the number of Hispanics in the country “who will come here and all be Democrats.”
He added that some people are also concerned their relatives will marry Hispanics and produce “brown grandbabies.”
“Also, I hear, when I push people a little harder, (people say) ‘well, I don’t know whether I want brown grandbabies,'” he stated. “I mean, that’s also a part of it. It’s the intermarriage that is going on and the cultures that are conflicting with each other.”
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The NBC News special correspondent added he’s been saying for a long time that Hispanics must do more to assimilate.
“I also happen to believe that the Hispanics should work harder at assimilation. That’s one of the things I’ve been saying for a long time. You know, they ought not to be just codified in their communities but make sure that all their kids are learning to speak English, and that they feel comfortable in the communities. And that’s going to take outreach on both sides, frankly,” he stated.
The outrage was instant with many people slamming Brokaw on social media, including the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.
“NAHJ has reached out and spoken with @NBCUniversal regarding the association’s concerns over a @MeetThePress segment and inaccurate commentary by @tombrokaw on the ‘assimilation of Hispanics,'” the group tweeted.
NAHJ has reached out and spoken with @NBCUniversal regarding the association's concerns over a @MeetThePress segment and inaccurate commentary by @tombrokaw on the 'assimilation of Hispanics'. #MoreLatinosInNews
— NAHJ (@NAHJ) January 27, 2019
Hours after making his comments, the 78-year-old journalist took to Twitter to apologize.
“I feel terrible a part of my comments on Hispanics offended members of that proud culture,” he said in a series of tweets.
You can read Brokaw’s tweets below.
i feel terrible a part of my comments on Hispanics offended some members of that proud culture
— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) January 27, 2019
from my days reporting on cesar chavez to documenting the many contributions of hispanics in all parts of our culture
— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) January 27, 2019
i’ve worked hard to knock down false stereo types. in my final comment in Meet i said ALL sides hv to work harder
— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) January 27, 2019
at finding common ground – which i strongly believe
dialogue not division— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) January 27, 2019
my twitter acct failed me at the worst time.
i am sorry, truly sorry, my comments were offensive to
many. the great enduring american tradition of diversity is to be celebrated and cherished. yamiche, thank u for your comments.
let’s go forward together.— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) January 28, 2019
finally, i am sorry – i never intended to disparage any segment of our rich, diverse society which defines who we are.
— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) January 28, 2019
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