In his Washington Post article September 21, David Montgomery said that Michael M. Kaiser, President of the Kennedy Center, deeply regretted the "strong language" he used in response to a concern raised by Felix Sanchez, Chair of the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, about the annual ritual of excluding Hispanic artists from the Kennedy Center Honors.  Being an honoree is the high point in the lives of many artists, and the Kennedy Center Honors event is attended by the President of the United States and the First Lady, and chaired by Caroline Kennedy.

Legends like Ricardo Montalban, Fernando Llamas, Cesar Romero, Desi Arnaz, Rita Hayworth, Anthony Quinn, Tito Puente, or Raul Julia, for example, never received this honor before they passed away, and Raquel Welch, Rita Moreno, Carlos Santana, Ruben Blades, Joan Baez, Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Emilio Estefan, or Edward James Olmos have never received this honor.   

According to Sanchez, who is a highly respected voice in promoting Hispanic inclusion in the arts, Kaiser used the F-word and hung up on him when Sanchez asked him why only two Hispanics have been selected as recipients of the coveted Kennedy Center Honors since 1978, and none in the past decade!  That's two out of 178 honorees!  One would think that a person in Kaiser's position would have a little more dignity and show more respect for the Hispanic community and to Felix Sanchez. 

But, unfortunately Mr. Kaiser does not seem to be bothered by the consistent exclusion of Hispanics from the Kennedy Center Honors, seemingly blind to the reality of Hispanic excellence in the arts.  He can't see that Hispanic exclusion devalues Hispanic achievement in the arts and demeans the Hispanic community.  He can't see that by excluding Hispanics, America is being deprived of the opportunity to see us standing in our rightful place, and our artists are being robbed of an honor they rightfully deserve.  Under his leadership, the Kennedy Center Honors has done a great disservice to the Hispanic community, to Hispanic artists, and to the Kennedy Center Honors itself.  

I believe that Mr. Kaiser's regret will not suffice.  Latino leaders should want nothing less than his resignation and we want it now.  He is neither sufficiently civil nor culturally sensitive to preside over the Honors event, or lead an institution named after John F. Kennedy, the man who fostered a new generation of Hispanic inclusion.   We are calling on the Kennedy Center Board to request his immediate resignation and we are calling on President Barack Obama to let the Board know that he does not approve of this practice and will not tolerate this kind of ignorant and arrogant behavior from any of his appointees or anyone hired by his appointees.   

Juan Andrade, Jr.

USHLI President