Jennifer Lopez: Latinos 'Realizing' Their Power, Singer Says
Jennifer Lopez said that Latinos in the United States are starting to realize their power in politics and media on Wednesday at a communications convention, the Cable Show, ABC News reported.
Lopez spoke at the event ahead of programming set to launch July 18 on the NUVOtv network. Lopez serves as chief creative officer of the English-language Latino channel.
The performer is also an executive producer on the new ABC Family series The Fosters.
"It's an extension of who I am as an artist," she said in an interview with The Associated Press about her new role with NUVOtv.
Lopez said these are exciting times for Latinos.
"There's a big revolution going on, it's like a media and cultural revolution of Latinos here in the United States," she said.
"We're realizing our power. We're realizing that we matter here. You know, we're not just, you know, the guys working behind the scenes in the kitchens and as a plumber," said Lopez.
Lopez met later on Wednesday with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the National Council of La Raza and Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J.
She noted that businesses are recognizing the influential market of Latino consumers, one reason she is also the creative chief officer of the Viva Movil brand for Verizon. Lopez is opening a chain of 15 cell phone stores this month with bilingual staffers to cater to the Hispanic market.
She also noted the importance of the changes and progress in the way women are perceived.
"The world is realizing that women are not even coming into their own until they're in their 40s, that they have so much to offer. That you can stay in shape, that your life is not over once you have kids and it becomes only about your kids, that to be a great mother, or great parent or great woman in this world you have to be a great individual first, you know what I mean, and that's very empowering and we're all realizing this," she said.
"It's a new day for women, it's a new day for Latinos, it's a new day," she said.
