NBC News correspondent Tom Brokaw apologized Sunday for saying Hispanics need to do more to assimilate once they reach America.
“[I] feel terrible a part of my comments on Hispanics offended some members of that proud culture,” Brokaw tweeted Sunday evening as he apologized for his on-air statements.
i feel terrible a part of my comments on Hispanics offended some members of that proud culture
— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) January 27, 2019
Brokaw made the remark during a Sunday panel that was discussing immigration.
“I also happen to believe that the Hispanics should work harder at assimilation,” Brokaw said. “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.”
Brokaw also suggested that many older Americans don’t want to see their kids marry Hispanics.
“I hear, when I push people a little harder, ‘Well, I don’t know whether I want brown grandbabies.’ 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,” Brokaw said.
Brokaw said he is “truly sorry” if his comments offended people.
“[M]y 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,” Brokaw tweeted. “[L]et’s go forward together.”
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
