>> good night, everyone! ♪ ♪ [ cheers and applause ] i'm alex wagner live from the pasadena civic center after the alma awards. >> are we having a good time yet? >> america's stars of music, television and film are shining tonight at the awards. >> being a latino is the most beautiful culture ever. >> that's why we're here, to celebrate. >> with the recognition comes the reminder, the challenges

still facing this group. >> to have 11 million people coming out of the shadows is going to be a win win for our society and community. >> we're talk with leading hispanic voices about what it means to be latino in america. live from pasadena at the alma awards. to night's alma awards are a testament to the great and growing inflounce of latinos in america. but while tremendous strides have been made in terms of opportunity and equality, challenges remain. one of the most prominent of them is the issue of immigration. so far on capitol hill, progress on immigration reform has remained illusive. but there's no doubt that of the 11 million undocumented immigrants in america have made contributing success to our community. the border ultimately is pour rouse and the culture exchange

between these two cultures remains as strong as vibrant as forever. joining me for a discussion about immigration and america are robert rodriguez, writer and director of films. he was honored to night. actress rosario dawson. she's also a resich yent. marie so and janet magee ya. she is an executive producer of the alma awards. thank you for joining me and congratulations on those beautiful alma awards. rosario i have to start with you. you had a message tonight, a political message. i want to give you a chance to finish telling us what the message was and tell us why you chose tonight to deliver that

message. why this audience? >> i have to say thank you so much to the almas and nclr for this award. it's an encouragement for the work that aye been able to do and we've seen that in political process, people putting down community service workers and those are the people who were my heroes. so we have to follow in their footsteps and work alongside them has been an amazing honor. i just wanted to talk a little bit about that and how powerful our community can be when we come together and really make strides. we have an opportunity right now to write the history books of tomorrow and be able to tell our grandchildren what we did. i want to encourage people to do something about it. >> i thought it was an incredibly powerful moment in the awards. robert, we're going to talk about immigration reform a lot tonight pu bun of the things i wanted to talk to you about was the notion of the border.

because some some level it seems arbitrary. sit a thing. but the intermingling of mexican and american culture is such that's almost a construct more than it is actually something that devieds people. as swoun who has cross pollinated your movies with classic mexican story telling, i want you to tell me what you think of the divisions that we erect. >> i grew up, you know my family is from texas side of the border in star county and growing up mexican american in san antonio, that sort of fringe culture exists where the lines blur. there's no hard borderline. i felt -- i grew up feeling like i could choose the best of both cultures. some of my movies were completely straight up roadster movies.

my dad listened to jazz in the house. but yet, i had the mexican side. i found it an advantage to come from two cultures. the great recall jewel yo said encourage your children to speak in more languages. i thought when i have kids i want them to have five souls. to know you can come from two different places, that borderline is such a wonderful opportunity to know to have two souls and i saw it in that positive light. that's how i grew up. so to be in a world today where that's come into question and it's become so political and it's become so dire, the situation. a lot of people still seem to think the kis cushion is over and it's very alive and kicking. immigration reform is alive today as ever. we really have to keep the pressure on, i think. >> i think that's -- the two souls concept is such a poetic

thing to think about as we talk about the divisive politics. i wonder what you think, you know, what do we need to do to better examine and discuss and take action on the issue of immigrati immigration? i mean, there is so much bucketing that happens both in terms of hispanics being seen as a mon live inningic sub culture and us verses them. and the alma awards proves that's not where we are in the 21st century. >> if you saw the group of people we can, we all everybody coming together to celebrate the new generation of americans. i think what we're seeing right now is in order for immigration to be solved, we have to realize this is our number one issue. we're losing robert. >> robert is a busy man. >> but something that robert was sharing earlier which is think is very true, the idea of two souls. a friend of mine was recently

traveling in latin american and he was like you're a super latino. your history is of the as techs and the mieians but you also own the history of technology and of going to the moon. so this idea that we're -- our opportunity is right before us and how do we continue to talk about immigration as an american issue. >> and demographics are on the side of this becoming an us and them issue. it's just a matter of time before this sort of resistance to the immigration reform and bringing in the 11 million undocumented workers, demographics will shift to the degree perhaps that maybe in 20 years this won't be a political issue we need to talk about. >> i predict it won't take 20 years. the fact is that latinos are already in the mainstream. and, you know, this is part of the integration and the evolution of our society and the demographics tell the story. we have now, you know, 16

percent of the country is hispanic. more than 50 million americans are hispanic. for us what is really key about the show is that almost 20 years ago the national council issued a ground breaks result. it was called out of the picture. we couldn't see oourss in film and we weren't seeing our story being told. as we're able to tell our stories and use the media and all of the wonderful ways to communicate we're seeing the transformation occur. >> it's dramatic how much that has changed from out of the picture to directing the picture and star in the picture. and rosario, i also think we're getting a better understanding of what it means to be latino or hispanic. you come from an incredibly mixed heritage. and i wonder when you talk about self-identification, what do you think of? do you think of yourself as

american first? >> earthling. really, talking about from the award today, the girl club, we have a planetarium. i've gone two times when i was in new york. to zoom out of the earth and see the known universe that we have, it makes it seem that everything we argue about seems so petty and small. we're not insects and swimming animals that can communicate with each other and not be able to create books and culture and art. e our differences are our strengths. i find when i travel and the more i learn about myself the smaller the world feels. this is our family. we need each other. you know like to say we're doing it on our own is ridiculous. i didn't make this dress on my own. we're so integrated and i think

we've pushed the idea of individualism, which is a great idea but pushed it to the point where we've forgotten our sense of community and i think that's what's breaking down the conversation of immigration. when you have people who are proud to come from the may flower but arguing over someone coming here from some other place, there's something of your own story that uy ear losing touch with. if you were in touch with your own story, you never be scorning this other person. >> crossing the rio grand is no different than coming to plymouth rock. by the way, there are no rosario dawsons in the insect world. so we can be very happy about our evolution. we look forward to -- i think you're going to have the rest of the speech online? >> i am. i'm going to red cord it. >> thank you so much for you time. coming up, she is an actress and activist, not the mention the host and executive producer of

tonight's alma awards. eva longoria and coming up, al mad dri gal. you are watching the coverage of the alma latino music and arts awards live from pasadena. (vo) you are a business pro.

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thank you to all of the amazing talent in this room for supporting us. wow. yeah. i love you so much more, you have no idea. thank you. thank you, mom and dad for teaching me to dream big. thanks. >> what is america and who are the americans? both are questions that can never be fully answered because america itself is a constantly evolving project. at no time in our history has this truth been more evident than it is today. there are 50 million hispanics living in the united states. u.s. hispanics are in market

force with the purchasing power of $1 trillion a year and their influence isn't limited to economics. a record 13 million hispanics voted in the 2012 presidential election, 2 million more than in 2008. the power of the latino vote is changing the american political landscape. in 2008 bill richardson became the first latino to run for president. that same year, president obama appointed the first latino labor secretary. she was succeeded this year by thomas perez. as the name barack hussein obama never changed the presidency, so too do the names of cruz and ma mere rez hold true to shape or heritage. with me onset here al madrigal,

activist host and executive producer of tonight's event, eva longoria and still with us, maria theresa kumar and janet murguia. eva and al, a great show. i laughed, i cried. >> ted cruz, canadian first. no one is going to claim ted cruz. >> you are speaking on behalf of the his spannic community rejecting ted cruz. >> that's me. this has nothing to do with nclr. >> some people voted for him in texas. >> you get to say yes or no at the end of the day because you are a texan. i want to talk to you about how culture is ahead of politics. how do you think culture has been ahead of or behind latino

culture and the power of latinos in politics. >> i think pop culture really influence what is the public views certain ethnicities as. the alma awards are about celebrating positive things. if all you see is the news and immigration and you make latinos anonymous with illegal and that's owl you're hearing we have to overcompensate to show you that's not all we are. we're wonderful directors and musicians and writers and directors and we're changing the landscape of pop culture andoing it through our own culture. >> al, i got to ask, you one of your theme is we're taking over. we're coming. >> that's one thing i got a huge applause for. >> i think there's a sense of who? al madrigal's family is coming. you were of course referring to demographic shifts and the power

of latino americans. in terms of arts and entertainment, i mean, do you feel like, do you feel that? do you internalize that. >> obviously we're not there yet because i feel like you look at the numbers and the ratio and the percentage of latinos in the united states and then there's no reflection in the media. i mean you see that in television. let's look at popular television. you have a show like rob snyder show. you have rob as the center of it. finally with ricardo who you saw tonight who's coming out with "welcome to the family" as a latino lead -- >> "devious maids t". >> that's huge. >> fans. >> i love an audience. >> that's another show, that's "drunk maids" behind us. those numbers are reflective. msnbc is very nice, but you're

watching during the election, i saw three african american correspondents talking about the influence of latinos in the election. it's everywhere. it's not just on, you know, network television or cable television. you see a lot of yuan vision reporters are on yuan vision. there needs to be more people -- >> to chop down the borders. >> yeah. it's not just language barriers. it's really representing the growing hispanic american audience, the puerto ricans. >> and the differences there. i try to do this on the daily show but to show how much puerto ricans don't like mexicans. >> that's not what we need to be focusing on. >> no. >> you're right. >> i'm trying to talk about the diversity. i work on a comedy show.

>> this is that we're not a monolithic group. we're not a monolithic group. i think you have to do your homework but the audience is there to capture. at the end of the day we may have different backgrounds but at the end of the day we have a very similar experience once we're in the united states. it's language, it's family and food and it's this deep belief that we can make it in american that we cared with our parents. that's what makes latinos american latinos. >> and we're embracing the american dream. i think that is something that's common and cuts across all of our backgrounds. >> it's also about not coming here. i'm ninth generation mexican american. where did you come from? we never crossed the border. the border crossed us. that's another thing. i don't like when a mexican american is synonymous with illegal or undocumented. it's like, no, the majority of

us are not. >> we have to make sure we're representing latinos fairly in all fas sets of entertainment because for many people that's the first time they encounter a latino even though there are 54 million of us walking around. >> tonight is a celebration of that. al is right. we still have a way to go in television, film and music. we still need to do more. but we saw tonight a lot of people a that were trail blazers for us. carlos santana he was pop you lar in the mainstream. we need to do more to open the doors for everyone to have the success. that's why the show, the alma awards, that's what it stands for. i'm so pleased that eva has been able to use her voice and her celebrity to also help advance the hispanic community and issues that affect us. >> i know education is a really big sort of an might factor for you.

it's something you're active on. we think hispanic, we think immigration. there are so many keys to success in american society. almost everybody agrees that education is the building block. >> yeah. i come from a family of teachers. i was the last person in my family to get a master's. people were like con grats. i'm like, no, i'm actually the underachiever in my family. it's important for us to focus on the gap. i also focus on latinos because within or communities, latinos are the pillar of our community. i think that us not being able to reach or full education position is a problem. we're going to have a huge workforce of people who are not college ready or not repaired. so that is a big issue for not only me, for the latino community. i really care about immigration reform but i also care about the economy and education.

>> that's what i was sort of getting at. >> yeah. >> no. it really is true. the puerto ricans, really immigration reform is not a big deal. so to make that the one thing that matter to all latinos, no, environment is huge for me. i went out and did a lot of the, you never see it on show because it's all cut down, but really went out and tried to interview -- janet is never going to have me do anything again. went out and tried to interview a cross section of a variety of latinos and there's so many different issues that are important. >> american issues are latino issues and latino issues should be american issues tonchts get to his point, he's right. the puerto rican community is not affected by immigration reform. they are americans. but the silver lining behind the attacks against us around

immigration reform has unified our community. there's no bigger champion than puerto rican congress. they understand what's unjust and unfair. we came together as a community because we didn't like other people treating whether we were affected directly by it or not, we didn't like one segment of our community being treated differently. that gave us political strength. >> gay rights is not something that only gay people have to care about. this is a galvanizing issue. >> i think what happens oftentimes, when folk go off the latino community, we have millions of loved one that are not la titino that are going to stand behind us. again, this is an american issue. >> i got to ask you. because you are from texas and we literally came off this 21-hour ted cruz filibuster and

there's also talk about shifts in texas, you are politically active, you know about what's going on in texas. what are we going to see from texas in the next coming years >> you know, if texas changes, it changes national politics. that's what excites me about being engaged in texas. i'm part of battleground texas, it's a huge voter registration initiative and it's not even about turning it blue. it's making sure everybody is represented. it's making sure that those people who are registered go to the polls and go to the veeth booths. making sure that we edge kaigs kate the community that these issues do affect you. there's other issues that you need to help have a voice on. we're doing voter education and voter registration in texas. because the demographic of texas is largely changing into a big

latino force, we -- we don't say we hope it turns blue. we hope that -- >> it's kpet tef, right? >> we hope that people understand the issues whether you're red or blue that you just participate. >> that's the whole game. >> participating, making sure you exercise your privilege to vote. >> wherever you're casting your ballot. >> evan i don't have a master's degree i'll tell you that but i hope one day your family will accept me. >> i'm happy you're here. you're a fell lola teen no now, an honorary latino tonight. >> eva longoria and al madrigal, thank you so much for you time. coming up, it is one of television's hottest and most controversial new dramas. we've talk to the stars of "devious maids" when we return.

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our images on screen are becoming as diverse as latinos are in the real world, whether we're judges like jennifer lopez were sha kyra and christinaing a layer ra or wear wolves or some very entertaining "devious maids". >> those were the stars of the hit show "devious maids" presenting the award for channelling latino talent earlier tonight. we're talk to the cast straight ahead live from pasadena. >> this is the most important

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we are live after the almas at the pasadena civic center. lifetime's "devious maids" wrapped up its first season on sunday.

"devious maids" marks a break throughout moment. for the first time in english language prime time drama five latinos headline the show. it has some critics questioning whether it's a step forward or if it's a return to the stereo stieps of old. joining me now, ana ortiz, dania ramirez, rosalynn sanchez and edy ganem. ana, what do you make of the quote unquote controversy about the maids, you're prime time start but folks saying those roles don't count? >> it's so sad because i don't understand how a person's story isn't valid just because they're a maid. i understand the stereo types because when i read the script,

when i saw the title of the vipt honestly my first reaction was an eye roll. but when i read the script and i talked to mark and i knew the other actresses that were going to be involved. it was a no-brainer. >> i didn't know you. >> she's faking. but i was just sort of -- we have the ability to make these stories come to life. these are people who with cleaning your home, raising your kids. why aren't their storying valid and beautiful and emotional and sexy and crazy? >> for some reason we would devalue them because they're maids. but their stories are just as important. >> how is it like working on this set leading an english language drama. it's powerful. >> it's ground breaking is what it is. we're very lucky to be working with one another and to actually share with each other talent and

that's something you don't ever see on television. you get the one latino role on a show or one latino role in a movie, the best friend or the girlfriend. our story is being told and it's our voices being heard. >> and also -- >> go ahead. i think we've gotten so used to being like the one doctor in the anglo show, you know what i mean, that we got comfortable with that. but it's actually, it is what dania said, ground breaking that you know, it's all of us. we got to see five different personalities in what is a reality. it's the reality is that there's an overabundance of housekeepers or maids in this town of beverly hills which is what we're representing that are latinos.

so what we're representing is different personalities. >> different cultures. >> we took great pains to be different people. >> and that's such a huge part of when we talk about latinos and latinos in media and in politics and in america, it's not just one type of person we're talking about. it's totally different cultures that may be united around american ideals but these are people with different backgrounds and histories and stories and it would seem that you guys are bringing that to life. >> yes, we do. you even see it within the five lead roles. we're all different. we all have have different storying and backgrounds. we all have different goals. and we're all fighting for what we want and our dreams. and you get to see that throughout the series. you see how, you know, we're just all from the same background and we are all, you know, we have our similarities but at the same time like any other culture we have our differences. i think that's wonderful.

>> what about the idea, sort of the american idea of the latina. i think that's such a sort of siren song of the mystical creature that's powerful and beautiful. this is -- i mean, tell me about that. as a latina in the media, what is -- how do you debunk some of that stereo type. how do you break that down into a real person in. >> how do we do that? you just have to -- >> you're so funny. i don't think anyone has seen roselyn, she's so funny. >> people see me as true specific things, the detective cop teacher because of the body of work that i have, i did five years playing a serious character. so she is too mature and serious or she is a sexy latina.

and people expect one or the other, nothing else. she doesn't have to be the va va voom girl that has one line. >> i think this show allows us to all be full characters. >> exactly. >> not just a bombshell. yes, that is a part of who we are. >> i never complained. >> gender stereo typing. >> you are bombshell deluxe. >> devious babies. >> tell me about the reaction from the fans and from the latin community. you guys are doing very well demographically. what has been the reaction from the fans? >> the fans are why we are anything. >> yeah. >> it's not -- i mean the network and lifetime have been wonder f

wonderful. the fan have really come out and supported us and spread the word. >> social media as helped out a lot. i also think you can see that the show has grown because our fans are grown. and you know, had our record breaking finale, you can see that more people watch, the more people want to keep watching, the more that they tell their friends to watch. >> i haven't met one person that doesn't like the show. the people that have never seen it, they go like it's not for me. but if they watch it, they love it. >> the writers want to write something bad because they want their names out there. >> it's been an emotional response because i think the core audience has been la teen to, after american ethnic because the latino audience is broad. it's mexican, south american,

caribbean, because latinos come from all over the place. because it's think. we come from everywhere. >> at the beginning it was kind of tested, you know, it was kind of weird what was happening. >> they were pissed. >> we like to fight. >> all we need is u.s. his spannic demographic, we're going to be huge. when it started it was like okay, i was like oh my god, they didn't show it. then little by little it's growing and building and they love them, they appreciate us and the love is amazing. so we go, thank you god, finally. >> there have been so many people come up to me and say we can identify with carmen, that's what america is today, sort of like this melting pot of all these different kinds of latinos.

the quintessential latino cherk of today, it's a professor, telling stories of struggle. but we identify with each character we were playing. >> because there were so many different things with each character's journey that we saw. we struggled with our characters too. and we were trying to find different ways that we were trying to complicate the characters as well. >> and as the seasons go on, the fabric of those characters will get more interwoven. the story line gets more complicated. i want to go back to something you started on which i think is so important. the notion that you are shedding light on this. first of all, we don't talk about working class people or working class women or domestic servants. >> and we need to more than ever. i think the working class is and has always been the motor of this country.

and hooray for doctors and lawyers and all of the rich people, congratulations, that's wonderful. but why can't we make an interesting story about your everyday people. this is who's running stuff. >> working class people have underportrayed in television. >> yes. >> and that's what's happening in this country. >> i always love to watch a story of struggle way more because there's a place to go. if you start somewhere, there's no way where to go but up. >> to tell stories that are relevant and unique and we're so blessed and happy and then we get to have fun while we do it. it's amazing. >> it seems like you guys are having quite a bit of fun. there is no place to go but up. the cast of "devious maids" thank you so much.

coming up op the alma awards post show, the challenges that still remain for the workforce in america. labor secretary tom perez joins us. stay with us. >> oh no. oh no. it's a really good speech, i promise. i just want to say -- i'm going to read through it. we band together, fight together with passion and optimism, when we do that there is absolutely knock that can stop us. then we can look at our grandchildren in the eye and say when that problem sfruk my family and my world this is what we did. we will tell them how we fought like hell in 2013 to pass comprehensive immigration reform. [ incidentals on the field related to game ]

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need to break in just one more time, guys. sorry but i have chris matthews in d.c. >> hi, mario. >> hey matthews. >> it's chris. >> this is weird. you guys have a history. >> here's the deal. a couple of years ago we were going after the same girl or whatever, he won and he's been bragging about it ever since and great frankly i am over it. >> your abs are powerless against men. >> damn you, matthews, just let

it go. >> we've got a show to do. >> hey, it's janet murguia. >> i got this. >> welcome back.back. we are live from the american latino music and arts awards post show. american workers are still feeling the effects of the recession. latinos are facing a disproportionate struggle to get back on their feet. at present, the jobless rate for hispanics sits a at .3%, a full two points above the national average. one in four latinos lives in poverty compared to one in six americans overall. a new report from the afl-cio finds latino workers still earn lower wages than any other ethnic group. on average, hispanic men make $70 less per week than african-americans and nearly $300 less than whites. joining me now is labor secretary, tom perez. and back with me are maria teresa kumar and janet mardia.

thank you, ladies and mr. secretary, thanks for joining us. >> it's an honor to be here. >> it's an honor -- >> the hispanic community in way that it should. really specifically when it comes down to the pocketbook. how do we change this? how do we ensure a more equitable society? >> we with have come a long way and there's a lot to celebrate. i aflapplaud janet in your leadership and celebrating that. we have a long way to go. unemployment in the latino community is unacceptably high. unemployment across america is unacceptably high. we need to invest in skills. that's what we do at the department of labor. we're the department of opportunity. giving latinos the skills to succeed. i was in a community college here in los angeles today talking to students who want to become nurses. and it was remarkable to see the strength in their voices and the passion in their commitment. and so we need to continue that investment and skills.

we also need to pass comprehensive immigration reform. there too many people living in the shadows. we need to pass an increase in the minimum wage because the wage gap, we're becoming a society of haves and have nots and president's been working hard. that's part of hisbiy better bargain for the middle class to make sure we have comprehensive immigration reform, make sure we have skills, training and make sure we really provide those ladders of opportunity that are elusive for too many people. >> i think what the secretary's also saying, you stated it a little bit earlier, when you start looking at the latino community, we're so much younger than the rest of the country. we're roughly 26 years old whereas the rest of the country is around 44. that said, we have to start reimagining education. unfortunately, latinos are among the highest in the dropout rate. when you ask, why did i drop out? it's because i had to go find a job. how do you work with an educational system, let's not have them drop out but create an

apprentice system so the kids earn their degree and don't end up in dead-end jobs but end up growing in their jobs to actually make living wage? >> you know, jenna, part of the problem here i think is we're looking at historic loevels of income inequality and the conversation frequently is dominated by those who are unconcerned with the levels of income inequality and the fact that the top 1% has made a disproportionate share of the annual gdp in america and the people being hurt most by not having a minimum wage that's risen in five or six years that aren't getting paid a fair and honest rage are the ones who are able to organize and collectively speak out and have the least amount of power on capitol hill. how do we change the dynamic? the work of act vivs is an incredible and important thing. how to we create more space for people to be able to organize and have their voices heard? >> i think what we've seen in the last few years since 2008, really, is that the more that we can strengthen our political voice, the more opportunity

we'll have to change the economic future for ourselves and for the country. so we've been very actively engaging more and more of our community to register to vote and to make sure that they are being educated around these issues. because it's not enough just to be knowledgeable about the issues. we've got to act and got to participate. so for us that becomes really important and i would just say, reiterate what was said, that i can't underscore enough how important it is that the latino community because of our demographics, we are the future american workforces. >> yeah. >> and in less than about 35 years, we'll be 1 out of every 3 american workers in this country. >> i think there are so many reasons to push for immigration reform. the pure economics of bringing the dream act kids in would cut the deficit by $1.4 billion and increase revenues by $2.3 billion. i mean, if you're in favor of more sound economic policy, it makes sense. >> well, alex, i spent a lot of time talking to ceos, and i hear consistently from ceos three

things. we need to invest in infrastructure. our roads and our bridges. we need to invest in our human capital infrastructure. skills. we need to pass comprehensive immigration reform. i hear it from large businesses, hear it from small businesses. and we need to continue that work. and, you know, the work that mclr and others, voto latino have done have been indispensable because 16, 19, 23. three numbers to remember. 16% now of our population is latino. it will be 19% and change by 2020. it will be 23% by 2030. you ignore this community at your political peril and it really is -- >> and our economic future. if we're not investing in the skills development, in education around the, you know, all our kids, but particularly because the cohort of latino kids is growing, we're undermining our

ability to have successful and have a competitive economy. so investing now makes a lot of sense. be strategic about how we can, you know, actually see the future in these young people. they're going to be the workforce sustaining this country's economy. >> i think -- we only have a couple seconds left, but we are celebrating the almas tonight. that is a wonderful thing. but i think of a one thing that al was joking about. one day the oscars won't be the osc oscars but the hispanic oscars or just be awards. you know, this isn't -- we're not talking about one community. what we're talking about is america. this is america. >> totally america. california, today, is america tomorrow. that's the reality. and that's why coming out here it's really remarkable to see how people are coming together here, and that's why we work so hard to build that quilt. that's why the president is working so hard to make sure that we understand that we're all in this together. and we're not fighting against each other, we're coming together with each other and

making sure we have ladders of opportunity. >> powerful notes to end on. thank you so much, tom perez. our special guest, wonderful special guest, my anchor buddy maria teresa kumar and janet. thank you for watching our post show coverage of the american latino music and art awards. from all of us here at msnbc, good night.

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