Ethnic Radio in Washington D.C.

Radio plays an important role in society, informing and entertaining people on a daily basis. Radio is facing some present day challenges because of the introduction of new technology and other forms of entertainment. However, the radio continues to try and serve the publics needs. The United State’s public consists of people from all cultures who speak various languages and come from a plethora of countries to join our melting pot. Therefore, there needs to be radio stations that broadcast in different languages to cater to the cities with the highest concentration of the many ethnic communities.

Ethnic radio is becoming more and more prevalent in our country because of the increase in immigration from countries like Mexico, Cuba, places in Asia, and others. Specifically Spanish radio is increasing in popularity due to the all of the legal and illegal immigrants from various Spanish-speaking countries that are coming to America, searching for better occupations and lifestyles. Spanish people are working in our businesses, going to our schools, and are apart of our community as a whole. Therefore, they deserve their own radio stations that they can relate to and that can bring their culture together even though they now live in America. In addition, Music tends to bring people together as a community so people of all ethnicities can enjoy the fast-paced music that blasts from the Spanish radio station. Personally, I enjoy listening to Latin music as I work out at the gym. Ethnic radio is just one way to help immigrants assimilate into our culture because it keeps everything from seeming unfamiliar.

Specifically, Ethnic radio is popular in the Washington DC area. El Zol is a popular Spanish speaking radio station. It promotes events that bring people of the same culture together and shares information that pertains to Spanish-speaking individuals. For example, I went to their website and they have a whole section on events and concerts that Spanish-speaking people would enjoy. The website is all in Spanish but I was able to understand some of what it was saying. According to the District of Columbia QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau, there are about 9.1 percent of people reporting an Hispanic or Latino origin which is a fairly high number. 

Overall, ethnic radio stations tell a lot about out society as a whole. They show that our nation is accepting of other cultures and they reflect the changing immigration patterns. For example, if there is ever an influx of French speaking people, a French radio station will most likely emerge in Washington D.C. because it is a major metropolitan area. However, ethnic radio stations also prove that our country continues to have a slight divide between cultures because not everyone who lives in America knows English or wants to part from their original roots. Radio is such an important aspect of our lives, providing us entertainment in our cars, at the gym, in the work place, and such that ethnic radio is key for people from other cultures. I am curious if the future will bring about more ethnic radio stations because of the growing population or if radio will become less relevant due to the increase of other technologies and the amount of stations will be limiting.