Frank Shyong: Candidates love the 'ethnic food' photo op, but there are better ways to reach nonwhite voters

During a third-grade lesson on Latino culture, my teacher assigned me a Spanish name: Francisco.

I never thought that information would be of use to anyone, so I've never shared it. But Democratic presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar thought differently last week when she proudly told a group of workers from the Nevada culinary union that, when she was in the fourth grade, "Me llamo Elena."

In the video, the largely Latino audience responded with deafening silence. Pundits and social media posters quickly accused Klobuchar of pandering to Hispanics, or "Hispandering." It was the latest example of what has become a familiar political tradition among people of color: laughing at the cultural blunders of presidential candidates.

Over the years, candidates' attempts to reach people of color have gifted us with a