By Mark Heim

FILE – President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden view fireworks during an Independence Day celebration on the South Lawn of the White House, July 4, 2021, in Washington. Last Fourth of July, Biden gathered hundreds of people outside the White House for an event that would have been unthinkable for many Americans the previous year. With the coronavirus in retreat, they ate hamburgers and watched fireworks over the National Mall. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)AP

First Lady Jill Biden is taking heat after comparing the diversity of the Latino community to the uniqueness of “breakfast tacos” on Monday.

Biden, who was addressing the progressive Latino nonprofit group UnidosUS in San Antonio, Texas, was commenting on UnidosUS President Raul Yzaguirre’s work.

She said Yzaguirre built it “with the understanding that the diversity of this community, as distinct as the bodegas of the Bronx, as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami, and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio.”

She also appeared to mispronounce “bodegas” in the speech.

The National Association of Hispanic Journalists reacted to at Biden’s speech, saying: “Using breakfast tacos to try to demonstrate the uniqueness of Latinos in San Antonio demonstrates a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the diversity of Latinos in the region.”

“NAHJ encourages Dr. Biden and her speech writing team to take the time in the future to better understand the complexities of our people and communities.”

“We are not tacos. Our heritage as Latinos is shaped by various diasporas, cultures & food traditions. Do not reduce us to stereotypes.”

Janet Murguía, the president and CEO of UnidosUS, tweeted that the group was “honored” to host Biden, saying: “She has been a great educator in, and a great amiga to, our community for years. Privileged to call her a friend.”

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