Nineteen-time Grammy-winning producer Emilio Estefan said it was not easy to round up the A-list of celebrities and singers who participated in his newly released "We’re All Mexicans"’ track.
But the Cuban-American musician and empresario said this was a labor of love.
“I saw a lot of negativity about Hispanics," said Estefan. "It’s not about Donald Trump. It’s about the celebration of Hispanic Heritage and how lucky we are to be in America.”
"When Mexicans get attacked, we all get attacked," said Estefan.
The song and video, which was completed in 2 weeks, is being released on Monday with artists including Pitbull, Thalia, Wyclef Jean, Taboo (from Black Eyed Peas), Gloria Estefan, Carlos Santana, and Carlos Vives. The video also includes Kathy Griffin, Whoopi Goldberg, Eva Longoria, Carlos Ponce, Perez Hilton, and Guillermo Rodriguez (from Jimmy Kimmel).
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Estefan told NBC that some of his friends started to cry when they saw the video, which is interspersed with images of Latinos working, graduating from college, celebrating with family and proudly waving the American flag. Estefan said that Mexicans are the majority group among Hispanics, and negative rhetoric about them impacts all Hispanics. He said his own children were affected by what they were hearing about Latinos.
"We sent the message of ‘Thank you’ to America and that we are proud to be in this country, we don’t take things for granted," said Estefan, whose wife Gloria Estefan will be singing for Pope Francis during his upcoming visit. “We are different, the Mexicans, the Puerto Ricans, the Colombians, the Cubans. At the same time, we are all family.”