After causing a stir among the city hall’s meeting members, District 3 commissioner
Keon Hardemon asked Ortiz about what he identified as years ago on official documentation.
“I think I put white male,” he responded.
“I don’t know if ... well I know I put white male, but I don’t know if I put Hispanic,” he continued, seemingly agitated.
“No, I know ... listen, I know who I am.
District 5 Commissioner Joe Carollo, interjected: “You put down Hispanic male, didn’t you?”
“As a man, I stand by it,” Ortiz responded.
“When did you have this, uh, coming to, uh, God moment that you were black. When did God tell you that?” Carollo probed.
“Well, I learned that there are people in my family that are mixed and that are black,” Ortiz replied.
Hardemon, Miami’s sole black commissioner and chairma, jumped back in telling him, “let’s not talk about the degree of blackness.”
“Oh, no, you’re blacker than me — that’s obvious,” Ortiz shot back. “And if you know anything about the one-drop rule, which started in the 20th Century, which is what identifies and defines what a black male is, or a negro, you would know that if you have one drop of black in you, you’re considered black.”