John Manuel Quiñones was born on May 23, 1952, in San Antonio, Texas, the son of Bruno and Maria Quiñones. Although a fifth-generation San Antonian, Quiñones did not learn English until he started school at age six. His tough, Spanish-speaking neighborhood was rife with gangs and drugs. At the high school that he attended school counselors tried to steer Quiñones and his fellow Hispanics toward lives of manual labor. However, in "My Own Experience: The Latino Experience Through My Eyes," Quiñones quoted his father as saying: "I asked you, do you think it's good for you to be working hard like I do. And you said, 'No, I'm going to school.'" It was during high school that Quiñones resolved to overcome Hispanic stereotyping and pursue a career in journalism. Quiñones as a co-anchor of the ABC News program, Primetime and now hosts What Would You Do?. He also reports for all ABC News programs such as 20/20, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight and Nightline.