Latino Culture Essay

I am a Native American-White Latina, lower middle class woman. Growing up as a Latina, I’ve always been aware that latinos are a diverse group of people who’s backgrounds come in multiple different races with a beautiful cultural heritage uniting us as one. Ever since I was a young girl, I remember being told by my parents that many latinos are mestizos like myself, a combination of races: native American and white. Therefore, many of your family members come in all different colors and shades and everyone looks different. Latinos come in all different colors and people tend to overlook that fact, but most importantly it creates a division within the latino community. In my personal experience, I’ve noticed how white, indigenous, Afro, and mixed latinos are all treated differently in America solemnly based off the color of our skin despite all being latinos. Therefore the color of my skin, being a woman, and my socioeconomic status in American society, opens a door of perceptions for people who look like me and how we are able to thrive in

Hollywood has never been inclusive and it’s still problem we face. In the 1990’s films came out representing latinos. In 1992, El Mariachi, represented latin culture, in 1997 Jennifer Lopez portrayed Selena, and in 2002 Frida came out with lead star Salma Hayek. However, movies depicting latin culture and Latinas have drastically dropped ever since and there are only a handful movies that depict latin culture or even include Latina characters. The roles available to Latinas are stereotypes and usually as a Latina, I always realized there is a disconnect with how movies and TV shows depict Latinas. We’re often either sexualized as the ‘’exotic’’ woman who marries a rich white man and becomes your stereotypical house wife or Latinas are often given the role of the sidekick best friend, but hardly ever the main lead