Latinos In The Media Essay

The portray of Latinos in the media has had negative effects on the Latino community. Historically they have not only been portrayed negatively through stereotypes but also been largely ignored and excluded from most American media. When Latinos are actually present in different forms of media a very consistent type of Latino is portrayed. Usually it is a person who has darker features, tanner skin, and an accent. The quest for a heterogeneous type of Latino completely overlooks the diversity that is included under the umbrella term. The lack of range in how Latinos are presented phenotypically also helps to polarize the community by showing usually either rich Latinos or poor Latinos. This phenomenon is reminiscent of the movie A Day Without

a Mexican in which everyone who was from Latino descent disappeared. There was no recognition of different cultures, traditions, languages, and beliefs. The problem with the assumption that Latinos are so homogenous is that it leads people to believe that no diversity exists. The lack of diversity can be extended to the diversity of social, economic, education and health needs. If people in the United States assume that all Latinos are poor or rich then none of these problems are being addressed. The only way that most of these problems can be solved is with the help of the larger national and global community.

Another problem which arises from the assumption of Latinos as a heterogeneous community is that it oppresses Latinos indirectly.

Although Latinos are a minority community not all Latinos like each other or share the same values. As a result it is more difficult for Latinos to come together to fight the created labels and false cultural propaganda that work against them. One way in which Latinos have started to fight against false perceptions created by the media is through creating their own documentaries. From Dr. Benamou’s presentation she showed that through the past fifty years Latino documentaries have included the issues of border control, farm work, feminism, media activism, gay and lesbian documentaries, and globalization. These documentaries were created in an effort to educate, be used as self reflection, and create opportunities where there were none. In Lilian Jimenez’s article examining Puerto Rican Cinema in New York she refers to Puerto Rican video and filmmakers as “ ‘picking up the gun’ in defense of civil and human rights in the United States after the Civil Rights movement”. Puerto Ricans also looked at their own takeover and entrance into the video and filmmaking industry as an affirmation of their own history and place in the United

States.

This affirmation is important because not all Latinos are immigrants. Many are second, third generation and beyond Americans who are wholly assimilated and have rights and rightly insist on asserting their rights. The history and continued emergence of documentation and Latino filmmaking will help to counter the decline and negative stereotypes of Latinos in the media.

When it comes to stereotyping Latinos the media tends to translate everything negatively. Comfortable sexuality is labeled as prostitution or being vamp-ish, having a lot of kids is associated with being impoverished and acting assertive is viewed as ‘macho’. Viewers’ unrealistic view of serious problems and lack of understanding of Latino culture allows Media portrayals to cultivate and reinforce myths about the Latino community. These negative views also lend themselves to negative propaganda against Latino communities.