Ask an expert: How Latinos are portrayed in the media

September 26, 2000
Web posted at: 12:53 PM EDT (1653 GMT)

By Bel Hernandez

Question: Why has it been so difficult for Latinos to gain fair representation in the entertainment industry? What are some good ways for educators to teach students how to analyze cultural representation in the media?

Answer: The entertainment industry is a closed industry with few opportunities to gain access. Many who manage an entrance do so by taking internships at studios, networks and production companies, etc. These opportunities are given to young adults known to persons already within the industry -- usually to their acquaintances, family and friends. Since there are few Latinos in the industry, the opportunities given to them are rare.

As far as images seen on the screen, people write about what they know. Since there are only a sprinkling of Latino writers being produced, the Latino image with a Latino perspective is rarely seen. Instead what you see are non-Latinos' ideas of what a Latino is. Often this image comes from the negative stereotypes writers have seen in film and TV, or the news, or from Latinos they know, most of whom are their waiters, maids, gardeners or nannies. You consistently see the same negative Latino characters written into plots over and over again. Even when there is a positive role, it is usually that of a nonprofessional. Rarely do you see a Latino doctor, private investigator, stock broker, company CEO or astronaut.

Educators can help balance the inequities of these portrayals by initiating dialogue between their students on how stereotypes are formed and by focusing on the positive contributions of Latinos. They can make it a point of looking for balanced representations of Latinos in English language publications that focus on the U.S. Latino population, such as Hispanic, Latin Heat, Latina, Hispanic Business, Urban Latino, Latin Girl and Latin Style. These publications carry articles of successful Latinos in a variety of fields.

It would also be interesting for teachers to take a look at the political climate with their students. Many times prejudices come from fear. The Latino community is the fastest growing minority in America. This growth causes many Anglos to think that "they" (Latinos) are taking over. Teachers can give a historical overview to show that "they" were here before there was a United States. The majority are U.S. citizens whose family members have fought in every war dating back to the Civil War. In short, there has been a lack of inclusion of Latinos in the history of this country that has led to the misconception of who U.S. Latinos really are.

After dealing with stereotypes and media misrepresentations of Latinos for 20 years, Bel Hernandez co-founded Latin Heat, a magazine dedicated to addressing the issues of Latino actors and a source of information for Latinos wishing to enter the entertainment industry.