Greaser to West Side Story-"Latinos in Film"

Latinos in Film (The Bronze Screen)

Antonio Banderas, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, and George Lopez are some of the more notable Latinos in Latin American Hollywood history, but what exactly is the history of some of the roles they played ? If I told you back in 1914 Latinos were considered greasers or lazy white women rappers how would you feel ? If I said today Latinos are portrayed in some of the worst matters what would you say ?

It all dates back to as far as 1914 when Mexicans would appear as Indians, they would be called Greasers. In these films women would be raped by Latinos because Latinos were supposed to be the bad guys meanwhile the white guys would be the good actors. The Mexicans who “raped” women in the films would be considered snakes. In order for Latinos to keep their culture and keep their positive name they would have to change their image, can you imagine that ? You have to change your name just to please an audience or an acting agency, just to bring in a few millions so that at the end of the day the guy who casts you gets to take home a majority of it?

It got worse over the years, prior to 1930 films were either black or white (Latino guy wore black and white guy wore white hats) films that did not have sound. What did that mean after the 1930’s ? It meant actors were in trouble because at this point in history you could hear what the actors voice sounded like. Latinos would then be portrayed to be emotional, reckless and disrespectful humans, but it got worse Dracula was first done as a Latino film but then was adapted for a larger english audience. During the great depression roles for Latinos became more exposed and the films had more politics in them more than any other time in history. Actors roles got even more worse for Latinos, they were shown to be violent then we went to being dumb and illiterate, it seems like all they want to show is dumb Latinos but hey if a actor Latino is dumb what does that mean for the audience because I would not be caught watching a dumb film. Going back to the political elements shown in film, did you know that Latino actors were paid to re-enact the Mexican wars but as barbaric loose headed animals but not for the heroics ?

Fast forward to 1933 where another great and well known film like Dracula was changed for the greater audience, King Kong was one of the first biggest thrillers and it was acted by a Latino named Francisco Bay Chico. Surprisingly after this film the situation over in Hollywood began to change and the reception became more positive in a sense but not entirely. The first live show was filmed by a Cuban. Jose Senger who was Puerto Rican won an Academy Award being the first Latino to do so was astonishing, the first Academy Award given to a Latina also was Puerto Rican and she stared in West Side Story, I guess you can say she loved to live in America.

Finally, while you sit down to watch a great film like TED , or Dark Knight Rises and even Fast and Furious 6 also known as Fast 6 which have Latino or Latina actors keep in mind that at one time or another all of those actors could have been enslaved by the movie industry simply because they were darker than the average white person. The actors even today are still portrayed as animals and car stealing thieves , notice how in every fast and furious movie they are in international countries that are majority minority and the people who run the streets are minorities who are in gangs or in the drug industry ? Interesting isn't it ? I guess you can say for now the hollywood industry has gone from Greasers to West Side Story.

Temple for Tomorrow, Mountains for Freedom

           

                Temple for Tomorrow, Mountains for Freedom

           “We build our temples for tomorrow, strong as we know how and we stand on top of the mountain free within ourselves.” Langston Hughes had a great point when he wrote this quote, I agree with his thought. I agree with his quote because life is full of miss-comings but one of the best ways to be successful is to avoid it all together. My life “temple” is to do political work so that I can not only improve my community but what my community stands for.

            When I was younger I remembered my family struggling to make ends meet and its still is the same today. One thing I always wondered was why me and w\my family it bothered me because I felt like I was fighting a solo fight  to be free from pain and struggle, with this goal in my future I figured that I could use my passion to help others while helping myself. I did not like to see people suffer even if it is the path of life but more importantly I do not like to suffer so I help the community so I can help myself. My community is my mountain and my success is the river that flows through it.

            Talk is cheap that is why I get involved in the community. I go out on the Bronx river so that I can educated myself about what is going on because a temple is a very sacred place so if I really want to create a better community using my struggles I must understand the struggles that people go through and those that I have gone through myself.  I created a not for profit with my friend to get others involved and to bridge the cultural gaps because we are all in the struggle together. I was the first to graducate high school and continue onto college in my family. I value education it is a characteristic we need to be happy with what we want. To say that I want to be a leader but sit on my behind would be a tradition so I have to be about what I say

            In closing Langston Huges used his gift of words to inspire and move people, just as I do with my actions. You have to know yourself to make a difference, knowing what you want to do helps you free yourself. Langston hughes often would write about following your dreams and following what you believe which was honorable. For those who did not have a path his work moved people to do something, his work will always inspire people.