Latinos in Film

In 2016, looking back on the all the popular television and film throughout the year, I can say that I saw a lot of bigger roles being played by African Americans. Shows like "Fresh off the Boat" and "Dr.Ken" that star Asian families have become popular lately. When it comes to hip hop music, many asian rappers have topped the charts with songs like "It g Ma". Over the last couple of years, Asians have become popular models for things like StreetWear. Asians have become the new minority, and left behind unrepresented in the media, are Latinos. Latinos are the most un represented minority in film and television. In the past year, we've seen Latinos in roles like El Diablo from Suicide Squad and Ghost Rider from Agents of Shield. What do both of those characters have in common? They both happen to be mechanics and violent individuals with quick tempers. This stereotypical biased view is hurting us. It's the reason people like Donald Trump can get away with blatant racism and disrespect towards Hispanic people. Why does the Latino always have to play the villain? The outcast? The joke?

There isn't one Disney princess who is Mexican or Latino? And I can't remember the last time I saw a Hispanic women with a leading role in a high production film. Instead, Hispanic women are often completely sexualized in the media and given little speaking roles. Jane the virgin, a cw show about a young girl's relationships and experiences as a young mother, is a positive show. Despite having a baby, Jane continues to go to school and work to support her child. That's great. But it would also be great to have a show about a young girl living a seemingly boring, average life. Because Hollywood has inflated the Latin American image with stereotypes and misconceptions.

Shameless and Donald Trump Rant

In 2016, Donald Trump built his platform for the presidential candidacy on racism. He insisted that immigration was the reason that the job market was becoming more and more minuscule. His plan for America is to build a wall around us to "Keep Mexico out". He blatantly said that a Mexican judge couldn't be trusted because of his heritage. He's said that when Mexico brings it's people that they're bringing "rapists and criminals". He then tastefully added that some. he assumes, are good people. Just some though. There's no doubt that Donald Trump is racist. But as of now, he has won the Presidential vote. As you might have guessed, race is definitely a factor in politics lately. Donald Trump has singled out Mexicans as untrustworthy, criminals, and rapists. He also has said that he believes Black Lives Matter is a terrorist group. When footage was released of a black man chanting Black Lives Matter at a Trump rally, being attacked by supporters Donald Trump had no words. Except that "Maybe (he) should've been roughed up. What he was doing was absolutely disgusting."

With all that said, the relationship between whites and minorities is strained. It's hard for some people to see past racism and realize that not all Mexicans are criminals and it's also hard for some people not to blame "white people" out of anger for the injustices they have to face. It's not white against black or black against white or black vs. brown, it's poor vs. the rich. That's the dividing factor. Sure Donald Trump is a horrible racist, but we need not focus on his racist rhetoric and see the problem for what it is. The elite vs the people. Black, white, brown, we are the people. Shows like Showtime's "Shameless" really give a good inside look of what it means to live in poverty. The show follows a poor, white family going through a lot of the problems we think that whites don't usually have to face. Things like addiction in the family, gang violence, teen pregnancy, discrimination, and etc. It shows that regardless of your skin tone, we all go through the same struggles. It's one of the few shows on television that celebrate tolerance and acceptance of others.

The Evolution of Black Barbie

Barbie was a iconic doll created by Mattel in 1959 made to represent the American ideal modern young woman. Barbie was based off of the image of a popular German doll named Bild Lilly.



Bild Lilly and Barbie shared the same look of blonde hair, blue eyes, a big bust, and a tiny waist. This particular image was the only one Barbie offered young girls until the 1960's when Christie was released.

Christie was a a part of Barbie and Friends, she was the first Black barbie doll. However, Christie lacked any black features. In fact, she was the exact same copy of Barbie painted a darker color. This upset the African American community and the doll was recalled                                          not long after it's release.



Barbie made another attempt in 2009 which the launch of "Barbie So In Style". This was a Barbie line of young, modern, black women. Barbie's So In Style dolls had curly and straight hair textures, fuller lips, and varying skin tones. These Barbies look like black women do today and I'd say that makes Barbie successful in including young black girls to their demographic audience. It's a real sign of progress and a great thing to see other ethnic groups included in the modern media.