I See No Color; Racial Discrimination in the Film Industry

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Latinos are not often on the big screen but when we see a Latino actor they only play certain roles, just like Asians in the film industry. In the united states 17% is made of Latino citizens and 37% of people who attend the theaters are Latinos, yet there are hardly no movies based on Hispanic actors or characters (Kaufman). In the most recent year there has been equal amount of movies made about monkeys as Latin (Kaufman). This proves how Latinos are being discriminated against in Hollywood that there are not many film that include a Hispanic actor, but television as well. In the article “It's 2016 and Latino Representation on TV Is Finally Starting to Reflect Reality” written by Ellie Kauffman states how in television were starting to see more characters that are represent of the Hispanic community.

“The path to production and primetime for shows like Jane the Virgin and Superstore was paved by hits like Desperate Housewives (2004-2012), Ugly Betty (2006-2010) and Modern Family (2009-present) that featured Latinas in leading roles. These shows painted nuanced portrayals of real Latinas, not offensive or overwrought stereotypes. While Modern Family's Gloria does embody the stereotypically sexy and sassy Latina, her character is multilayered, compassionate and strong in her own way, making her relatable to audiences of all backgrounds” (Kaufman).

Kaufman states how the TV is starting to Latin characters in a more relating to reality, but there's still discrimination towards characters. Only playing the stereotypical Hispanic family, with Latin accents. Hollywood is still racist when comes to depicting Latino in film, making them play dumb migrants who have accents and or part of the drug gang life. As television makes changes for Latino on TV, the film fund rusty has not.

There has been a successful television show that has portrayed Hispanics in a more positive light, The George Lopez Show. The show does have a stereotypes within them, but has positive use of the stereotypes, where fellow Hispanics watching do not feel offended. In the article “THE GEORGE LOPEZ SHOW: THE SAME OLD HISPANO?” written by John Markert states how the George Lopez show was the first of many Hispanics TV’s to extremely well. “The George Lopez Show is the first successful television show with a Latino in a leading role that features Hispanic material since Freddie Prinze's thirty-year-old sitcom, Chico and the Man. This study seeks to assess how Latinos are presented on The George Lopez Show. A content analysis reveals that the show perpetuates some of the stereotypes about Hispanics that are prevalent in the wider society” (Markert). This show is very important in the Unsecure it was the first successful sitcom that is based on a Hispanic can family. Shows how a normal Hispanic’s live in America, and what they struggle through has a family, but in a positive and humors way. Also another important factor was that the entire cast were Hispanic, and the show did not cast another race to play the characters. Many white actors replace a role that was originally supposed to be Asian, African American, Hispanic or any other minority ethnics.

Asian Americans are also starting to appear more on out television, compared to the past. In recent years a television show called Fresh off the Boat is a hit TV show on ABC that depicts a Chinese family living in the United States, and trying to fit in. What’s different about this show that it’s an all Asian cast, but was not the first all Asian cast on a television show. In the article “Where's My Parade?”: Margaret Cho and the Asian American Body in Space” written by Rachel C. Lee explains how actor and writer Margaret choi starred in a family sitcom television show, even though the show only lasted for one season. “Margaret Cho rose to fame as the star of the first television sitcom to feature an all Asian American cast. Her one-woman show, I'm the One That I Want, recounts that disastrous experience, as it also maps American culture as a series of segregated spaces” (Lee). This is significant because it shows how in today society were starting to like viewing actors of different background ethnics compared to the past. People can relate more to the stories, since the cast is of a different race, and is not the stereotypical perfect white family. But the film industry still faces racisms, and discriminate against minority actors and actress.

For the past decade the Oscars have been only nominating white actors, and only white actors are winning the award show. Only recently the prestigious award show is getting heat for only nominating white actors for the past two years. In the article “Call to Diversify Oscars Continues” written by Renée Ruggeri, explains just how racist and discriminator the Oscars are. “After facing widespread criticism for nominating only white actors the past two years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that it aims to double the number of women and diverse members by 2020” (Ruggeri). There have been films that have African American’s, Asian American, Latinos, but are never even nominate at the Academic Awards. Thus, proving how racist the award show really is. Not only are minority actors not getting the roles, but they are the least being represent in all categories of the award show. The article “Call to Diversify Oscars Continues” shows the statics of the award show in nominating category. “Of the Academy 6 ,200 actors, directors, producers and executives, 77 percent are male, according to a 2012 Los Angeles Times study. And as Fortune reports, 2 percent of the members are African-American, 2 percent are Hispanic and 94 percent are white. The board consists of 51 members - 17 of which are women” (Ruggeri). It shows how even though minority actors are now being able to act on television, they are not being giving the same opportunity in the film industry. They are being discriminate against still in Hollywood. Therefore, resulting in many Americans to become angry due to result, that many of the actors they see in the big screen are white, and are not of color. Thus, showing how people now days want to see people who are like them, because not everyone in America is of the race, everyone has different ethnic backgrounds.

Thus concluding how Hollywood and the film industry has and still is racially discriminating against African Americans, Asian and Hispanics. When we watch movies we want to escape our own reality and enjoy a new one where we can relate to characters. But it's hard to relate to characters if majored of the characters are white, and there are no characters of color. Hollywood is not only being discriminated against minority, but they are deliberating choosing white actors to