Producers creating new fall shows seek an original premise, witty writers, a talented, appealing cast and innovative directors. But one element they do not look for is talented minority actors to portray important characters. The entertainment industry is booming with movies and shows stressing realism and drama to viewers. But somewhere along the line Hollywood eliminated the idea of portraying positive minority lead characters.
Among the four major television networks - ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC - there are 26 primetime shows premiering this fall. Not one features a Latino/a actor playing a lead role. Latino/as portrayed in shows typically have been limited to roles of criminals, gangsters, street smart, urban characters or immigrant farmers donning thick accents and traditional Mexican garb.
In response, the leaders of 10 Latino/a organizations around the country, including the National Council of La Raza, a national Latino/a advocacy group, and the National Hispanic Media Coalition, urged Latino/as to shut off their television sets for the week of September 12.
Members of La Raza decided to stage the protest at their annual convention last July. The NAACP similarly introduced a boycott, responding to the lack of black characters on programs this fall. Already, some networks added minority characters to a few new shows. But including a token minority cast member - as has been Hollywood's practice - hardly achieves realism on television.
According to La Raza, Latino/as make up 11 percent of the U.S. population but less than 2 percent of the characters on primetime television. They are the fasted growing sector of the United States, not to mention the majority of television-watchers. But segments of the entertainment industry are slow to catch up.
The music industry currently brims with bi-lingual, mainstream Latino/a performers. Ricky Martin, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira and Jennifer Lopez all enjoy strong media exposure.
These artists are in demand and contributing to the country's pop-culture industry. Television should follow the music industry's lead and give Latino/a performers the opportunity to bring their talents to the larger American audience.
Television shows set in diverse, urban cities portray a mere fraction of the minority populations they should to achieve realistic representations. NBC's hit show "Friends," set in New York City, does not regularly feature a non-white character.
Shows choosing not to portray Latino/as and other minorities holding jobs as doctors, lawyers, dentists, writers and more, fuel stereotypes. Such neglect and lack of representation is a form of racism in disguise.
This boycott should not only raise consciousness about the lack of positive, realistic representations of Latino/as, but also raise awareness of the struggle for minority representation in general.
Television shows claiming to portray people in realistic situations should take note of the country's diversity. It is simply unrealistic and insulting to portray any portion of America's towns and cities without including Latino/as.
09-21-99
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