Friday, March 27, 2009

“La de los ratones…”

  A few weeks ago I was in a public place in Santa Ana when I overheard the following conversation. A middle-aged Latina was talking to another middle-aged Latino. “Did you go to the movies the other day that I saw you?” she asked. “Yes, I did,” he responded. “Which one did you see?  La de los perritos?”  she inquired. “No,  I went to see la de los ratones (Tale of Despereaux). Pero habian dos peliculas de perritos (Beverly Hills Chihuahua and Marley and Me),” he replied. 
   I stopped listening because I realized there are more movies in Hollywood about animals than Chicanos On TV.  I was disgusted that in  2009, there are still more movies being made about dogs and cats than about Chicanos On TV. It seems that Hollywood cares more about the stories and lives of these creatures than about us. I still think we have a very powerful tool. Boycott these animal movies until they start making more movies about us.

Frank R. Castillo  ©
  2009

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Monday, March 23, 2009

Chicanos On TV Hall of Fame

   

     We need to have a Chicanos On TV or Hollywood Hall of Fame,” I thought as I learned about the recent death of Ricardo Montalban.  We need to admire, protect and respect the work of those who have gone before us. Those pioneers who opened the doors to a very racist and closed group like Hollywood.
    These were brave people who had to endure the most racist and violent forms of discrimination just like in any other area of life like education, housing, jobs or politics. Just like our black brothers endured all of these forms of discrimination, so did Latinos. And Hollywood was no exception. We still see some of the earlier racist portrayals of Latinos and we can only imagine what it must have been like for the Ricardo Montalbans. Just like in college where Chicano students formed UMAS and M.E.Ch.A. for support and survival, Ricardo formed Nosotros.
      We need to recognize and acknowledge these Latino pioneers who dreamed of being on the big screen and representing us in Hollywood and TV despite all of the odds.
                    

For more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Montalb%C3%A1n

Frank R. Castillo  ©
 2009

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