What Are You?

The other day I was coming home from an amazing shoot for the Movement and I went to my mom’s house to pick up my oldest son. I get there and my son is in tears while my mom’s level of anger is through the roof.

Apparently race came up in the house and when she told my 7 year old he was Black, he told her he didn't want to be Black. Now outside of the Movement, Civil Rights activism runs extremely deep within my family as my Great Grandfather (in addition to many other things) was an attendee to the famous MLK march on Washington.

So to mediate the situation I take my boy to the side and I asked him “what are you?” He replies “I am Brown skin”, and it dawned on me that children are as pure as they are literal. My son was bothered to be called a color that for him doesn't exist within the human species.

In my home I do not teach color in that sense and my mother wasn't aware of that. Coincidently my mother is married to what we would call a White man. When he entered I asked my son what was he and he gave the classic Indigenous people name; he said pale/pink.

Black Latinos in the Media

Recently I (alongside another amazing Black Latina in the industry) was a panelist member at a NYC event for actors to teach them the business side of the industry. Because of the nature of the Movement the topic of Black Latinos in the industry arose.

I am not the representative to all Black Latinos in the industry and I simply can't speak for them. I don't know why time and time again they conform and compromise themselves to pick a side; either Black or Latino to get roles.

In their defense, I must say as an actor you need to work, as it is a job that pays bills just like any other job. So I simply cannot be mad at someone for doing their job and trying to make a living. But there does come a time once one has "made it" where they must decide: do I stand and make changes to help those that come after me or do I say oh well I had to go thru it so do they?

Obviously many have not made an effort to “pay it forward” as this is still a pressing issue... When will it end?

Women

So I don't get this whole idea of women being put into categories based off of race/ethnicity.

This false notion that all Spanish women are submissive and docile creatures, who cook and clean to please their men, and have the newspaper waiting at the dinner table and ESPN on the TV. While on the other hand you have Black women who are these teeth sucking, neck rolling, “we don’t play that” women who will cut a man for speaking out of character at any given moment. While for some Spanish and Black women this may be true, it is unfair to have such a blanket statement made about an entire group.

It’s very bias for women of the groups but also for those outside of the groups, like as if to say that White women can't be hardcore and live by a no nonsense approach or that Asian women aren't appeasing to men. It is so wrong to have these generalized ideas and that so many people believe them.

But I guess just as ideas concerning race/ethnicity can be boxed in and labeled, so can idea about gender.

Mexican is not a bad thing!

Ok so for the longest time in the media Mexicans whether in gangs or day laborers, the woman pregnant with multiple children and the list goes on, Mexicans or being Mexican has been used as a comedic relief.

Now many of us including myself have found humor in it at times. I am part of a comedy group and we all know comedy comes from the truth and this is what makes it relate-able. But I think what needs to be acknowledged is the amazing and recognizable aspect of the Mexican community and history as well. 

Media wise Mexicans were some of the first known Latino actors in the 40's and 50's. Craftsmen wise let us not forget the work of the Maya's which still boggles the minds of many today. Also their writing system and mathematics are some of the most advance and intricate of its time. Lastly Geographically well with places like New Mexico, Los Angeles, San Antonio, San Diego need I say more.

To the Mexican community it is not done often enough so we will take a moment out now to do it..... we salute you!