Where Are The Blacktinos??

Disclaimer: I know as a New Yorker, we take our openness to different cultures for granted and a large portion of the country doesn't actually know the difference between Mexicans and any other Latinos...but one can only dream.

Let me start with a fun fact. I just found out that Tristan Wilds from The Wire, Secret Life of Bees and the new 90210 is half Dominican and half Black. The article I read mentions how he doesn't get Latino roles because he doesn't look "Latino enough" therefore he's always been casted for African American roles. Now what exactly makes you "look Latino"? Do we all have to look like Jennifer Lopez (who hardly ever plays a Latina anyway) or like Eva Mendes?

There are a few Black Latinos...more specifically Dominicans in the industry that happen to be "too dark" for Latino roles and end up playing Black roles instead. Take Zoe Saldana for example, she's 100% Dominican yet played a Black girl in both Drumline and Guess Who?. She probably "doesn't look Latina enough" either. Sometimes I think it must be heart wrenching as an actress to read for the part of a Latina and not get it because no matter what your roots are, you just physically don't fit the mold Hollywood has created for us. That said, I am proud of the fact she actually gets jobs in Hollywood and that she takes pride in being a Black woman. Her perception of it is perfect too:

"When I go to the D.R., the press in Santo Domingo always asks, "¿Qué te consideras, dominicana o americana?" (What do you consider yourself, Dominican or American?) I don't understand it, and it's the same people asking the same question. So I say, time and time again, "Yo soy una mujer negra." ("I am a black woman.") [They go,] "Oh, no, tú eres trigueñita." ("Oh no, you are 'dark skinned'") I'm like, "No! Let's get it straight, yo soy una mujer negra." ("I am a black woman.")"

Ha! Can you imagine the Dominican reporters cringing?!?! I love it!!!

Anytime I criticize Latino portrayal in the media, I have to take a step back and look at our own networks first. We have our own television channels and we don't see ourselves there either. It is very hard to find a dark skin character in any shows on Telemundo or Univision. So as I've always said...how can others get it right when we can't even seem to do it ourselves? Obviously this is all much more deeply rooted and has to do with the fact that some Latinos have a problem with embracing their Black roots but can't the networks step up and help break this mold? Now don't get me wrong...I completely understand "TV Business" language but so what if "the Dallas market" or "the Denver market" has no idea Black Latinos exist...TEACH THEM! Guaranteed when someone sees a Black character on a show speaking Spanish fluently, they will understand that there are Black Latinos.

The truth is your audience of Don Francisco loving grandmas and grandpas won't be around forever...and as proven last week...we are a generation of change. Let's get with the times Univison and Telemundo... step it up!!