By María del Sagrario Ramírez
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 3, 1997

Tired of Black and White prime time and no color on my color TV? Que no?

Arizona Daily Wildcat María del Sagrario Ramírez

As this fall's television season approached, I welcomed it with ethnic anticipation. Finally, a chance to admire some luscious brown-skin tones, or so I thought. Even more excited was I after reading a headline in the Tucson Citizen this past month about "Minorities get(ting) a bigger role on networks." I thought: Finally! Some color to my prime time TV! But as I sat and watched some of my favorite returning shows and tried on some new ones, all I could see were the same Black and White actors and no Latinos! ¡Qué la fregada!

I boycotted by getting a night job.

Not only am I tired of not seeing more of the natural mocha-skin tones and lustrous dark coca-cola colored eyes that are so prevalent in the Latino community, but it's 1997 and time to add some color to prime time shows. Now, this doesn't mean I'm tired of seeing White people, OK? There are some really cute guerritos out there, but I'm tired of not seeing more Latinos, specifically Mexican Americans.

The Citizen article clearly read and I quote: "At least 10 new and returning series on the Big Four networks will feature African-American and Latino actors in leading roles when the 1997-98 season begins Sept. 22." Out of 36 new shows and 23 new feature actors, there are TWO PEOPLE! There are TWO new Latino actors on new shows: Constance Marie on "Union Square" and Maria Canals on "The Tony Danza Show." The rest are African American actors with new sitcoms, but no Latino co-stars. We are funny people, too. Did you know that we have over 100 Latino comics and comedians? What the hell?

Isn't this a united struggle here? Aren't Blacks and Latinos both trying to break the stereotypes and fight for equal representation. Are not Latinos part of the group called "People of Color?" One show on Warner Bros. Network has a Latino, but he's a mechanic. Yes, Latinos are portrayed as being the best mechanics because we've been stereotyped as knowing how to steal cars.

Now really, can you blame me? I've been waiting since 1983, when I bought my first color television, to see the so-called Year of the Hispanic emerge on my screen. I'm not talking about Univision and Telemundo. These stations cover primarily Mexican issues from a Mexican perspective. I'm Mexican American, born and raised in the states, concerned about American issues in the Mexican communities. Expecting me to relate to these two stations is just like making me responsible for knowing daily issues of concern in Mexico. It's not the same. I want to see Chicanas, Mexicanas who have the full, peachy lips, big mahogany-colored eyes and Jessica Rabbit figures. I'm talking about Latin men who are stocky, husky, with heart-melting, give-you-all-I-have smiles.

No, Jimmy Smits on "NYPD Blues" and Hector Elizondo on "Chicago Hope" are not enough because they don't play Latino characters. Although the two new actresses, Marie and Canals, are talented women, I miss the quick-wit and full figure of Liz Torres on "The John Laraquette Show." In many ways, her character contradicted the stereotypes of most Latinas portrayed in the media. And we need that kind of role model of an independent woman character. Jennifer López is great, but she can't play everything.

Now, just take a minute and ask yourself: Why couldn't the priest in "Nothing Sacred" be Latino? Catholicism is the leading religion in Spanish-speaking countries. Why can't the cop in "Time Cop" be Mexican American? I mean, if anyone has anything to change by traveling back in time, it's us. Or, out of the four researchers on "Sleepwalkers," why couldn't the white woman be the token for a woman and an Anglo-American and another character be of Latino origin? What about "ER?" What a trend they would have set if a regular cast member, besides Jenny the nurse, was a Latino doctor, fireman, Emergency Medical Technician, anything but a street fighting Chicana or a gangbanger?

What about seeing Latinas as consumers? We rent cars. We buy make-up, hair spray and shampoo. We even get allergies. We buy Benadryl. Hell, my son had an asthma attack just this past week. It happens to us, too. But what is most disturbing is that Latinos are not being consulted as consumers and continue to be stereotyped, not only on television, but in commercials and movies.

Like, what the hell is this thing with Taco Bell's advertising department? Are they purposely trying to piss us off? First, it's the south of the border concept and now, the chihuahua and a Taco Bell taco. First off, I've had 18 dogs and I've never had a chihuahua. Second, I don't think Taco Bell food is even fit for a dog.

I'm saying that I want to see more Latinos de-stereotyped; I want to see an attempt at a Latino sitcom or drama series; I want to see more people like me on TV! And "I dun't juant dem tacin' lijik dis."

Hell, we make up 12 percent of this country's population and 40 percent of the world's population. What about the fact that Latinos are the fastest growing minority group and will double by the year 2008? This isn't a rumor, you know.

How about portraying Latinos, specifically Mexican Americans, as professionals: aides to government officials, journalists, professors, counselors, deans, engineers, lobbyists, veterinarians, movie producers, governors, comedians, Internet entrepreneurs, college students and ACTORS! Por el amor de Dios!

Turn the channel to Telemundo or Univision and watch your novelas, some might say? I say, "Wake up and smell the margaritas (daisies). Live in reality by looking around you." By the year 2008, you will be surrounded. Your children will be dating and marrying Latinos, and they will be calling you abuelitos, abuelitas, tias, nanas and tatas.

In the words of Fernando Soto, motivational speaker for the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities: "Take good care and watch that stare. 'Cause sometime soon, you will see, one in three will look like me."

María del Sagrario Ramírez is a senior majoring in Mexican American studies and journalism.