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Brownface! - The History of Racist Hispanic Stereotypes

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Brownface!   Brownface refers to the creation and propagation of racist Latino/Hispanic stereotypes and caricatures. "Latino" is the umbrella term for people of Latin American descent that in recent years has supplanted the more imprecise term "Hispanic." Cuban Americans, Puerto Ricans, Mexican Americans, and any people who trace their ethnic roots back to Central or South America are considered Latino if they live in the United States.   Racist Latino Stereotypes   Hispanic Americans, like many other minority groups in the US, have long suffered from the effects of racial stereotyping. Typical stereotypes include: the Greaser, the Lazy Mexican, the Latin Lover, the Mamacita, maids, slum dwellers, drug addicts, gang bangers, feisty Latinas, the Mexican Spitfire, and the Exotica.     The Latin Lover The Latin Lover stereotype was first popularized by Italian actor Rudolph Valentino and became a film standard after his performances in The Sheik (1921) and Son of t...
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Brownface History in Film and TV

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Brownface History in Film and TV Throughout the 20th Century, actors, writers, and directors often brought their personal prejudices to their work, portraying a world of stereotypes: sombreros and serape-draped Mexicans taking siestas on sidewalks; Mexicans consuming only the three diet staples of chile, tacos, and liquor; the Hispanic inevitably seeking political and social guidance, acceptance, and "enlightenment" from Whites. Portrayals were so insulting that for several years Mexico banned American movies due to their negative depictions of Mexicans. As early as 1908, D. W. Griffith's The Thread Of Destiny used the term "greaser" to identify a Mexican bandit. Later silent films took this portrayal and expanded it in such films as Tony the Greaser (1911), The Greaser's Revenge (1914) and Broncho Billy and the Greaser (1914). At a time when revolutionaries were struggling to free Mexico from the Porfirio Diaz dictatorship, Hollywood completely ignored the ...
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South of the Border The most racist roadside attraction in America

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South of the Border The most racist roadside attraction in America There is a tourist trap in Dillon, South Carolina called South of the Border. A combination truck stop, motel, roadside attraction, carnival and snack stand, it is also a wonderland of Mexican stereotypes, hosted by the official mascot, Pedro.   "South of the Border"ť was founded by Dillon-native Alan Schafer. In the mid-to-late 1940s, a North Carolina county bordering South Carolina changed its alcohol licensing laws, limiting sales. Schafer seized the opportunity by setting up a beer stand not far from the South Carolina state line. The property he bought was near the north-south highway connecting New York and Miami, which later would be replaced by Interstate 95. In this ideal location, Schafer's beer business expanded exponentially over the years to become "South of the Border" with Mexican-themed amusement park rides, hotels, restaurants, and gift shops. Schafer put up 120 billboards along ...
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How Racial Stereotyping of Latinos by Media Shapes Attitudes

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How Racial Stereotyping of Latinos by Media Shapes Attitudes A recent poll by the National Hispanic Media Coalition called, "National Poll: The Impact of Media Stereotypes on Opinions and Attitudes Towards Latinos" proves that negative media portrayals in media contribute to negative opinions of Latinos and immigrants by non-Latinos. The major findings: 1. News and entertainment media have a strong influence on non-Latino perceptions about Latinos and immigrants. 2. Media portrayals of Latinos and immigrants can diminish or exacerbate stereotypically negative opinions about them.  3. Those with more direct interaction with or knowledge of Hispanics hold more positive views of the group and its members. Those holding very negative views are often those with little direct exposure to Hispanic Americans. 4. Negative portrayals of Latinos and immigrants are pervasive in news and entertainment media. Consequently, non-Latinos commonly believe that many media-promoted negative ste...
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