Latino Stereotypes

About Scott Hays’ May 14 article, “Jorge Rivero’s Split-Level Career”: Although this was the standard puff piece timed to coincide with a movie release, it was presented as one of an occasional series (“Pacific Rim Arts”); as such we would expect it to be culturally and ethnically sensitive. The article not only disappoints, it offends.

What sense does it make to say that this hulking Mexican actor’s movies are seldom shown in the United States and then go on to portray his U.S. audience in condescending terms? Surely Rivero knows that Latino audiences here provide his bread and butter and virtually keep the whole sadly decadent Mexican movie industry afloat. Rivero carelessly stereotypes these fans as dishwashers and trash truck drivers.

The article and its quotes from Rivero and producer Carlos Vasallo make the inexcusable error of identifying American with Anglo , and Latino with foreign. Vasallo contributes to selective Latino invisibility with statements like “Americans just don’t know how to pronounce Jorge .”

Mexican nationals have much more to gain from identifying and cooperating with U.S. Latinos than from engaging in destructive competition, stereotypes and self-serving distinctions.

D. R. AYON

San Diego