Black men and latinas in the movies

estrogirl · #1 11-14-2003, 02:33 PM

Hi all,
I'm new to the forum (a friend told me you guys have a lot of good discussions here so I thought I'd try it out). But I figured I'd jump right in and start a thread about something I've been thinking about.

Has anyone else noticed that more and more movies these days are casting latinas (and usually not the afro-latinas) as the romantic leads for black men? I noticed it with Denzel's last movie (although you could throw Training Day in there too) and I just saw a commercial for some new movie called Honey, with Jessica Alba and Mekhi Phifer that implies their characters are having some kind of romance. And these are just a couple of examples.

Now, I'm not at all hating on our Latina sisters ( i personally think movie execs do this to try to rope in both the black and latin audience) but I'm wondering what this means for black actresses, and also, if this is going to diminish our chances of seeing black love on the big screen even more?

What do yall think?

CrimsonTide4 · #2 11-14-2003, 08:48 PM

But on the converse, maybe more BLACK ACTRESSES will have LATINO MEN as love interests?

I don't have too much of an opinion right now, but good topic. Oh and welcome.

blackerican · #3 11-14-2003, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
But on the converse, maybe more BLACK ACTRESSES will have LATINO MEN as love interests?

I don't have too much of an opinion right now, but good topic. Oh and welcome.

I feel you on that one CT4!!!! I'm a "Afro-Latina"...hence the user name. I have mixed feelings about this one. As stated before, there are few "Afro-Latinas" being represented. Maybe that's because Hollywood views Afro-Latinas as Black women. I don't know...... Also welcome!!!!!

darling1 · #4 11-15-2003, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by blackerican
I feel you on that one CT4!!!! I'm a "Afro-Latina"...hence the user name. I have mixed feelings about this one. As stated before, there are few "Afro-Latinas" being represented. Maybe that's because Hollywood views Afro-Latinas as Black women. I don't know...... Also welcome!!!!!

I think that Hollywood is simply trying to capitalize on the 'LATINO WAVE' ala J-Lo.

I do agree that for those of us who do not 'look' like a stereotypical latino/a the peception is that we are simply African American.

estrogirl · #5 11-16-2003, 09:21 PM

Thanks for the welcome yall!

You guys bring up an interesting point about what folks believe a Latina looks like. I often hear that the Latino culture is exactly that--a culture, and not a racial group, so you can be as blond haired and blue eyed as you want to be or as black as black gets. But all tv and the movies show you is the olive skinned Latinas. I mean even Christina Aguilera and J-Lo are doing the fake tan thing hard.

I'd absolutely love to see more of a balance out there, as far as some sisters paired up with different kinds of leading men. But I'm so thirsty for some black on black love these days.

WhirlwindTNX · #6 11-17-2003, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by estrogirl
Thanks for the welcome yall!

I'd absolutely love to see more of a balance out there, as far as some sisters paired up with different kinds of leading men. But I'm so thirsty for some black on black love these days.

Ain't that the truth.

Steeltrap · #7 11-17-2003, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by estrogirl
Thanks for the welcome yall!

You guys bring up an interesting point about what folks believe a Latina looks like. I often hear that the Latino culture is exactly that--a culture, and not a racial group, so you can be as blond haired and blue eyed as you want to be or as black as black gets. But all tv and the movies show you is the olive skinned Latinas. I mean even Christina Aguilera and J-Lo are doing the fake tan thing hard.

I'd absolutely love to see more of a balance out there, as far as some sisters paired up with different kinds of leading men. But I'm so thirsty for some black on black love these days.

If you've seen telenovelas, you see even lighter Latinas. I was raised about 15 miles from the U.S./Mexico border and used to actually watch Mexican TV before I learned Spanish (I lost my Spanish-speaking ability, sadly). And I was surprised to see all these really fair women, fairer than Jennybenny or Salma Hayek, even, on TV. But it showed me that colorism isn't just confined to the U.S.

Strive · #8 11-17-2003, 08:53 PM

Hollywood is capitalizing on the Latina crazed. I'm just thankful that our black actors have respectful work in Hollywood.

4MYPEOPLE · #9 11-20-2003, 12:26 AM

I too have noticed that the trend is moving toward having latina love interests for black men. I think its representing the "latin(o) craze thats hitting the world...

but also its representing this false idea that Latina women are somehow the best of both worlds. They can be cast as ghetto, urban hip hop choreographers in love with an urban black man (Jessica Alba) or as a smart charismatic detective (in Denzels new movie). They can be the romantic with Ben Afleck arguably one of the most attractive white men....as well as back that thang up as captain of the dance troop as well as love interest of the drummer in a historically black marching band...

darling1 · #10 11-20-2003, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 4MYPEOPLE
Ben Afleck arguably one of the most attractive white men....as well as back that thang up as captain of the dance troop as well as love interest of the drummer in a historically black marching band...

YES ARGUABLY. i don't know who told him he was good looking. he looks scruffy and trashy, with a big ol waterhead ta boot!