#1876
Posted: 8/31/08 at 1:11pm
evadiva, I've always been told I don't look Puerto Rican, either. It's a very disheartening experience, and I'm always relieved to talk to other people who feel the same way. It's hard growing up feeling like you don't belong, being called "jincha", people surprised when I open my mouth and realize I have an accent.
I read an essay the other day, I wish I could remember the name, about Puerto Rican indentity in West Side Story. There was a section on "brown facing", and talked about numerous Latina actresses who had been cast as Maria, but were told they needed to darken their skin, because they didn't look latina enough. It's a very very unfortunate circumstance, the way our identity has been shaped, and how if you don't particularly "fit" into the mold of what latino "should" be, you feel ostracized. Whether it's because you don't fit a physical attribute, or maybe, like in Junot Diaz's "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao", you're not "macho" enough, or different from other people like you. All encompassing identities are most harmful to the people who don't fit the mold. It's not easy being an actor, especially latino, trying to make it in the business. It's one of the reasons I love the way In The Heights and its popularity is opening the door for our people in this business, or the fact that Lin-Manuel himself, by not fitting into the image of what people usually associate with latinos (because he's, and I say this with love, somewhat of a geek) opens to the door to a realization that we're all unique in our own ways, and whether we like Daddy Yankee, or Broadway showtunes, or Dungeons and Dragons, we're all part of the same culture, and that unites us.
That was rambly, but you get my point. And this isn't an attack at anyone. The aforementioned comment about Mandy not looking latina simply opened up a few wounds, but we all know it wasn't meant in a derogatory manner. It's part of a reality many of us live with.
Oh, and ps, it's always nice to speak to another boricua on these boards. Bienvenida :)
I read an essay the other day, I wish I could remember the name, about Puerto Rican indentity in West Side Story. There was a section on "brown facing", and talked about numerous Latina actresses who had been cast as Maria, but were told they needed to darken their skin, because they didn't look latina enough. It's a very very unfortunate circumstance, the way our identity has been shaped, and how if you don't particularly "fit" into the mold of what latino "should" be, you feel ostracized. Whether it's because you don't fit a physical attribute, or maybe, like in Junot Diaz's "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao", you're not "macho" enough, or different from other people like you. All encompassing identities are most harmful to the people who don't fit the mold. It's not easy being an actor, especially latino, trying to make it in the business. It's one of the reasons I love the way In The Heights and its popularity is opening the door for our people in this business, or the fact that Lin-Manuel himself, by not fitting into the image of what people usually associate with latinos (because he's, and I say this with love, somewhat of a geek) opens to the door to a realization that we're all unique in our own ways, and whether we like Daddy Yankee, or Broadway showtunes, or Dungeons and Dragons, we're all part of the same culture, and that unites us.
That was rambly, but you get my point. And this isn't an attack at anyone. The aforementioned comment about Mandy not looking latina simply opened up a few wounds, but we all know it wasn't meant in a derogatory manner. It's part of a reality many of us live with.
Oh, and ps, it's always nice to speak to another boricua on these boards. Bienvenida :)
Thanks chica! 
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