Quick summary: In this newsletter, we aim to spotlight three key points to consider during Hispanic Heritage Month, including the struggle for representation in film and media, one Latino filmmaker's vision for future generations and must-read books by Latino authors, featuring stories from Pulso, palabra., Latina to Latina and more.
Credit: Luz Media
Latino stories deserve more of your attention
Hey fam,
Hispanic Heritage Month gives us four weeks to spotlight the contributions Hispanic and Latino Americans have made. Kicking off on September 15 and running through October 15, this annual tribute was established in 1988 to honor the independence days of several Central American countries. But like so many other commemorative months, the impact of Latino and Hispanic Americans deserves recognition all year long.
With over 65.2 million Latinos living in the country, nearly one in five U.S. residents, they are not just a key voting bloc this election season; Latino and Hispanic Americans are a driving force in pop culture and history. Think about it — brands like Goya Foods, the legendary music and timeless fashions of Selena Quintanilla and classic reads like Sandra Cisneros' The House on Mango Street are woven into the fabric of our childhood memories. Yet, despite their $3.2 trillion buying power and status as the largest minority ethnic group in the country, Latinos still face glaring underrepresentation in mainstream media.In 2022, NBC News reported on a study from the University of California, Los Angeles, about Latino viewers who helped keep film studios afloat during the Covid-19 pandemic despite the lack of representation in front of and behind the camera. That year, we saw films like Encanto win Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score at the Academy Awards, but the study revealed that only 7 percent of leading acting roles and about 8 percent of overall film acting roles went to Latinos.
And the numbers are even lower for Latino writers and directors in Hollywood, leaving little opportunity for accurate and authentic Latino storytelling, writes Emmy-Award winning producer and journalist Marisa Arbona-Ruiz for palabra.
Featured Stories
After years of exploitation, neglect and death, residents of two Kansas City apartment complexes launched the largest rent strike in the city’s history, and the first-ever strike against the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Kansas City Defender has reported on the appalling conditions at the complexes, including the recent death of a Black toddler who fell from an eighth-story window after months of the parents' requests to fix the broken window were ignored. As part of the strike, tenants are withholding tens of thousands of dollars in rent. Follow this developing story with Kansas City Defender →
Tuesday night’s vice presidential debate highlighted significant contrasts between the nominees on issues like abortion, immigration, and January 6. However, as Capital B's Brandon Tensley points out, moderators missed key opportunities to ask more direct questions about racial inequality and Project 2025, and to fact-check some of the claims made during the debate. (Meanwhile, in Pennsylvania’s largest city, where 40% of residents are Black. Here’s what people have to say about both Harris and Trump on these issues.) More from Capital B and their fact-checking partner, PolitiFact →
With fewer than six weeks remaining in the current election cycle, the Harris-Walz campaign has launched an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) tour across key swing states aimed at engaging young Black voters, a crucial demographic for their campaign. Black Voice News has more details →
Trenton, New Jersey's capital, was once a thriving manufacturing hub known for its slogan, “Trenton Makes, The World Takes.” Despite a history of economic decline, local leaders are striving to revitalize the city’s food and nightlife sector as proud Trentonians aim to reclaim their city’s entrepreneurial legacy. Read more in Trenton Journal →
This October, the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center is raising awareness and honoring the strength of survivors for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. With the theme "Heal, Hold & Center," they’re supporting Native women who face violence at disproportionate rates — four out of five experience it in their lifetime. Native News Online has more →
In a recent conversation, Nick Arrington, a star of BravoTV’s Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard, spoke with TANTV’s CEO Adedayo Fashanu about the authenticity of Black representation in reality TV, especially during the show’s pause. Here’s what they had to say →
Introducing Your Voice Matters: An eight-part digital series between PBS’s WNET THIRTEEN and Epicenter NYC
On Wednesday, ThirteenWNET and URL Media partner, Epicenter NYC, introduced part one of an eight-part digital series exploring key issues for New Yorkers and New Jerseyans ahead of the 2024 election. The eight-part series delves into key election issues, including housing, caregiving costs, climate change, transportation and immigration. Each short episode combines interviews with everyday people, subject matter experts and policymakers. The first part tackles housing — an issue New Yorkers say needs urgent attention.
Tune in for real stories and expert insights ahead of the general election on November 5, with episodes premiering Tuesdays on THIRTEEN’s YouTube.
