Why is there a lack of representation for people of color in the musical In The Heights? 

 

Castillo, M. (2021, June 15). The limitations of ‘Latinidad’: How colorism haunts ‘in the

heights’. NPR.

In this article, Monica Castillo shares how Lin Manuel Miranda publicly apologizes for the fault of misrepresenting the completely diverse community of Washington Heights. Although there were people of color leads, plus Latino extras, it was often noticed there were no Afro-Latino lead roles and were mainly on the sidelines. With this issue being brought to attention, it sparked the conversation about how within the industry of acting, it becomes difficult to find more Latinos who are outside of the appearance norm seen in today’s films. Since this conflict is a consistent pattern, it tends to erase a community of people that are not acknowledged enough. Although there were issues for many individuals to connect on a cultural level to the musical, there is a hopefulness that perhaps the musical could “start a movement towards a diversity that is actually inclusive.” (Castillo) and continue to showcase the theme of how it is okay to have ambitious goals and to remember our families history.

Castillo is biased but to a certain extent. She is a white Latina and feels mostly empathy for the indigenous people who do know erasure at a greater level but still feels and is allowed to feel frustrated for the ongoing injustice of Latinx representation. Through Castillo’s research, she documented when Felice Leo asked a question concerning “where were the lead Afro-Latinx folk?” In response to what Jon Chu responded with, “The answer that only the most talented were chosen to play these characters was an especially painful response because part of the issue of colorism is that it denies opportunities to darker-skinned people.” (Castillo) This response instantly indicates why it is difficult to find actors who have a darker skin tone, may have an accent, or have a different personality than what we are used to seeing on screen. You would expect to see more diversity within this world because there is a Hispanic producer and director behind it all, but Chu has been known for his act of colorism in his film Crazy Rich Asians. Having people in the industry who make the same flaw makes the possibility of erasure happen in the Latinx community and makes it challenging for audience members to feel connected and understood in movies that are about them and their lifestyle.

After reading Leslie Camillo’s article, I feel stronger on the realization that In The Heights did not do an efficient job in setting the right message for young and older audiences that will watch this film and pay close attention to the message it shares. The article is helpful for my argument because it straightforwardly introduces the problem, which not many realized within the Latino community and outside, of the misrepresentation of people of color homes and physical appearance. It is upsetting because the issue does not just happen at home, in the Bronx, but is actually seen ten times bigger on-screen and showcased worldwide. I will use Castillo’s insight and research to bring up the key term of “erasure” and how if a change is not seen or people do not advocate for what is right, it will only keep growing and will become more difficult to put a stop to.

 

Frazer-Carroll, M. (2021, June 19). In the heights’ lack of dark-skinned black people looks a

lot like colourism. The Independent.

In this article, Micha Frazer-Carroll goes into depth behind the responses of colorism in In The Heights and the ongoing “colour-blind casting” that is noticed by producers in Hollywood. Caroll states, “This set off a conversation (which is still very much ongoing) about the complications brought about by “colour-blind” casting, and why paying close attention to race may actually be integral to telling minorities’ stories authentically.” (Micha Frazer-Carroll) Indicating that there was awareness being brought to this issue of discrimincation. The unfair treatment towards darker skin tone actors and communities have been engraved into our lifestyle so that it happens as if it is not a conflict anymore. When in reality, is it and white communities and white famously known people allow this behavior because it has been engraved in their mentality that white is better. “Whites are the hero,” which later impacted the authentic image of Hispanics trying to make a name for themselves, or trying to represent their culture or country. Caroll then argues, for those who do not find fault in this issue have been blinded and tries her best to explain how this is from the “root of racism.”

I do not believe Micha Caroll is being biased in her article as she explains the impact of racism in film and how Black people had tried very hard to get out of this oppression created by white people. Her mentioning of real historical facts and making sure she mentions that this conflict is not just an upsetting message for Black Afro-Latinos but for everyone Hispanic, is because it is a real social injustice. Light skinned actors are finally aware of this issue plus the advantages they have, and being able to talk about the topic demonstrates that we are taking a stand and this writing style considers a range of audiences.

Color blindness has become a normalized thinking between races that it is now seen in casting in entertainment for worldwide audiences. Casting in films and shows are very odd when it comes to people of color. Sometimes you will see a “diverse” cast who all have the gentrified look or who have the now-known “European look”. Carolls article will support my research paper as it brings about the traumatized, internalized racism and how it is trying to be slowly played off by white producers, directors, and other actors to only expand to white audiences as musical theater has for decades.

 

Galvan, A. (2021, June 18). Controversy over ‘in the Heights’ raises awareness of colorism

and racial inequity. PBS.

Astrid Galvan’s article indicates how it continues to be inevitable to part away from the skin tone lack of diversity within Hollywood. Reading, “The key to changing behavior is by teaching history accurately and admitting that those biases exist.” (Galvan) motivates to properly take time to educate yourself and others with the topic of colorism.  Individuals should not act ignorant to the fact that this issue only impacts a specific set of people and there are some within this community that have an advantage. Those with the advantage should speak out and not be inconsiderate like actors such as Rita Moreno, who found no flaw with the casting of the musical.

Galvan is not biased, as she does not talk about why we should empathize for her as she relates to this situation as other writers have. She straightforwardly states that the goal is for this society to change the way they act and treat people of color, correctly and just as people, within all forms of groups because it is essentially humanly correct to do so. I would say this source is reliable because of her own reliable source of a psychologist who shares that avoiding the topic of colorism, adds onto the issue and extends it to its full potential since there is no personal change/societal change.

This helps to support my topic of colorism in my research paper because history has generally been shaped to benefit white people and conversing that it does, allows there to be more open minds in why there should be a drastic change within entertainment and the creativity behind it. This topic should not be uncomfortable to anyone as it involves the victim and the racist/discriminator, so understanding the bias of it all helps to reflect on society’s actions.

 

Williams, M. M. (2011, June). University of Denver Digital Commons @ DU. Colorism in the

Spanish Caribbean: Legacies of Race and Racism in Dominican and Puerto Rican

Literature.

In this dissertation, Malinda Williams evaluates the effects of colorism on Spanish Caribbean literature. In more specific works, she explored the racial differences within writings of fiction and memoirs. She sets an analytical introduction that frames the work through human experiences in the Critical Race Theory and both Caribbean and Latino/a literary studies. The project is divided into two portions, one on Dominican Republicans and one on Puerto Ricans. Since literature is one of the main sources to acknowledge the historical events of people of color, it is important to discover how these sources have evolved in terms of the recognition of Latinos and Hispanics. Colorism appears in these pieces of writings as a “carryover” from Latin America’s troubled race history as well as an indication of the problematic race conceptions that exist both on these islands and in the United States. The writer states, “Racial difference is determined arbitrarily through constructed ethnic categories, perceived phenotypic distinctions, and gradations of skin shade and color that are thought to carry with them significant determinations of difference.” (Williams) Williams argues that for as long as we can remember, society has determined to set a norm on how to judge people of color and be able to “reasonably” exclude them because of their physical properties. By doing so, it causes damage to the generational mentality of a community that has specific textured hair, set of eye color, shape, and size, etc. All because what is considered pleasing, at the end of the day, is the “European look” which is seen in the majority of literature in the most recent decades.

Williams demonstrates her research through the true historical moments that tells us how society has always preferred lightness over a person with a darker skin tone. This is not new information for us and besides articles and essays, the in depth of race separating communities from early times to present day is available for all to read and educate themselves on. Therefore, the author is trying to bring awareness towards Caribbean identification because if this issue continues, it will create a bigger gap in culture than what already is there. It is mostly read within this dissertation, other studies and research from writers who have gone past the definition of the discriminatory and degrading category of race which tends to seperate us because we start paying attention to physical appearances and start to judge one another because we do and don’t look like out ethnical background. Now, this view is used in the worst way when lighter tone people are mostly seen as the “model” of what is beautiful in a specific nation. Colorism is also often used as a marker of class difference; it may reflect and/or play a part in shaping cultural standards of beauty or attractiveness and it signifies the entrenched complexities of the Spanish Caribbean‟s history of conquest and colonization. Racism has all played a complex role in the histories of these island nations, and it seems only fitting to address as many of these histories as is possible.

This source is helpful for my paper because it introduced another side of colorism, instead of within musical theater and film, it goes in depth with literature and the development of literature over the decades. Using this dissertation helps with the advancement of processing racial discrimintion.