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They’re just one-dimensional characterizations of what the person who’s depicted represents, and that’s the difficulty of what I learned as I moved older into the late ‘50s, early ‘60s, and I was 13, 14. So therefore, it becomes, “Oh, everyone’s like that,” and everyone isn’t like that. The difficulty is that that’s the only fact and truth that they use. The stereotypical usage of any culture, any ethnicity, is based on fact or truth. I’m wondering if you had a similar take early on when it came to Latino characters? Good, bad or indifferent? Or should certain types of characters, certain types of roles or caricatures, not be used anymore and so forth? As long as a gay character was being seen, he thought that was better than not being seen. He was saying he didn’t care if it was good, bad or indifferent, big role, small role. The gay actor/playwright Harvey Fierstein once said “visibility at all costs” when it came to depictions of gay characters in popular culture, particularly in movies, but also TV.
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It was kind of impressive, because you learned how to read by way of listening to what was being said in Spanish, which we understood, and then watching how they translated it underneath.
The cartoon was in English and the films were in Spanish with English subtitles. We used to go to see Spanish-speaking films with my great-grandmother at the Unique Theater, and they would show two movies and a cartoon in between. In that time, you’ve got to remember, we weren’t really … we were so innocent in retrospect. That was truly one of the first times I had ever seen a character who I felt represented me. And you know the story of Zorro? I guess that must have been around ’55 or ’56. I don't think he was, but he was representing a Latino homeowner.
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Well, the most known character that I can remember on TV in the United States would have to be Zorro, and that was Guy Williams.
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I wanted to ask you, do you remember the first time you saw on TV or in a movie a character that was intended to be representational of someone like you? At the time it made sense to them, it was 1953 or ’52, you know? I actually used that signage on the movie “Walkout.” When I made “Walkout,” I used that line on the paddle. They’re taking me to my preschool/kindergarten at Belvedere Elementary and there was a sign across the top of the archway that said, “If it isn’t worth saying in English, it isn’t worth saying at all.” And that was what greeted you.
They really wanted us to speak English because. So we learned it both, but we didn’t speak Spanish. We spoke English to them and they would speak to us in Spanish. Yeah, we spoke English and that was really interesting. We had a household where they would speak Spanish to each other when they didn’t want us to know what they were talking about, and so we grew up speaking English. Yeah, my father was born in Mexico and my mother was born here. My Dad came from Mexico, my Mom was born here, both of Mexican descent. So my parents are actually kind of like your parents. My Dad came here from Mexico when he was 10 years old and my Mom was born here in San Antonio. I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. But you know, in considering debt to who I am and respect to when you identify me, Mexican-American and Latino are two of the most applicable. Originally it was Mexican-American, then it was Hispanic and then Latino recently. Because I am, you know? I mean basically, it changes with the cultural dynamic in the period of time.
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He is currently appearing on the F/X series “Mayans M.C.,” a spin-off of “Sons of Anarchy.” When asked what he thinks is in store for the Latino community, considering recent treatment of immigrants by the government, Olmos says, “We are on the verge of a major breakthrough for something great.”Īs a descriptor do you prefer Mexican-American? Hispanic? Latino? Do you have a preference?Īll of the above. The speech where Abraham explains to his children the difficulties of navigating both Mexican and American cultures has become a source of pride in the Mexican community. And in “ Selena” (1997), Olmos gave his most endearing performance as the stern but loving father Abraham Quintanilla. Other highlights include the Olmos-directed “ American Me” (1992), a scorched-earth prison-gang drama that was released in the midst of the L.A. Escalante ranks as one of the all-time great movie teachers. In 1988, Olmos became the first Mexican-American actor to receive a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his moving portrayal of Los Angeles inner city teacher Jaime Escalante in “ Stand and Deliver.” The movie was a labor of love for Olmos, who spent nearly a decade trying to get it made.