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Show IA Spring 1996 Venceremos page two Editorial Minority Youth Need Role Models More Than Others Those of us that have made it know why. We have all made it where we are, and exceeded society's expectations because we found someone to look up to, to respect and to model ourselves after. Latina/os who succeed have learned to do so by seeing part of them- selves in someone who has already made it. It is role models who direct us to succeed. It is role. models who teach us to determine our own path in life. Every person is a reflection of the role models that influenced them in childhood. As Latina/os, we under- stand more deeply and more personally how directly important role models are. All of us who have made it into the middle class and beyond society's purposes for us did so with the help of a role model, a teacher, a parent who tirelessly counteracted society's instructions to fail or simply not to try. The importance of role models would seem to be universally understood, but a surprising rift exists What's Inside: Page 3 A history of Revolution between the opinions of whites and non-whites about what a good role model is. The point at which we seem to diverge is the point at which we define the function of role models in our society. One view which seems to be held by the dominant [white] race is that a role model teaches us to accept the class distinctions that are applied to race. A role model is a person who reinforces society's equation of wealth with goodness and success. For that reason, white children grow up in a world filled with role models — examples of what a white child can grow into. To grow up brown in this country is to grow up in a world where social roles such as being a doctor, lawyer, teacher or police officer are reserved solely for whites, or for those few non-whites who embrace whiteness and become O.K. because “They're not like those other (insert racial slur).” For that reason minority youths looking for people to admire are left with the likes of O.J. Simpson, people so unlike themselves, they may get the wrong idea that succeeding in life means becoming the Man. The only other role left for Latino/a is to see themselves at the receiving end of a barrage of baton blows from some high school drop out Riverside County Sheriff's deputy (who was probably so high on coffee and powdered sugar doughnuts at the time that he mistook an alleged undocumented alien for John Doe +2, and therefore shouldn't be suspended]! Professional athletes are often pointed to as examples of positive role models for minority youth. What the people (usually white) who articulate this belief fail to realize is that minorities deserve more than being seen as either criminals or power forwards. It is well understood by anyone who grew up poor and brown in this often cruel society that a role model is above all else someone you can identify with. The other role models our young people can identify with are criticized for using graphic lyrics or profanity too ) Page 5 freely. Such role models attract even more stigma and Polioe Beatings from Southern LA. perpetuate the myth of the violent or lazy minority. But with your help, we can change these unfortunate realities. And we can change this by changing the way young minorities see themselves through the lens of film and television. Venceremos applauds the efforts of the Reverend Jesse Jackson in exposing a deeply entrenched conspiracy of apathy within the entertainment industry, a conspiracy which perpetuates the already narrow choices available to our younger siblings and cousins. Jackson's actions to protest Hollywood's lack of respect for non-white film stars and directors intends to do more than other similar criticisms have meant to do. Jackson's protestations do not just ask for more Black, Asian and Latino/a participants in the entertainment industry. Rather, Jackson correctly demands that film and television begin to encourage the development of non-white entertainers who can become role models for a generation of youth who are virtually without an Al races have a stake in seeing that children, regardless of their race, grow up understanding they can do anything and be anything they want to be. They have a right to self determination, and this right is more than just ink on a page. The need for positive role models for our youth is underscored every day. The recent, inhuman, bdo of several allegedly undocumented aliens by Riverside county Sheriff's deputies is a relevant example. These people's tragic experience with racist cops is a good example of perhaps the only way Latinos presently see themselves in film or television (no offense to Jimmy Smits). A new opportunity exists with the financial successes of director Robert Rodriguez. His film Desperado may not offer the correct role models we so desperately need, but for one small moment, we have seen ourselves as the hero and not as devil. See these films. Vote with your dollars, and vote for integration and fairness in entertainment. Don't let another child grow up never even wondering what else he or she might -have been. THE CHICANO PRESS ASSOCIATION Page 6 What is Affirmative Action BE A GUERRILLERO / A DE LA Pluma Page 7 Meet progressive Chicano publications from across Aztlán! "Talk to today's Chicano journalists” A Secluded Life Growing Up Impresso la Universidad de Utah Greg Marcial Editor/Publisher: Managing Editor: Tomas Martinez Faculty Advisors: Theresa Martinez, Alberta Gloria Artists: Vince Lobato (cover and back page] Guerilleros: Jason Settle, Jennifer Martinez, David Tucker, Deno Menis, Yvonne Ahumada, Ramon Garcia, Hector Ahumada Typesetters: Dave Thometz, JE. Zemp To all who helped make this publication possible, we thank you for your time and effort. Venceremos is a quarterly Chicana/Chicano student publication founded in 1993 and is recognized by the publication council of the University of the University of Utah. The views expressed in Venceremos represent the views of individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the ASUU or the regents of the University of Utah. send all correspondence to: Venceremos 240 Union Bldg University of Utah SLC, Utah 84112 |
