Why Aren’t There More Latinos In Science Fiction? We Don’t Make It To The Future?
13 August 2009, 4:30 PM. By Jack Tomas
As many of you can gather from some the references we make on this site, we are huge nerds. We aren’t ashamed to say so, we are Latino men who enjoy titties, tequila, and sports as well as lightsabers and a good Twilight Zone marathon. Growing up watching Star Trek, Star Wars, Alien etc. you start to notice something…there are no Latinos. We don’t exist in the future.
In the future there are whites (Han Solo, Captain Kirk), blacks (Lando and Uhura), Asians (Mr. Sulu), gays (Mr. Sulu, C-3po), and Jews (Spock, Princess Leia) but no Latinos. Even though we make up a good chunk of the planet and are going to be the majority in the United States by 2050 we will not survive the nuclear holocaust/zombocalypse/robocalypse that leads to the world of tomorrow. Part of the reason for this is that when a lot of these shows and movies were created Latinos were so overlooked as a group that there was no need to include them. The representation of Latinos was non-existent except for three stereotypes: The bandito, the exotic seductress, or the gang member. Most of the time these parts were played by white folk in brown face, (Charleston Heston as a Mexican in Touch of Evil? Come on!)
Star Trek is a good example. Gene Rodenberry’s vision of the future is one where all races, creeds, forms of life and nations would live in harmony (remember Chekov was a Ruskie on TV in the middle of the Cold War.) The show was first on in 1966, at the height of the civil rights movement and broadcast the first ever interracial kiss on TV between Captain Kirk and Lt. Uhura. Certainly a progressive idea, possibly even a revolutionary one. Instead of seeing man destroying themselves he saw us working through our differences to explore space together. But where was Col. Jose manning the torpedo room? Why wasn’t there a Jimenez flying an X-Wing along with Luke Skywalker?
There is a ray of hope fellow geekos. In the last few years there have been strides in sending homies into space. The most prominent is granddaddy actor Edward James Olmos as Admiral William Adana in the remake of Battlestar Galactica. The original series looked a Connecticut yacht club, but in this version a Mexican-American was not only a member of the crew, he was the friggin’ admiral. He was the leader, the guy people went to when the caca hit the fan. The second one is from the unfortunate Star Wars prequels. Say what you want about the movies but one thing is clear, a Latino played Senator Organa (Jimmy Smits) Princess Leia’s adoptive father and leader of the rebel alliance. At the end of Episode 3 you see Smits bringing the infant princess Leia to his wife wearing a full on colonial lady look with mantilla and everything. It also goes to show the folly of the evil Empire in blowing up their planet of Alderan. That’s why that second Death Star took so long to get built: no Latinos to work the construction. Stupid Darth Vader.
In the video below Olmos talks about the question of Latinos in Science Fiction:
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It seems like we are making progress in Sci-Fi leadership. Maybe the reason Latinos have not been on these shows is because we are the ones building everything.
I mean really, could you really build the DeathStar or the different versions of the Enterprise without Latinos? C’mon,
Is your point that Hispanic actors aren’t cast in a lot of sci-fi or are you saying that there aren’t a lot of Hispanic *characters*? Big difference. Which do you think is more important?
I can’t speak to Jack’s POV on this, but in my opinion the two go hand-in-hand. Salma Hayek likes to tell this story about her early days in Hollywood when a casting director of some sci fi movie laughed her out of the office by saying, “There’s no Mexicans in space!” So while some of this may be on casting agents and actors to move towards being more color blind, a few creators and writers making space commanders named Mendoza or Rodriguez sure would help that reality appear more feasible.
Unfortunately, there isn’t many Oscar Wao’s out there.
Mr. Spock wasn’t a Jew, Leonard Nimoy is a Russian Jew; maybe more Hispanic actors should read for the parts portrayed in science fiction movies and series. There are very few German or Austrian actors in science fiction movies. Since you write such good articles, why not write a science fiction movie dominated by Hispanic characters and actors.
Check out my first and recently released novel, Long Journey to Rneadal. This exciting story is a romantic action adventure in space.
Yeah, I’m sure Latinos not wanting to read for parts is the problem. You sound like every corporate excuse-giver since the beginning of time.
There was a character in “Alien” named Vasquez, but she was played by an actress named Goldstein, she was the tough kind of Lez girl. Latinos do not make it to space, we end up taking over the earth and kicking all the others off our planet LOL
maybe this means the swine flu gets us. be careful this flu season!
I knew it! The robots replace us as gardeners and nannies! Fuck!
Your right there was a Vazquez in Aliens. Thanks.
As for the question of representation I agree with my colleague Chris in that the two things go hand in hand. Both Latino actors and characters should be a bigger part of the sci-fi world. Not as token characters but as normal members of the world.
As for why don’t they read for more sci-fi parts that isn’t up to the actors. The producers won’t let a Latino read for certain roles. They send out casting calls for White male early 20’s or whatever.
And Mr. Spock is totally Jewish. He gives the Khoanim (Levite priest) blessing sign. The live long and prosper thing.
Spock gives half of the Khoanim (Levite priest) blessing sign. The Khoanim is given with both hands held high to bless the congregation. The Khoanim is where Leonard Nimoy came up with the “live long and prosper” sign. As Mr. Nimoy once explained in an interview, the idea for the sign came from watching the priests in the synogague.
Don’t forget Commodore Mendez from Star Trek’s first season. Not only a Latino in space but of the highest rank.
Oh yea and Ricardo Montalban as Khan
Don’t forget Eddie James O as Gaff, Harrison Ford’s neo-pachuco cop rival in Blade Runner. As for Latino-themed scifi, I’m waiting for the DVD release of Sleep Dealer on 9/8.
Now let us not forget “Starship Troopers” it was set in Brazil and a few of the main characters [even though they are portrayed by white actors] all have Latino last names… “Rico” “Ibanez” and “Flores”…
Chronos!!
Starship Troopers was set in Argentina you moron, cant you find Buenos Aires in the friggin map?
Yes, we are in the future! :) There are plenty of Latinos in science fiction and fantasy made in the U.S. and there are of course original productions in Latin America. Yes, I’d like more too. But for now we have Wolfman and V coming out, both with Latinos in leading roles. Check out my blog for more at http://www.scifilatino.com.