In the Heights, a film adaptation of the popular Broadway musical was applauded by many in the film industry for casting a largely Latinx cast. For many, this was a win for the Latinx community on the big screen. But, the criticism regarding the representation within those leading roles and the production itself raised a critical question: just how “diverse” does Hollywood believe the Latinx community to be?
Washington Heights, the backdrop for In the Heights, is a predominantly Latinx community, with cultural ties to both Black and Latin American roots. Known as the “Little Dominican Republic,” the ethnic demographic is largely made up of a vibrant Afro-Latinx community making up 68% of the ethnic demographic in the area (U.S Census Bureau). This neighborhood is a story of immigrants calling this place home and creating a melting pot of various cultures of all colors and backgrounds.
There is no singular face to this community and the people who reside there. But what can be said is that the Dominican history of this area is a large reflection of the people who live there now. Thus, the controversy regarding the film’s cast was quite warranted. While the cast was a diverse blend of Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican actors, and more, something was noticeably amiss. The lack of representation within the cast demonstrated a much deeper issue that runs in the Latinx community: colorism.
Colorism is a societal issue that runs rampant within all communities of color. According to the National Conference of Community and Justice, colorism is “practice of discrimination by which those with lighter skin are treated more favorably than those with darker skin.” It runs deeper than just a question of preference. It allows for favoritism and less equal opportunity in the workplace, social settings, beauty standards, and many more aspects of life-based on the color of your skin. This reflects on who we see in media such as film, television, shows, and advertisements.
Many talented actors, especially those who are Black Latinx, are consistently and purposefully left out of major media productions in favor of lighter-skinned, white-passing actors. While the director, John M. Chu, and producer, Lin Manuel Miranda, are both people of color, those creative, diverse choices in the cast were not accurately reflected in the film. This could be attributed to the fact that 77% of the executive crew were white (“In the Heights: Full Cast and Crew”). Black and Latinx actors already only made up only 20.3% of all film roles in 2019 while film directors only made up a meagre 8.2% that year (Hunt and Ramón, 14). Significant progress needs to be made to see these numbers change.
The film industry must strive to ensure that the leading roles, as well as executives, are represented fairly and ensured they are part of the creation of these films. Their roles are already limited and much of it is based on standards that do not capture the true makeup of the Latinx community. Diversity, not just on set, but in the writing rooms, in production, and the director’s chair.
While In the Heights should be commended for its multi-cultural, diverse cast it should also be noted that there is still work to be done to have the most accurate representation in films. Many film productions are aware of the need for more inclusivity in their films, whether it is the cast or the executives behind it. But whether they can truly demonstrate the vast complexity of the Latinx experience on screen is a different story.
Sources
Hunt, Darnell, and Ana-Christina Ramón. 2020, Hollywood Diversity Report 2020, socialsciences.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/UCLA-Hollywood-Diversity-Report-2020-Film-2-6-2020.pdf.
U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 1-year estimates. Retrieved from Census Reporter Profile page for NYC-Manhattan Community District 12–Washington Heights, Inwood & Marble Hill PUMA, NY <http://censusreporter.org/profiles/79500US3603801-nyc-manhattan-community-district-12-washington-heights-inwood-marble-hill-puma-ny/
“Colorism.” National Conference For Community and Justice, www.nccj.org/colorism-0
“In the Heights: Full Cast and Crew.” IMDb, IMDb.com, www.imdb.com/title/tt1321510/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cl_sm
This was beautifully written! I loved how the writer respectfully educated us on colorism and how it played a part in the movie as well as society.