George Lopez

George Lopez is a good example of a Mexican American who overcame adversity and became a successful actor/comedian. George was born in Los Angeles, California. When he was just a couple months old his father ran out on him. When he was ten, his mother placed him in the hands of his grandparents. This is where he would remain for the rest of his childhood. George used all these sorrowful and traumatic experiences as a kid to break into the comedic world. He would make jokes about his childhood in his acts, which would bring in large crowds and give him a name. Later in his career, George moved from the comedic stage to television. George created a show called "The George Lopez Show." It was a show that started him and was about his life as an ordinary Mexican family man. After his show aired on TV it became a success. His show mostly appealed to men in their thirties. The "George Lopez Show" aired for 6 seasons. At one point, Lopez's show was given the number one rating of a late night television show.

Stereotypes and their True Numbers

All stereotypes were originally created from a story, or from multiple stories. Stereotypes are just a different variation of those stories told from a single perspective. They are stories that are over exaggerated and generalize the entire culture. Stereotypes are something that leave no wiggle room for variation with numbers, even when there is clear evidence that opposes it. Let’s take the stereotype that Mexican women have large families. This did used to be the case when women would have 6-7 babies. However, in today’s modern culture women have only 2.2 births. This is slightly larger than 2.1. births, which American women produce. Contrary to the myth of laziness, the Mexican worker will often take the jobs that Americans don’t want, often working long hours and doing back-breaking work.

Rick Orozco's Story of Discrimination

A man named Rick Orozco experienced intellectual discrimination when he was in fifth grade. At a parent teacher conference his teacher told his parents that Rick would grow up to be at the most an average student, and that he should not keep continuing to pursue an education because in the end it will lead to failure. “It made me wonder if (the negative thoughts) really had anything to do with me and the color of my skin or my background.” Thankfully, Rick did not listen to his fifth grade teacher, worked hard, and ended up becoming a brain surgeon, which I consider to be far from a failure.

Speedy Gonzalez

Mexican American's have been stereotyped throughout the media since the 1950's. The first character to ever perpetuate the Mexican stereotype was a cartoon character named Speedy Gonzalez. He was created in 1957. Speedy was a Mexican mouse with an over thickened accent and a sombrero that he consistently wore throughout the years the show was aired. Along with his own personal traits, his show was also stereotyped with his Mexican mouse henchmen who always appeared to be intoxicated. His unintelligent Mexican cousin Slowpoke Rodriguez who assisted him from time to time also didn’t really help the stereotype. In 1999 Speedy’s show was banned from network due to its stereotypical view on Mexican Americans.

Mexican Stereotypes

Why are Mexicans stereotyped? Is it because of their bad reputation with illegal immigration? Is it because we fought them in the Mexican U.S. war centuries ago? Is it because they have a year round tan? What is the main reason for Mexicans being stereotyped? In today's society Mexicans have multiple stereotypes. Just to list off a couple Mexicans are lazy, vote democrat, have large families, LOVE soccer, attempt to be flashy, only eat Mexican food, are high school dropouts, fast runners, highly manipulative, and they can all speak spanish. Now, is there any truth to these stereotypes? Absolutely. Stereotypes are not just made out of no where. There is always a base or a source if you will to stereotypes. It doesn't matter what ethnicity we are talking about. Every stereotype has a story behind it.