Home WebMail Saturday, November 2, 2024, 02:28 AM | Calgary | -1.1°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Posted: 2017-03-13T21:38:49Z | Updated: 2017-03-13T21:38:49Z

Kat Lazo is putting telenovelas on blast in her new video series for We are mit.

The video blogger and producer called out the damaging lack of diversity in Latin American soap operas as part of the first installment of The Kat Call on Sunday.

Lazos video features a young Afro-Latina girl and her grandmother watching a telenovela on the couch. The little girl turns to her abuelita and asks, Why dont the novela actors look like us? Why are they all white?

When her grandmother cant answer the question, Lazo jumps in to break down how telenovelas are overtly white, casting mainly light-skinned Latinos as protagonists while actors who are Afro-descendant or indigenous are left to play the help.

The reason for this is colorism, Lazo says.

Has your abuelita ever told you not to bring home a black guy? Or has your mom insisted you stay out of the sun to avoid getting a little darker? Yeah. Thats colorism, she says in the video. Its privileging lighter skin over darker skin. And colorism doesnt just exist in Latin American media. Its worldwide. You see this in Indias Bollywood, in the Philippines and, yes, in the U.S.

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Watch Lazo, who is of Peruvian and Colombian descent, describe her experiences with colorism while growing up in the United States in the video above.