Latino characters on prime-time television are four times more likely to be portrayed as gangsters, drug dealers and other criminals than are other ethnic groups.
According to a study commissioned by the National Council of La Raza, a Washington civil rights group, images of African-Americans have improved on American television since the 1950s, but Latino characters are either absent or frequently based on stereotypes.
“Hispanics went from banditos in the Old West shows to drug dealers in today’s television shows,” said Bob Lichter of the Center for Media and Public Affairs, which did the study.
The study, released this month, surveyed more than 300 shows and 7,000 characters for one month during the 1992 fall television season. The authors compared the 1992 content to programs aired during the 1950s.
They found that the number of Latino characters on TV in 1992 had declined to only 1 percent of all characters, even though Latinos are 9 percent of the U.S. population today. In the 1950s, Latinos were 3 percent of TV’s characters.
Among the characters who made it to prime time, the study found that:
– About 16 percent of the Latino characters during the 1992 season committed crimes, compared with 4 percent each by African-American and white characters.
– About 28 percent of the Latino characters were poor, compared with 24 percent of African-Americans and 18 percent of whites.
– Only one Latino character was depicted as a business manager or executive, even though the number of Latinos in business has grown significantly.
– On “reality-based” shows like “Cops” and “America’s Most Wanted,” the presence of Latinos increased to about 8 percent. Out of that total, 45 percent were criminals or suspected criminals.
Network officials contacted by the Associated Press would not comment on the study.
“Your basic motif on those shows is a white cop busting a minority,” Lichter said. “The only place where Latinos really have a place on television is as designated criminals.”
Lichter noted some exceptions, such as the Latino lawyer played by A Martinez on the NBC show “L.A. Law,” which ended last season.
