Representation Matters: 15 Latinxs I Saw on TV While Growing Up

I didn’t care much for having Barbie dolls when I was little. I had her Latinx friend Teresa (I still have to find out who bought this doll for me and thank them). Maybe it’s because Teresa looked more like me, with dark hair and dark eyes. The point is that it’s imperative that little girls and boys see people who look like them, everywhere — and this includes television and film. On the small screen, among the sea of human Barbies, with blonde hair, blue eyes, no accents, and European names, I felt empowered and seen to witness the presence of a doll such as Teresa. Here are those Latinx actors and actresses whom I saw on television, while growing up in the eighties and nineties. Because representation matters.

14Jennifer Lopez on In Living Color

JLo Jennifer Lopez In Living Color BeLatina
Photo Credit IG @jossieharris

Before J-Lo had her breakthrough role in the movie, Selena, she was dancing her heart out as a Fly Girl on sketch comedy show, In Living Color. The Fly Girls wore the coolest clothes, had the latest dance moves, and featured several WOC — not to mention they were choreographed by Rosie Perez.

For Image credit or remove please email for immediate removal - info@belatina.com
Next