Greasers and Gringos: Latinos, Law, and the American Imagination (Critical America Series)

Although the origin of the term greaser is debated, its derogatory meaning never has been. From silent movies like The Greaser's Revenge (1914) and The Girl and the Greaser (1913) with villainous title characters, to John Steinbeck's portrayals of Latinos as lazy, drunken, and shiftless in his 1935 novel Tortilla Flat , to the image of violent, criminal, drug-using gang members of East LA, negative stereotypes of Latinos/as have been plentiful in American popular culture far before Latinos/as became the most populous minority group in the U.S. In Greasers and Gringos , Steven W. Bender examines and surveys these stereotypes and their evolution, paying close attention to the role of mass media in their perpetuation. Focusing on the intersection between stereotypes and the law, Bender reveals how these negative images have contributed significantly to the often unfair treatment of Latino/as under American law by the American legal system. He looks at the way demeaning constructions of Latinos/as influence their legal treatment by police, prosecutors, juries, teachers, voters, and vigilantes. He also shows how, by internalizing negative social images, Latinos/as and other subordinated groups view themselves and each other as inferior. Although fighting against cultural stereotypes can be a daunting task, Bender reminds us that, while hard to break, they do not have to be permanent. Greasers and Gringos begins the charge of debunking existing stereotypes and implores all Americans to re-imagine Latinos/as as legal and social equals. "Negative stereotypes of Latinas/os have been plentiful in American popular culture far before Latinas/os became the most populous minority group in the United States." "In Greasers and Gringos, Steven W. Bender examines and surveys these stereotypes and their evolution, paying close attention to the role of mass media and their perpetuation. Focusing on the intersection between stereotypes and the law, Bender reveals how these negative images have contributed significantly to the often unfair treatment of Latinas/os under American law. He looks at the way demeaning images of Latinas/os influence their legal treatment by police, prosecutors, juries, teachers, voters, and vigilantes. He also shows how, by internalizing negative social images, Latinas/os and other minority groups view themselves and each other as inferior." "Greasers and Gringos begins to debunk existing stereotypes and implores all Americans to re-imagine Latinas/os as legal and social equals."--Jacket Greasers And Gringos......Page 1 Contents......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Preface......Page 14 1. The Confluence of Stereotype and Law......Page 18 2. Latinas/os in the American Imagination......Page 28 3. Centering Latina/o Stereotypes in Those of Other Groups......Page 38 4. Greasers and Gangsters......Page 47 5. Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)......Page 81 6. In the U.S.A., It’s English or Adiós Amigo......Page 99 7. One of the Smart Ones......Page 121 8. No Mexicans or Dogs Allowed......Page 131 9. Gringos in the Latina/o Imagination......Page 171 10. Latinas/os in the Mirror......Page 179 11. Eradicating Stereotypes......Page 186 12. Mi Familia as Counterspeech......Page 204 13. Eradicating Stereotypes......Page 210 14. Beyond Stereotype......Page 242 Notes......Page 252 Index......Page 306 About the Author......Page 310 The confluence of stereotype and law Latinas/os in the American imagination Centering Latina/o stereotypes in those of other groups Greasers and gangsters : Latinas/os and crime Mañana (is soon enough for me) : fertility and welfare In the U.S.A. it's English or adiós amigo : Latina/o assimilation One of the smart ones : Latina/o (un)intelligence No Mexicans or dogs allowed: subhumanity Gringos in the Latina/o imagination Latinas/os in the mirror : intra/inter-ethnic glimpses Eradicating stereotypes : community-based strategies of media counterspeech and protest Mi familia as counterspeech Eradicating stereotypes : the collision of legal strategies with the First Amendment Beyond stereotype : movement toward social change. Examines cultural stereotypes associated with the Latin-American community, analyzing the role of mass media in perpetuating negative attitudes and how biases have been reflected in law enforcement, in the educational system, by voters, and by vigilantes. (Social Science) Evident in this study of Latina/o stereotypes is the role of American media in sustaining derogatory stereotypes that have plagued Latinas/os for decades.