It’s the final week of Hispanic Heritage month. And with the temperature outside dropping, I know most of us would rather be indoors than outside. That’s why I’m introducing you to LatinX characters that you can appreciate from the comfort of your home. Not only is this for the Latin kids that appreciate seeing themselves on the screen, but for others that want to learn more about Latin culture through film and video format.
Diego Hargreeves, Umbrella Academy
The action-packed show is the way it is a bit, partly because of Diego. He is a superhero, vigilant for the right causes, and will stand by. He is one of the few mainstream Latin superheroes as of right now. There are very dimensional sides that we get to see of him throughout the seasons that I’m sure watchers will appreciate. There is an emptiness he experiences, as despite knowing that he is Latin, he cannot fully be in touch with his roots because of a lack of connection.
Juana Bautista, The Five Juanas
It is very rare to see a lead on a show that is of Latin indigenous background. Sofia Enberg takes on the role of Juana who is a clairvoyant and of indigenous background, like the actor herself. This link between the actress and herself creates depth in the message on the screen. The connection between both of them is very clear. In the show, Juana does not bow down at all and is definitely a badass.
Valerio Montesinos, Elite
This is a wild character in the best ways. Valerio, played by Jorge Lopez, is the character that breaks the intensity in Elite. He makes the dark show less tense and cracks you up because of his wittiness. While he does derail on a bad path, he becomes more selfless at the end. This growth is fun to watch happen during the course of the show. Valerio is from Argentina and is not shy of that even though he is surrounded by Spaniards who are judgemental of others from a Latin country. He reminds us that there is always light at the end of the tunnel and it touches on drug addiction.
Carmen, Cobra Kai
Even though Carmen, who is played by Melonie Diaz, is not the main character, she still takes the spotlight. She definitely does represent a lot of the hard-working Latin parents out there. She works in the medical field, which is a field where we need more diverse representation. Besides that, she is a Latin mom who cares and wants their son to succeed, which is really nice to see.
Ana Morales, Gentified
Ana is someone that you want on your side, especially with the loyalty she shows her family members. For a while, she felt like she had to hide her sexuality from her family members, as she did not want to disappoint Abuelo (Grandpa) and her family. However, they overcome this by communicating. Ultimately, she got more comfortable showing her queerness and queer relationships.
M.J, Rebelde
M.J. is a lovable character that gives us a Mexican-American perspective. She experiences a small identity crisis, as she attends a private school in Mexico and struggles to cope with how others see her and how she sees herself. She goes from a young, naive, and scared girl to someone that has become strong through her experiences.
Ana Torres, Grown-ish
Ana is Zoey’s best friend and is of Cuban descent. This shapes a lot of her thoughts throughout college, and also in her daily life. For people who are studying law, this is for you. This character “girl-bosses” in her everyday life and fulfills her dream of getting a degree.
Elena Maria Alverez, One Day at a Time
This show is a great window into the perspective of a Cuban-American family. Elena is a proud lesbian and has a nerdy, quirky, and lovable side to her. There is not one thing that defines her, and seeing her really step into herself is heartwarming. Even though she struggles with her own community accepting her, her pride in being Latina remains strong.