For as long as I can remember, every Hispanic person in pop culture has been portrayed the same few ways–either as a criminal, a housekeeper, a construction worker or a nanny. A lot of great people have been trailblazers to try and break the stereotypes and luckily, they’ve been successful in helping people reshape the perspective of what Hispanic people truly are: smart, funny, determined and versatile, just to name a few characteristics. That being said, it’s important to recognize those who are changing the narrative, whether it be in the roles the play, the causes they stand for, or just simply kicking down walls for what people think Latinos “should” be.
1. Lin-Manuel Miranda
Who he is: Miranda is the man responsible for the Broadway blockbuster “Hamilton”, the hip-hop musical about the founding father, Alexander Hamilton. Miranda is the son of Puerto Rican immigrants.
Why he’s changing the game: His first show, “In The Heights”, is about a diverse, vivid neighborhood in New York City called Washington Heights. He also wrote an entire musical about how an immigrant single-handedly changed the game in American history and he played said immigrant, Alexander Hamilton. He’s also a major advocate for the importance of immigrants.
2. Gina Rodriguez
Who she is: Rodriguez is an actress on the hit CW show, “Jane the Virgin”. Rodriguez is also the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants.
Why she’s changing the game: Rodriguez plays Jane Villanueva on “Jane the Virgin”. Instead of being one of the same old tired roles, Jane is a smart young woman who is in college to become a writer who has a job as a waitress and who is strong and kind. She’s honestly kind of the best!
3. Diane Guerrero
Who she is: Dianne Guerrero is an award-winning actress who stars on “Orange is the New Black” and on “Jane the Virgin”. Her parents are Colombian immigrants but they were unfortunately deported when she was 14 years old.
Why she’s changing the game: Although Guerrero faced the devastating tragedy of having her parents deported, she has not let that stop her. Guerrero is an advocate for immigration reform and has used her platform to write a bestselling book about her experiences called, “In The Country We Love: A Family Divided”. She’s taking what happened to her and using it to help others cope, which is extremely noble.
4. Sara Ramirez
Who she is: Ramirez is Mexican actress who is best known for her role as Dr. Callie Torres on the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy”.
Why she’s changing the game: Ramirez joins the group of Hispanic movers and shakers who play game-changing roles: she played a brilliant orthopedic surgeon who was one of the show’s most beloved characters.
5. Jorge Ramos
Who he is: If you’re Hispanic, there’s a good chance Jorge Ramos was a household name. Ramos is a Mexican-American award-winning journalist who’s best known as an anchor on Univision, a Latino affiliate of NBC.
Why he’s changing the game: Ramos has won 8 Emmys for his excellence on Univision and he’s also been on Time Magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential People. He’s also been the Hispanic voice in major events, such as presidential debates, and has also used his influence to take a stand on major issues such as immigration reform.
6. Alfredo Flores
Who he is: Flores is a director who is of Puerto Rican descent.
Why he’s changing the game: Flores is an incredible director who has worked with the likes of Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande. He’s behind the scenes a lot, but he’s important nonetheless. He also regularly advocates for issues that face Latinos.
7. Sonia Sotomayor
Who she is: A Supreme Court Justice who is the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants.
Why she’s changing the game: Sotomayor is the first Hispanic Supreme Court Justice, which is not insignificant! She’s received countless awards, including honorary degrees from Princeton Law School, Northeastern University and Yale University.
8. Jose M. Hernandez
Who he is: Hernandez is the son of Mexican migrant farmers who is now an astronaut!
Why he’s changing the game: Though Hernandez is not the first Hispanic astronaut, he certainly overcame incredible odds to do so. He worked in the fields with his family all throughout his childhood before finally going to University of California, Santa Barbara and becoming the astronaut he is today. He has started an organization called “Reach For The Stars” which encourages young Hispanic children to pursue their dreams in the STEM field.
As you can see, these people really kicked down the walls for what the Latino stereotype is–and we love them for it!
Stay awesome, Collegiettes and honor your hertiage–no matter what it is!