Podcast
Questions and Answers
What was the reason given to the author for not getting a role in a movie?
What was the reason given to the author for not getting a role in a movie?
Why did the author try to change her appearance and behavior?
Why did the author try to change her appearance and behavior?
What was the author initially asked to do in her first professional audition at 15?
What was the author initially asked to do in her first professional audition at 15?
What did the author come to realize about the problem she faced in her career?
What did the author come to realize about the problem she faced in her career?
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What is the author's message to others who have been told to resist their true identity?
What is the author's message to others who have been told to resist their true identity?
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Study Notes
- The author, America, had her first professional audition at 15 for a commercial, but was asked to "sound more Latina" by speaking in broken English, which she found offensive and confusing.
- The author did not get the job, and many other roles that stereotyped her as a Latina, such as the gangbanger's girlfriend, sassy shoplifter, or pregnant Chola, due to her being perceived as too brown, too fat, too poor, and too unsophisticated.
- To overcome these obstacles, the author tried to change her appearance and behavior, such as staying out of the sun to avoid getting darker, straightening her curls, and constantly trying to lose weight, in order to be seen as more capable and deserving of opportunities.
- The author was told by her agent that she wasn't getting a role in a movie because the film wasn't financeable until a white role was cast first, which made her realize that the problem wasn't her own failure, but the systemic belief that people of color are less valuable.
- The author eventually understood that she couldn't change the system's beliefs about her while still believing those same negative beliefs herself, and that she needed to accept and embrace her true identity in order to bring about change.
- The author recognizes that she is not alone in being told to resist her true identity in order to succeed, and that millions of people have been given the same message, and that it is time to stop resisting and start existing as their full and authentic selves.
- The author's identity, which was previously seen as an obstacle, is now seen as her superpower.
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Description
Discover the author's journey of self-acceptance and empowerment as she navigates the challenges of being a Latina in the entertainment industry. Learn how she overcame stereotypes and negative beliefs to find her true identity and superpower. This inspiring story is a must-read for anyone who has ever felt like they don't fit in.
