Greasers and Gringos (e-book) (used book) | bookbook.eu

Description

Although the origin of the term 8220;greaser 8221; is debated, its derogatory meaning never has been. From silent movies like The Greaser 8217;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. 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 Gringosbegins the charge of debunking existing stereotypes and implores all Americans to re-imagine Latinos as as legal and social equals.