latinos and the cheap labor stigma
Throughout history society has held the belief that Latino and Mexican Americans are only good for cheap labor. This started in the mid 19th century with the Mexican/American war. During the war, many Mexicans were displaced from their homes and were then exploited for cheap labor.
In 1910, the immigration wave of Latinos and Mexicans to America led to a fear of American job loss due to the cheap labor belief. In reality, immigrants took very low paying and dangerous jobs, such as coal mining, staring a new stereotype that all Latinos and Mexicans live in poverty.
the mexican gangster stereotype
These events were not the only thing that led to these stereotypes. News outlets have been portraying people of Latino and Mexican descent as gangsters and illegal villains who can not speak English. This has helped fuel the stereotype that all Latino/Mexicans are illegal immigrants.
hollywood's influence on the perception of latinos
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Hollywood has encouraged all of these stereotypes and added some of their own. They cast young Latino/Mexican men as gangsters or drug dealers while the older males are casts as lazy laborers, landscapers, foolish men, and Latin lovers. Latino/Mexican women are casts as housekeepers, fiery Latinas, or pregnant teens. All of these are paired against white heroes.
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Quick stats
44.5% of white Americans believe that Hispanic Americans are custodians or construction workers.
21% believe that all Latinos are here illegally.
10% believe that Latinos are only here to take their jobs.