As part of his work to champion Latino inclusion in Hollywood, U.S. Rep.
Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) has recommended that the crime dramas “ Blood In Blood Out ” and “American Me” be entered into the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry for 2024. “Both movies were able to show the humanity in the Latino community, even within very flawed characters,” he said, while acknowledging that the films depict characters as gang members — a long-held stereotype in media. “It was an exploration of a certain life.
I’ve always thought, at least one of those deserves to go in there.” This is the third year the congressman has sent a letter to the National Film Preservation Board recommending a list of “Latino-driven” stories for the registry. It’s part of his ongoing campaign to memorialize the ethnic group’s contributions in media and push for continued representation in American culture.
He believes the entertainment industry is one of the largest “narrative-creating” institutions and its decisions to portray negative tropes are harmful. Every year, the board adds 25 titles to the registry. So far, three of Castro’s more than 50 nominations have been selected, including the biopic “ Selena ” starring Jennifer Lopez, based on the life of the iconic Tejana singer Selena Quintanilla.
For the congressman, it’s still insufficient considering the artistic contributions to movies by Latinos. The registry’s goal, according to its website , is to en.