Emmys 2020: No Latino representation sparks anti-Black debate, Internet says 'white Latinxs ruin it' for others
The award season is officially in full swing with the announcement of the 2020 Emmy nominations on Tuesday, July 28. However, there were zero nominations for Latinx talent in any of the major categories. As questions about this segment of the population being overlooked for years remains complex, Hollywood faces issues with inclusion and diversity yet again with the Emmys facing backlash for "abysmal" Latinx representation.
The controversy ensued when a Twitter user posted a screenshot of a report stating, "Emmy 2020: Black nominees gain ground, Latino representation still abysmal." Sharing it, the tweet read, "Why can’t we Latinx have a piece of the pie? We are the largest ethnic group in America and missing as if we didn’t exist!" As the post went viral, people found the tweet and spoke about the need for more Latinx representation. No sooner did it go viral, "anti-black" accusations started pouring in. One tweet read, "My dear LATINX community, I promise there’s a way to ask for better representation without being anti-black," to which another Latin user replied, "I just feel like no matter what we do or say people accuse us of being anti-black. how can i/we speak on this issue in a more helpful way?"
As the tweet went viral, the Internet started comparing the situation of African Americans with the Latinx community in the country. One Twitter user mocked the post and said, "The fact that this ONLY comes up when Blk people appear to have made some progress is very telling." Another said, "You don’t even have one tweet about BLM but quick to use us as comprehension to y’all when it comes to award shows." Another said, "Non-black latinx will do ANYTHING but acknowledge anti-blackness in their community no matter how much we try to start a dialogue. It could slap them right in the face and they’d pretend not to see it, all while crying oppression. I promise y’all don’t want actual oppression." A miffed user wrote, "It’s always the white LatinXs that ruin it for the rest of us smh stop complaining about 'the lack of' LatinX representation if you’re not gonna acknowledge afro-latinX actors and actresses."
According to a survey by Los Angeles Times, an analysis of the 2020 Emmy nominations shows that 33% of the nominees in the acting categories examined are Black, compared with 14% in the five years prior. Overall, performers of color made up 37% of the total, 6% more than in any of the previous five years. And there have been no Latino performers among the lead and supporting nominees for comedy or drama series in the last six years despite making up 18% of the country's population.
Some users even mocked the usage of the term 'Latinx' in the viral tweet, with one saying, "You could simply say Latin community and not Latinx. What the hell is 'Latinx?'” to which another user replied, "It's upsetting that so many people in the comments are more offended by the use of Latinx rather than acknowledging anti-blackness within the community."
Meanwhile, others opined that Latinos should start raising their voices like Black people if they actually want to be "heard." "Latin people have got to start fighting as loudly as black (non-Latin) people fight. You're the largest ethnic group. Organize and make your voice heard. The only way black people have gotten anything in this country is by fighting for it ourselves. Latin people must do the same," one Twitter user wrote and "say you’re anti-black and go." Another tweet read, "ALL Latinx deserve to be represented! That means Black, white and brown Latinos! Most of us have Afro-Caribbean blood in our DNA! Dominicans, Puerto Rican’s, Cubans, etc etc etc."