As representation debate rages, Latinx creators tell Hollywood: 'Just open the door'
The outrage was instant and loud. And warranted.
No Latinx creatives appeared in any of the major categories when nominations for the 72nd Emmy Awards were announced last week. How is that even possible, people raged, especially given "One Day at a Time's" tongue-in-cheek laughs, "Vida's" queer joy and "Los Espookys'" oddball humor?
The erasure of Latinos is not exactly news, though. Over the last five years, 82% of nominees in 19 Primetime Emmy categories were white. A mere 1% were Latino.
As the subsequent backlash to this year's nominations reignites debate about Hollywood's failure to represent Latinx characters on-screen, a movement toward inclusion behind the camera is taking place behind the scenes.
One morning in 2015, about 20 Latinas took up every single chair on Gloria Calderon Kellett's patio - and she had made turkey burgers for everyone.
The Latina TV Writers Brunch Group began that very day at the "One Day at a Time" showrunner's house, and today it includes about 155 members. Co-founder Judalina Neira is amazed that the group has multiplied
