BE#1

When I was growing up, Speedy Gonzales never really fascinated me. I did not even realize that he was supposed to represent my culture or ethnic background. He was just another character on Looney Tunes to me whom I paid no mind too. He was literally irrelevant to me. The only time I can remember referring to this character is when we would call my friend, Cesar, Speedy Gonzales because he ran super fast. Other than this occasion, Speedy Gonzales was not part of my life in any meaningful way. Only recently, did I connect Speedy Gonzales to ethnic stereotyping, specially my culture. This cartoon character was in no way created to symbolize and or commemorate my culture but to humiliate it. This character is based on nasty stereotypes of my culture and background. Such stereotypes include drinking at the “cantina” or sipping on beer for most of the day. Another negative stereotype of Speedy Gonzales is that he is portrayed as a rat. Why would the creators of this character portray my culture as a rat? Do they think of people who speak with a Spanish accent or dress a certain way and wear sombreros as rats, as vermin? If this cartoon character is to make a comeback it would only turn progress backwards by displaying hate towards an ethnic group, which I belong too.