Sicilian Culture: The News: Edward James Olmos - Quandry, Conundrum, Conclusion & Questions

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Edward James Olmos - Quandry, Conundrum, Conclusion & Questions
From Richard Annotico
Edward James Olmos has been a hero of mine, because he has been a critic of "The Sopranos" because of what he easily recognized was it's "trashing" of the image of the Italian American community, DESPITE the fact that his wife is Lorraine Bracco, "Dr. Melfi" on 'The Sopranos'. That's impressive!!!
Olmos' films have overwhelmingly been a positive portrayal of Latinos. For instance, "Stand and Deliver", which was the true story of a Latino teacher in a Latino neighborhood in East LA, that inspired low achieving students to a National Academic Championship. It is a " We Can, We Must Educate Ourselves" story.
That's Positive for his Community!!
He then is Founder of the very successful Latino International Film Festival, now in it's fifth year. 30,000 attendees, and a Celebrity loaded Awards Dinner. That's very Positive for his Community!!!
Nevertheless, protesters from the Mexica Movement, an indigenous rights group (read Mexican Indian Cultures) has dogged the actor for his speaking role in Disney's animated "The Road to El Dorado," a film they say claim negatively portrays indigenous characters. A flier shows pictures of Olmos from last year as he met with picketers holding signs calling him racist.
Olmos is a "voice" in a Disney movie, and he is called a "racist", "coward" and "traitor"?
My Conclusion:
Latinos cut NO ONE any slack, including an outstanding leader of their community, if they commit what they consider to be the least indiscretion.No measuring a person on the balance, or approaching him in a "civilized" manner on a matter of difference.
Italian Americans can't even agree that their image is being "trashed" by the Media, although well informed, intelligent members of a variety of other cultures not only recognize the Italian American dilemma, but have expressed suprise as to the lack of any substantial Italian American activism.
In addition to Latino Olmos, Sammy Davis of the Black community, stated that if Italian Americans didn't get their act together, regarding Negative Stereotyping, they wouldn't be at the BACK of the bus, but UNDER the bus.
Even the Jewish Community represented by Michael Meyers, executive director of the New York Civil Rights Coalition, and Clyde Haberman of the NY Times agree that in the Media, Italian-Americans continue to be shown ONLY as Mafiosi and foul-talking louts.
What do we do, besides complaining to each other?

For Reference only, Excerpts of the article re Olmos is below:
PROTEST, AWARDS CLOSE FESTIVAL
Amid demonstrations against Olmos, the 10-day Latino film event ends with salute to Quinn, six prizes.
By Agustin Gurza, Staff Writer, Los Angeles Times
Tuesday, July 31, 2001 - - The Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival wrapped up its fifth year with a tribute Saturday night to the late actor Anthony Quinn, followed by Sunday evening's awards ceremony at Hollywood's Egyptian Theater.
Organizers estimated attendance at 30,000 during the 10-day event, marked by almost daily protests against actor Edward James Olmos, the festival's producer and artistic director. The demonstrators, who object to Olmos' participation in films they consider anti-Mexican, were out in force Sunday night, loudly chanting on the sidewalk as celebrities and moviegoers arrived for the closing ceremonies.
The noisy but orderly protest did not disrupt the festival's red-carpet ritual down the long courtyard, however. Once inside the restored movie house, the capacity audience could not hear the cries of "coward" and "traitor" as an unruffled Olmos helped hand out the festival's prizes, awarded by juries in six categories....
[A description of the 6 winners followed]...
Olmos declined to respond to protesters from the Mexica Movement, an indigenous rights group based in East Los Angeles. For more than a year, the group has dogged the actor for his speaking role in Disney's animated "The Road to El Dorado," a film they say claim negatively portrays indigenous characters. A flier shows pictures of Olmos from last year's festival as he met with picketers holding signs calling him racist.
"All he said [at the time] was that we have to learn to laugh at ourselves, as if the world doesn't laugh at us already," said protest spokesman Itzcoatl Xochipilli.
Olmos said protesters annoyed some people as they arrived for various events. "But they didn't bother me," he added, as fans filed into the courtyard for food and dancing after watching the U.S. premiere of the gut-wrenching "Perfume de violetas" ("Scent of Violets"), ....
Complete article may be retrieved with Free Subscription at:
www.calendarlive.com/top/1,1419,L-LATimes-Movies-X!ArticleDetail-39546,00.html

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