Los_Vendidos

In his play, Los Vendidos, Luis Valdez demonstrates humor, while still demonstrating his opinion towards society. He begins by introducing a Mexican Salesman, and Miss Jimenez, a Mexican-American secretary for Governor Reagan, who is in search of an appropriate Mexican that can serve on the administration. The salesman takes Miss Jimenez to multiple different models and possibilities for her purchase. However, her request is specific: must be hard-working, must speak English, cannot be too dark, and must be a Mexican-American. As Valdez takes the audience on the quest for the perfect purchase, he criticizes the stereotypes given to Latinos by society, yet also demonstrating the struggles of Latinos, in order to demonstrate the theme of oppression. In Los Vendidos, Valdez uses 3 different stereotypes in order to criticize society’s on Latinos. For example, Miss Jimenez is taken to three different characters as possibilities for the administration. The salesman takes her first to a hard-working famer who survives on beans and tortillas. Miss Jimenez is at first impressed by his extremely hard-working skills, but immediately changes her mind upon finding his lack of English speaking skills (Valdez 1337-1338). This poses criticism towards the first stereotype of Latinos: the typical farm worker. On his investigation on Migrant Farm Workers, Michael Romanowski explains that workers tend to be “victims of stereotypes,” and at times are negatively affected because most believe that those with “poor English skills are slow” (Romanowski 27). Not only is it stereotypical for one to assume that all Mexicans are farm workers, but also the connotation that is linked between the two is a negative one. Farm workers are viewed as uneducated and unintelligent, and regardless of their hard working skills, as Miss Jimenez was impressed by, they are still casted in a negative light; and especially could not be seen as part of an administration for an American governor. Valdez continues with the city boy who must fight to stay alive, smokes marijuana, and only eats Taco Bell (Valdez 1338 – 1339). Once again, Miss Jimenez is not impressed and is thrown off by his uncivilized appearance and actions. The final stereotype that is seen the heroic, romantic, and horse-riding revolutionary, who is charming, but still not good enough because he was not made in a America (Valdez 1340). In viewing these three stereotypes, not only are the rejected, but they are criticized and portrayed negatively. Therefore, Valdez is making it a satirically demonstrating these untrue stereotypes amongst Latinos. Yet, he is also criticizing society for casting these stereotypes to begin with. In her study on Latinos in Hollywood, Elsa Isais also makes the same observation as Valdez, as she notes that actress Morissa Tomei was forced to “gain 18 pounds and wear a bronzing product”, because she did not perfectly fit the image of a Cuban female (Isais par. 1). Isais also found in her studies that aspiring actresses were at times even casted prior to auditioning, just based on skin color (Isais par. 9). It is stereotypes such as these filmmakers that Valdez is playing off of, and using them as possibilities for the Miss Jimenez’s purchase. However, being as though they are not picked, Valdez is demonstrating that by society’s standards, they are not acceptable or worthy enough. While Valdez’s depictions of these stereotypes are a form of satire, there are still some truths to their descriptions. For example, the salesman explains to Miss Jimenez that he has the skills necessary to survive in the city, and knows how to knife fight (Valdez 1338). Although comical, young Latino boys actually do have to face the difficult conditions in the city and are forced to develop skills of survival. A 26 year old Chicano from Los Angeles, Carlos, explained that living in the city is not easy, and in order to survive he found it necessary to join a gang. If he failed to do so, he feared he would hold a lack protection in the dangerous city he lives in (Vertner par. 1-5). Although Carlos is only one, there are many more like him fearing their lives and are forced into using violence as a source of protection. As we see, Valdez’s city boy depiction is not very far from the truth. However, what draws the stereotypes from reality are the truths that are left untold within the stereotypes. These boys do not want to be in gangs, and are not just idiotic youths who are born violent. As Carlos explained, before joining a gang, he was seen as a smart student that had potential- yet felt he was safer in a gang (Vertner para. 5-6). Therefore, what Valdez is able to project is that yes, these are the stereotypes that we must pull away from. However, there are also the truths that cannot be forgotten, and must be changed. An additional harsh truth to Valdez’s characterization, are the conditions of the farm workers. As mentioned prior, they are stuck in these stereotypes that all workers are unintelligent, and cannot comprehend the English language. As Miss Jimenez demonstrated, many tend to easily dismiss these workers, treating them as almost useless. Romanowski demonstrates, that this is an unfortunate truth, and goes further- psychologically affecting the individual. They tend to lose confidence and trust in society as a whole, which can damage their future or push them to not striving for higher ambitions (Romanowski 27). Again, we see that these stereotypes are pushing individuals into automatic conclusions, which negatively affects those being discriminated against. They are psychologically being hurt, and as a result are damaging their lives and opportunities. Moreover, the salesman also makes mention of Farm Labor Camps imposed by Governor Reagan. Although somewhat comical, there are harsh truths behind this as well. In an interview, Dolores Huerta explains her experiences and attempts to organize and take a stance for the united Farm Workers. However, she was faced by obstacles placed by Reagan himself, who mockingly ate grapes in a time of boycott, and stopped their cause at every turn (Huerta, Democracy Now!). Although it was briefly mentioned by the salesman, in reality, farm workers were facing constant barriers to receiving better working conditions, as well as an overall better working-lifestyle. However, Reagan was placing a hold on their attempts. Therefore, we see that Valdez, is not only criticizing the stereotypes towards Latinos, but also the policies and actions of, at the time, Governor Reagan. In this sense, it depicts Reagan’s actions as inhumane, and inconsiderate of Latinos. Valdez’s intentions were to show the audience that although these struggles that many Mexican-Americans faced are hidden by cruel stereotypes, there are still realities behind them. Furthermore, Valdez had the intention of presenting his arguments to the audience, but also to reveal a theme of oppression. Valdez wanted show that these are not only struggles faced by Latinos, but they are also signs of oppression. In the end of his play, Miss Jimenez decides to choose the Mexican who was also American, light skinned, well-groomed, and well-educated (Valdez 1341-1342). Yet, Valdez’s intentions were to reveal that unless a Mexican intends to assimilate to an Caucasian American lifestyle, he or she will be unable to succeed. After all, the product chosen had assimilated, and Miss Jimenez had done so as well- which is why she preferred to have her name pronounced “Anglo” as “JIM-enez” (Valdez 1336)- and they were both successful working in politics. However, it is implied that the others who were left behind, could never reach that sort of status. In her articles, Does the American Dream Have an Expiration Date, Michelle Chen explains that Latinos tend to have difficulty finding upward mobility. Instead, they are met by poverty and in a constant financial struggle, and find it difficult to find the American Dream. Chen’s research parallels the theme of oppression in Valdez’s criticism, as individuals are unable to reach a higher status quo, if they are Latinos. Harry P. Pachon and Joan W. Moore, also find similar conclusions in their research, as they explain the difficulties of purchasing houses because of dark skin, they lag behind in education level, and do not find equal “political opportunities” (Pachon Moore, 113). These struggles are simply made because of their skin color and race. These are signs of oppression, where they are not finding equal opportunities simply because of their race; which effect their education, monetary funds, jobs, which further pushes them away from finding upward mobility. Valdez is able to use his work as a criticism of society, and to show that these oppressive ways do exist. In Los Vendidos, Luis Valdez depicts a humorous satire, in which Governor Reagan’s secretary is in search of a Mexican-American to join the administration. Yet, her agenda is strict and clear; the product she is in search for must truly present, although Mexican, the appearance, education, and language skills of an American. As the salesman takes her through four different options, the first three represent very different stereotypical identities of Mexicans. However, Valdez uses this as a criticism of society, indicating that these stereotypes are cruel, and damaging; as it casts Latinos in a negative light. In addition, Valdez is able to reveal that these stereotypes blind society of finding the truths behind them; Latinos do have the struggles and obstacles that the stereotypical characters hold. However, because they are seen as comical, they are not taken seriously, and are not faced with solutions. Furthermore, Valdez’s overall intentions were to show a theme of oppression and that because Latinos are faced with negativity on a daily basis, they are unable to find that upward mobility; as a result are hardly ever chosen for jobs like the administration for Reagan. Valdez uses comedy in order to shed light on these serious issues of society, and used his work as a source of society criticism. References Chen, Michelle. "Does the American Dream Have an Expiration Date'." Colorlines. 21 Nov 2009: n. page. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. . Huerta, Dolores, and Francis Fox Piven. Personal Interview. 11 JUN 2004. Isais, Elsa E. "Latinos Work To Change Stereotypes In Hollywood." Borderlands 15 (Spring 1997): 3. Borderlands. EPCC Libraries. Pachon, Harry P., and Joan W. Moore. "Mexican Americans." Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. (1981): 111-124. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. . Romanowski, Michael . "Meeting the Unique Needs of the Children of Migran Farm Workers." Clearing House. 77.1 (2003): 27-33. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. . Vertner, Ryan. "The War on Youth." Colorlines. 10 Dec 1999: n. page. Web. 22 Nov. 2011. .