A partnership between #WeAllGrow Latina and LatinaMedia.Co
¡HOLA 2022! ADIOS 2021
A new year is here, and we for one are ready. That’s why we’re taking stock of all the best moments from 2021, and we’re not the only ones. Shayne Rodriguez Thompson took a look at 17 moments from the past year for HipLatina. Reminding all of us, that even amidst the pandemic, Latinas not only succeeded but thrived. Need some inspiration to start the new year? Camila Barbeito made a list of 9 Empowering TEDx Talks By Latinas for mitú to give us all that boost we need for 2022. And with the start of a new year, we all could use a little bit of insight from our favorite Bruja Tarotscope. Check out Esoteric Esa’s reading for January 2022 for Popsugar, because let’s face it this year we can use all the help we can get.
What happens today has the power to change the course of history, and we believe Latinos are doing just that, and it’s never been more evident than in 2021.
Shayne Rodriguez Thompson
THE THREE MOST TALKED ABOUT LATINX FILMS OF 2021
The truth is in 2019, just 7% of major films featured a lead Hispanic or Latino actor. Even when it comes to speaking roles, only 6% of characters cast that year were Hispanic or Latino. In 2021, we were excited to see more films made by and for Latinx people. But let’s be real – we’re not a monolith. That’s why we launched a segment on LatinaMedia.Co, called What Latinas Have to Say.
This past year, we highlighted the three most talked about Latinx films of 2021. Working backward, first, there’s West Side Story, the remake. This film is complex, to say the least. The original gave us la reina Rita Moreno but also gave us some of the most racist portrayals of Latinxs in Hollywood. Disney’s new animated feature Encanto is also on our list. While it is an original story and has less baggage than West Side Story, that didn’t stop the reviews from pouring in. And finally, it’s hard to believe that In the Heights came out in 2021 (but it did). And Lin Manuel Miranda’s musical to movie had its fair share of debate and controversy.
Latinas disagree, and that’s a good thing! After all, we’re not a monolith as you may have heard us say before.
Mujeres Problemáticas
THE PODCASTS WE LOVED IN 2021
We love podcasts. Whether it’s a deep dive into a moment in our past, a chisme session, or our favorite music, podcasts can engage listeners in a way that traditional media hasn’t.
Luckily for us, some of our favorite writers have gathered their top podcasts of the past year. Irene San Segundo highlighted 11 Latinx podcasts she listened to and loved in 2021. Vulture asked over 150 creators, producers, hosts, and executives what podcasts they’ve been listening to, and number 8 on the list was “Anything for Selena” from Futuro Media.
Maria Garcia’s memoir-documentary centers on the legacy and culture of the one and only icon Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. If you haven’t listed to it yet, this one is a must. Edited by Catherine Saint Louis and narrated by Mariah Castañeda, Smokescreen: The Sellout is a fascinating in-depth story about the indicted former L.A. City Councilman Jose Huizar, L.A. City Council’s first Mexican-born member. It’s a story about a man but largely mirrors the dynamics of power and change in Los Angeles. Here’s to these mujeres giving us the stories we need and want as we enter this new year.
According to Spotify, the consumption of podcasts by the US Latinx community is growing fast and over-indexing in podcast consumption compared to the general audience in the US.
Irene San Segundo
