CHALLENGING MAINSTREAM MEDIA PORTRAYALS OF THE LATIN@/X COMMUNITY: A CRITICAL RACE MEDIA LITERACY ANALYSIS OF NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES, ON MY BLOCK

Latin@/xs have been often characterized in stereotypical ways in mainstream media, perpetuating problematic tropes such as the "Latin lover," sexy-temptress, maid, and Mexican Bandido. Despite being projected to grow by 25% by 2045 making them the largest demographic in the United States, Latin@/xs remain the most underrepresented racial/ethnic group in mainstream media, with only 5.8% representation across all television platforms according to the Hollywood Diversity Report. Given the projected growth of the Latin@/x community and their minimal representation in media, it is essential to focus on the merit of Latin@/x-centric shows. In this study, I provide an in-depth critical race media literacy analysis of the Netflix original series, On My Block (2018 – 2021), a teen dramedy that includes tropes of romance storylines, teenage changes, and surviving high school; however, the series prefaces other hard-hitting topics overlooked in mainstream media such as the American Dream, gentrification, deportation, and gang-affiliation. The American Dream, the ideal that hard work and determination can lead to upward social and economic mobility, has been elusive for many Latin@/xs due to systemic barriers such as gentrification. Through a critical race media literacy analysis, this study shows how the show dismantles stereotypes of gang affiliation and gender representation, providing a more authentic and realistic portrayal of Latin@/x experiences in the context of a gentrifying neighborhood. Ultimately, On My Block offers possibilities for social reconstruction in how Latin@/x characters are depicted on-screen, challenging mainstream media's narrow and harmful portrayals