Between the two movies, Born in East L.A. and El Norte, the stereotypes that all Latinos, men and women illegal or not, battle against are addressed. Whether they are conveyed through comedy or tragedy these stereotypes are poked fun at and highlighted in order to convey the misconceptions that have developed. Fortunately media, in this case film, can be used as a tool to educate an audience about certain issues in society. Cheech Marin and Gregor Nava’s films are prime examples of films that define and attack these stereotypes.

Stereotypes can be addressed through comedy because when Latinos can laugh at the derogatory terms used against them, it decreases the effect of the attacks. Accordingly, Cheech Marin’s first in the film is of him, a mechanic (a stereotypical Mexican job), from his car whistling, yelling, and following a gorgeous woman. Marin uses this shot to address probably the most common stereotype that Mexican workers are of such low class origins that they view all women as meat. As the movie progresses Marin’s mother asks her to pick up his illegal cousin at a toy sweat shop. His cousin is another Marin tool used to portray the stereotypical illegal Mexican. Joaquin of course does not speak English, is very slow, is dressed in Indian clothing, and excessively worships Jesus. Meanwhile, Marin is deported to Mexico because of his physical appearance of dark skin even though he can speak perfect English. Marin uses his main character, Rudy, as a metaphor. He is saying that even though there are many Mexican Americans that were raised here legally they are still blindly and forcefully labeled as unintelligent illegals. After the drive to Tijuana Rudy tries to go through immigration based on the fact that he left his wallet at home and he speaks perfect English. He is blocked by a white officer of the boarder patrol, while over exaggerated for comedic purposes, which does not care if he speaks perfect English uses racial terms to send Rudy back to Mexico. While in Mexico Rudy goes through several attempt to try and get across the boarder illegally. One ironic attempt was when he snuck into the trailer of a white couple and hid himself in the refrigerator. The white couple was caught for having pounds of marijuana in their trailer. During Rudy’s stay in Mexico many other stereotypes were addressed. For example, the white businessman that used Rudy as a side kick when Rudy was really the one making all the money, the Mexican harlots that worked at the Cantinas, or the Mexican thug that was extremely aggressive and covered in tattoos. Overall, Cheech Marin’s approach to addressing Latino stereotypes was through comedy and over exaggeration where as Gregory Nava’s style was quite different.

The style that Gregory Nava chose was a much more direct way of addressing certain stereotypes and proving them completely wrong. The first stereotype that Nava attacks is the ill-raised Latino. Nava painstakingly shows that these siblings, Rosa and Enrique, were hard working and cultured. Nava showed that they had values and were raised by intelligent and brave parents. Nava also shows the reason these siblings came to America was not because they were lazy and looking for fast cash but were granted a less fortunate life than most and were forced to leave their home. The next generalization that Nava addressed was that illegals can just easily cross the boarder. Most do not know that Coyotes, paid guides of illegal immigrants, regularly beat, rob, and desert their customers. Also most Americans do not know the death risk and bravery involved in crossing the boarder. Subsequently, Nava portrays the sibling’s willingness save their money and better their lives rather then spend it all carelessly like the typical Mexican drunk. Even though the roles of Mark and Harriet are stereotypical because they are dishwashers and maids they are always portrayed as hard workers instead of the lazy Mexicans that claim they can not understand English when they do not want to work. In general Nava conveyed his opinions on a much wider format than that of Marin’s.

These two Latino directors, Cheech Marin and Gregory Nava, are successful in creating a movie that is targeted for the education of stereotypes towards Latinos in American society. Even though these two directors use different methods, over exaggeration and generally disproving, and styles, comedy vs. tragedy, they subliminally and subconsciously disempowering the stereotypes that Latinos are victims to. Hopefully more films like these will be made for all races that liberate instead harbor racial stereotypes in the world.