For those that don’t follow the Academy Awards, Parasite, a film directed by Bong Joon-Ho, won the Oscar for Best Picture. The film was made in South Korea with English subtitles. It is the first non-English language film to win Best Picture. I haven’t seen the film yet, but I think it’s cool that the Academy, which has been under fire for its lack of diversity in its nominees, would recognize a foreign film with its highest honor. Bong Joon-Ho is considered the Martin Scorsese of Korea and he seems like a cool guy. The LA Times reported that after attending the star-studded, Vanity Fair post-awards party, he took his film crew to Koreatown near downtown LA for some late-night Korean BBQ. I can relate to Joon-Ho. After a successful event or convention, there is nothing I enjoy more than some authentic Mexican food with friends.
Diversity in film and in television is as important as it is in business and politics. People form their impressions of other people based on what they see in the media. People also tend to fear the unknown. The more that film can introduce us to the humanity of other cultures, the better. I don’t believe in tokenism or diversity for the sake of diversity, but you aren’t going to tell me there isn’t stellar talent and brilliant story tellers from all cultures. Films from India, Mexico, Turkey, and Korea are considered some of the best in the world – and it’s not just about stories from outside the States. There are great films being made today which include diverse talent and themes in America. Streaming services have made many of these films more readily available to everyone.
I plan on watching Parasite soon on Amazon Prime with some Korean BBQ tacos and a glass of wine. I’m hopeful that the financial success of the film will open more doors for other filmmakers from different cultures from both inside the USA and around the world. Looking forward to a great year in the cinema!
A friend recently told me, “If demographics were all that mattered, we would have already won.” Latinos are driving homeownership growth and contributing enormously to the American economy. Yet we are still asking for a seat at the table. I believe the reason comes down to wealth: how much we control and what it allows us to do. In Episode 97 of The Latino Brand, I explain why wealth belongs at the center of our agenda. It gives us the resources to fund the businesses, institutions and political campaigns that shape our future. I hope you’ll watch.
I’ve always believed sports are one of the most powerful stages in American culture. The people we celebrate—and the people who own the teams and institutions behind them—help shape how the country sees leadership, success, and possibility. In Episode 96, I share why José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones’ purchase of the San Diego Padres feels bigger than baseball, and why this moment could mark a tipping point for Black and Latino visibility, wealth, and power.
There is no shortage of data showing the impact Latinos are having on the U.S. economy, from GDP and entrepreneurship to workforce participation and homeownership. So why hasn’t that growth translated into the kind of economic and political power our numbers suggest it should? In this episode, I focus on two things we can actually control: building wealth and owning our narrative. Cultural influence matters, but ownership is what turns influence into lasting power. And if we want the next generation to inherit more than momentum, we need a strategy for converting our work ethic, growth, and economic contributions into the institutions and assets that shape this country.