Are Latinos becoming the new whites, and what role does politics play in this ideological shift? We talk to Political psychologist Efren Perez, a UCLA Professor of Political Science and Psychology, who holds a PhD from Duke University. His research focuses on race, ethnicity, politics, and society. He recently wrote an article in Newsweek titled "Why the Politics of Republican Latinos Suggests They Want to be White." In it, he argues that some Latinos view whiteness not as a race but as an...

Sheila E broke barriers as both a talented percussionist and an Afro-Latina artist. In this episode, she reveals the personal motivations behind creating her first salsa album now, "Bailar," and explores her relationship with Latin music and identity. Her answers offer a unique window into the challenges and triumphs of embracing heritage and language through music. She also discusses how personal this salsa album was to her as a way to connect with her father, Latin jazz artist Pete...

In tribute to the life and career of legendary actor Louis Gossett Jr., we are re-airing our 2020 interview with him regarding his role as Luis Garcia in 'The Cuban'. In this conversation, Mr. Gossett Jr. shared his insights on embracing international cultures and his love for Cuba. 'The Cuban', where Gossett plays a Cuban jazz musician in a nursing home with dementia. The episode explores the sensitivity around the importance of cultural representation in film, and the unification of Brown...

Mike and Jack have an in-depth discussion with a claimed Afro Cuban singer Daymé Arocena about her new album Alkemi, she opens up about her struggles as a black Latina woman in this industry, how we perceive black skin, how we perceive Latina women with black skin, body image in the pop music industry and how has that all impacted and Influenced the way she sees herself as an artist. What kind of reclamation does a black Latina woman in the music industry today have to go through? Learn more...

In this episode, progress vs. preservation. We discuss the alarming white backlash targeting Latino interns and how AI is impacting the film industry and creators of color. We explore how these two stories set the stage for a broader debate on diversity in the digital age. The Smithsonian Latino Museum is being sued for its pro-Latino internship program designed to increase Latino representation. What other Latino programs are next? We discuss why they are the latest target in a growing wave...

Does Colman Domingo's Blackness overshadow his Latino heritage, making him invisible to the Afro-Latino community? In this episode, we'll analyze how Latino and Black films and actors fared in the 2024 Oscar nominations. We'll also discuss Colman Domingo's groundbreaking Best Actor nomination as the first Afro-Latino LGBTQ+ actor, and whether his potential win will resonate with the broader Afro-Latino community. We then dissect America Ferrera's historic Oscar nomination as the third Latina...

Is the DE&I backlash in America casting a shadow over award-season voters? In our first 'Brown & Black' episode of 2024, we have a critical exploration of DE&I's impact on Hollywood's award season. We'll also dissect the ratings and their implications, analyze the Latino shutout and its contributing factors, and share our predictions for which Latino and Black movies and talent will secure the coveted Oscar nominations. *Main topics* Concerns that DE&I initiatives are being...

This week Mike and Jack examine why Netflix is depositing $100 million dollars into Black banks; Lin-Manuel Miranda's revered Broadway musical 'Hamilton' has been released on Disney+ and is receiving backlash from historians for glorifying slave-owners. Has art become more significant than historical facts? And in 1983, artist David Bowie challenged MTV VJ Mark Goodman on why MTV didn't play Black music in primetime. Chuck Creekmur, co-founder and co-CEO of AllHipHop.com joins the show to...

In this episode, we share our top Latino and Black films of 2023. Jack chose: "At the Gates," a psychological thriller that flips the traditional Latino immigrant story. "Radical," based on an inspirational true story that highlights the power of education in some of Mexico's poorest schools. "They Shot the Piano Player," an animated docudrama about a music journalist uncovering the mysterious death of a Brazilian piano player. Mike chose: "The Color Purple," a joyous and powerful musical...

For over three decades, legendary storyboard artist Warren Drummond has been the inspiration and creative force behind some of Hollywood's most iconic films, such as "A Beautiful Mind" and "Straight Outta Compton", collaborating with industry giants like John Singleton, Ron Howard, and Denzel Washington. Warren joins the show to discuss his new book, 'A Hard Day's Work,' in which he offers a rare glimpse into his artistry, the perseverance and resilience that led to his breakthrough in...

On this episode of Tamarindo, we are joined by Alejandra Campoverdi, the author of the new memoir, First-Gen. Alejandra Campoverdi's life reads like a series of impressive accolades, but she asks us to look underneath the accolades she describes as the often unacknowledged tolls of being a trailblazer. Some of these trailblazer tolls include “Invisible Inheritances,” “Bicultural Balancing Act,” and “Breakaway Guilt.  In our conversation, she expands on these tolls and reminds us that while...

Listen to this heated discussion on the controversial reverse discrimination lawsuit from white employees against Gannett for its diversity efforts in news, plus we tackle the 'woke' backlash of the film 'The Marvels' for its focus on diverse female superheroes. We ask, is DE&I under attack? Can diversity thrive in a divided America, or have we reached a reverse tipping point? And what does the future hold for a multicultural America? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Happy Halloween! 🎃 Fear, a universal emotion, resides within each of us. As children, we quivered at tales of demons, ghosts, and mysterious noises in the dark—stories predominantly told from a white perspective, often neglecting the rich tapestry of Latino and Black experiences. This month, we take you back to our classic 2020 Halloween episode, where we delve deep into the world of Latin and Black horror cinema, grounding ourselves in the folklore of our own chilling tales. From influential...

Chasing relevance. We're all guilty of it at some point, desperately trying to stay current and be noticed. But what's the cost? In this episode of Brown & Black, we'll peel back the layers on society's obsession with relevance, specifically for people of color in media and entertainment today. Why does it matter to so many people? Do we really need to stay relevant and what happens if we don't? Episode Summary What is relevance, particularly for POC in the entertainment industry? Mike...

In this special episode, our co-host Mike Sargent discusses his new horror film "From the Shadows" which he directed, produced and co-wrote. He shares some behind-the-scenes stories of making the film, including directing horror legends Keith David and Bruce Davison and what it’s like to direct an independent feature. Plus, find out which stories Mike is itching to tell next. Key Topics Discussed: The plot and themes of "From the Shadows" Casting Keith David and Bruce Davison, Mike's...

In this episode we discuss truth and the Supreme Court with award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter. Her latest documentary series, 'Deadlocked: How America Shaped the Supreme Court' out September 22 on Showtime is a four part docuseries that covers a broad range of topics essential to historians and those curious about the systems of power in this country. In our conversation, we discuss Porter's transition from law to filmmaking, her perspectives on the Supreme Court's evolution, the...

Rotten Tomatoes, the notorious film review aggregate website, has been shaping the movie choices of audiences for more than a decade. But a recent exposé reveals the site may be rotting from within. In this episode, we discuss the New York Magazine article "The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes" and its reporting on how the website has become corruptible and is steadily losing its credibility.  We also examine how the site has been vulnerable to manipulation by studios and PR firms alike. So...

On this episode, Rico and Sargent have an in-depth discussion about the past, present and future of film criticism. Is it traditional film critics or opinion reviewers on TikTok? They share their personal journeys into film criticism, the role of Rotten Tomatoes today, the new influencer/film promoters of social media, and predictions for where the industry is heading. This is an insightful conversation for any fan or student of film and media criticism. Episode Summary: - How Jack and Mike...

In this episode of Brown & Black, Jack argues why he believes the Barbie movie is really a Latina film at its core. Its pivotal scene centers on a Latina character and her mixed-race daughter. The guys peel back the layers of the $150 million dollar marketing campaign that catapulted Barbie into the national spotlight, and examine the long-standing influence of predominantly white-centric advertising on communities of color, and how this latest campaign breaks that mold. The conversation...

Hollywood is on strike! In this OFF THE CUFF episode, Jack and Mike discuss how the WGA and SAG-AFTRA walkouts could reshape the entertainment industry, including how it could lead to the collapse of American culture. They analyze the sociopathic CEO mentality, and why executives feel they can dehumanize actors and writers. The guys also explore a few potential scenarios of the strikes such as the death of the movie theater and decentralized Hollywood 2.0 created by actors and writers....

In this episode of "Brown and Black," hosts Jack Rico and Mike Sargent discuss the need to challenge the stigma surrounding multi-hyphenates and the superficial nature of the question, "What do you do?" They emphasize the importance of recognizing one's own values and personal branding, highlighting passions and values instead of specific skills. By reframing the conversation, multi-hyphenates of color could overcome societal norms and forge deeper connections with others, leading to a more...

Actor and musician Rome Flynn joins the podcast to discuss his reprised role as Santiago Zayas in Season 2 of Amazon's hit rom-com series, 'With Love'. In our conversation, we discussed the importance of "casting authentically," the escalating concerns about actors' self-audition tapes, and Flynn's thoughts on the potential havoc a SAG strike could inflict on the Hollywood industry. We also broached the question: could Rome Flynn be the one to bring baseball legend Roberto Clemente's epic...

In this special episode of Brown & Black, we sit down with recent Pulitzer Prize-winning, Emmy and Grammy-nominated composer Michael Abels. We take a journey through his life, his passion for music, the challenges he faced as a Black composer in the 1980s, and his latest work on the film "Chevalier," based on the life of Joseph Bologne in the 1800s. We asked him about the barriers he overcame as a Black composer, what sets Joseph Bologne apart from traditional composers, and will...

In this episode, we welcome back the CEO of the Recording Academy, Harvey Mason Jr., to discuss the pressing issues currently facing musicians of color, such as the advancement of AI-generated music, the struggle for fair compensation, and the rise of Regional Mexican Music as a global force. We explore how the Grammys are addressing these issues, and pose the question: Will AI ever win a Grammy for Record of the Year? Segment 1: Purpose of Grammy's on the Hill Harvey Mason Jr. discussed the...