On My Block details the coming of age experiences of four kids living in the urban city where they face relationship drama, gang problems, and parental expectations. We are initially introduced to several characters within the first and second episode of the series: Ruby, Monse, Jamal, Cesar, Oscar, and Jessica. On a surface level, these black and Latinx characters might play into certain tropes, but they are given much more humanity and character than most film or tv shows usually do.
RUBY
Ruby is the first member of the main group of characters. On the surface level he might be considered a Latin Lover due to the fact that he is hypersexual, but he so much more than a sexual being. He is a smart, kind, and funny character with burgeoning sexuality that any teenage boy would be experiencing. Furthermore, he is willing to do anything for his friends, such as confronting a major gang member and protecting Monse from the harsh words Cesar said to his brother about their relationship. Additionally, he is willing to give up his room to a girl who was staying with his family because her parents got deported.
MONSE
Monse Finnie, the nth member of the group, presents herself as a strong, bold, and independent teenage girl. Her ability to speak and fight for herself reflects the theme of female empowerment. In addition, her character is well developed and not supported by tropes stereotypically associated with women of color. However, one may argue that Monse, being a light-skinned Black girl represents subconscious casting decisions rooted in colorism. While this is most definitely a valid concern, it is important to consider that Monse’s character is biracial. There are subtle ways that the show reveals this. For example, in one of the first scenes in the pilot episode, Monse speaks to Cesar in Spanish, and in another scene, we see her video-chatting with her father, who is Black. Yes, in reality, anyone could speak Spanish, regardless of race, but I think the inclusion of this is one of the many ways a television show would try to characterize someone as mixed-race, showing them embrace the different cultures to which they belong. Overall, Monse’s character is subverting tropes traditionally associated with women of color, especially the tragic mulatto stereotype, in which a mixed-race person is trying to distance themselves from the non-white part of their heritage.
JAMAL
Jamal Turner, the nth member of the group, is an intelligent young man who is determined to please his father by pursuing football. In the pilot episode, it’s obvious that Jamal will at times serve as the comic relief. His interactions with his father display him as physically weak, which is something the audience is supposed to laugh at. Due to this, I made the conclusion that he was to some degree reinforcing the coon trope stereotypically used for Black characters. This trope, along with its different versions, “used solely for comic relief,” had its start in early film, originally “presenting Negroes as amusement objects” (Bogle 7). However, after rewatching the pilot episode and continuing with the second episode, I was able to see that Jamal is actually highly intelligent. Even though Jamal may do things that reveal his silly side, he also offers a voice of reason to his friends in almost every conversation. For example, in the second episode, he advises Ruby in contemplating the pros and cons of confronting Cesar. Therefore, even though Jamal’s character could be seen as an iteration of the coon trope through silly interaction, he’s also given a voice and a mind.
CESAR
Cesar Diaz, the nth member of the group, is trapped within a family legacy of gang membership. His dreams of pursuing a life outside of his family’s tradition are crushed when he’s jumped into the gang shortly after his brother, Oscar, gets out of jail. Cesar’s character subverts traditional machismo “cholo” stereotypes through the expression of emotion. Yes, Cesar is a Latino in a gang, but the situation is so much more complex than what previous stereotypes revealed. We see Cesar desiring to escape the gang, a powerful system, and family gang tradition. We identify with his emotions, and we understand why he’s afraid, sad, happy, etc. Also, his actions are the result of him trying to protect or please the ones for whom he cares. For example, Cesar joins the gang to please his brother and claims Monse to avoid his brother from going after her (even though Monse is capable of protecting herself). Furthermore, Cesar’s character is given the humanity that characters, especially ones of color, have lacked and very much deserve.
OSCAR
Oscar, Cesar’s brother, is the epitome of the ‘cholo’ stereotype. Oscar just got out of prison and is the leader of a gang. He is portrayed as tough, violent, and misogynistic. Additionally, he forced his brother to be a part of his gang without consulting him. His presence also reinforces the Bandido stereotype, which Charles Ramirez-Berg describes in his essay, “Stereotyping in films in general and of the Hispanic in particular”, as a version of a Mexican bandit. They are known as treacherous, and their reactions are emotional, irrational, and usually violent (Ramirez-Berg 294). Additionally, they have a driven desire for money power and sexual pleasure. While Oscar does exhibit all these bad traits, he is used more as a way to further along the storyline of the other main characters such as Monse, Cesar, and Ruby. Hence, Oscar’s character is reinforcing negative stereotypes to a degree.
JASMINE
In the first two episodes, we are also introduced to another character, Jasmine. She is loud and outspoken. Also, she has certain key signifiers that make her different. She wears clothing that is very colorful and big hooped earrings. Additionally, she does not seem to understand social boundaries. For example, she tries to insert herself into a private romantic conversation between Monse and Cesar and is quickly shut down by them. Within the first and second episode, she is not given a lot of depth and added more as comic relief to the viewers. She is strange, but there is a sense of humanity to her character as she is just trying to be as friendly as she can, which is the is the opposite of most fiery aggressive Latina stereotypes.
IN CONCLUSION
Overall, the show does more of subversion than reinforcing of stereotypes of Latinx and Black characters. While on the surface it might seem like some of the characters play into archetypal tropes, we get to see life from their perspective. The kids are given the power in the show and it allows the viewer to see a more realistic and holistic view of kids who live in the inner city.
APA Citations
Berg, C. R. (1990). Stereotyping in films in general and of the Hispanic in particular. Howard Journal of Communications, 2(3), 286-300.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10646179009359721
Bogle, D. (2016). Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies, and Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films. New York: Bloomsbury.
Written by Taylor Vu and Mariah Espinosa.
Screening Race 