Although the origin of the term "greaser" is debated, its derogatory
meaning never has been. From silent movies like The Greaser's Revenge
(1914) and The Girl and the Greaser (1913) with villainous title
characters, to John Steinbeck's portrayals of Latinos as lazy, drunken,
and shiftless in his 1935 novel Tortilla Flat, to the image of violent,
criminal, drug-using gang members of East LA, negative stereotypes of
Latinos/as have been plentiful in American popular culture far before
Latinos/as became the most populous minority group in the U.S.
In Greasers and Gringos, Steven W. Bender examines and surveys these
stereotypes and their evolution, paying close attention to the role of
mass media in their perpetuation. Focusing on the intersection between
stereotypes and the law, Bender reveals how these negative images have
contributed significantly to the often unfair treatment of Latino/as
under American law by the American legal system. He looks at the way
demeaning constructions of Latinos/as influence their legal treatment by
police, prosecutors, juries, teachers, voters, and vigilantes. He also
shows how, by internalizing negative social images, Latinos/as and other
subordinated groups view themselves and each other as inferior.
Although fighting against cultural stereotypes can be a daunting task,
Bender reminds us that, while hard to break, they do not have to be
permanent. Greasers and Gringos begins the charge of debunking
existing stereotypes and implores all Americans to re-imagine Latinos/as
as legal and social equals.
