Netflix Has Turned Its Back on Latinos

The New York Times ^ | March 17, 2019 | Vanessa Erazo

[Jyotishi]

The cancellation of "One Day at a Time" hurts in a way the diversity numbers can't fully convey.

In Netflix's Cuban-American family sitcom, "One Day at a Time," Rita Moreno's punchy one-liners are a complete delight. Justina Machado, who stars as single mom Penelope Alvarez, triggers a sobfest every time she delivers an utterly vulnerable monologue. The series tackles issues from homophobia to colorism with sensitivity and insight, and offers Latinos -- members of a woefully underserved demographic -- the chance to see ourselves, warts and all, while still reliably delivering laughs and earning rave reviews.

Aside from being a joy to watch, it is a rare example of a television show about the United States-born children and grandchildren of Latin American immigrants. That's why its cancellation is more than just the loss of a critical darling -- it's an egregious erasure of Latinos at a time when anti-Latino rhetoric floods our political discourse, and it's a reminder of Netflix's tepid support for our stories, just when we need them the most.

While the advent of streaming platforms has ushered in an uptick in the overall number of series produced, the promise of increased diversity has not changed much for Latinos. Despite being the largest ethnic minority in the United States and making up nearly 18 percent of the population, Latino roles in digital scripted series constitute a measly 7.2 percent, a figure that's even lower for broadcast and cable.

"One Day at a Time," the reboot of Norman Lear's 1975 sitcom of the same name, launched in 2017 as Netflix's first foray into U.S.-Latino programming. Not long after season three debuted in February, co-showrunner Gloria Calderón Kellett took to Twitter to share grim news.

In a meeting with the streaming giant, executives affirmed that -- despite holding a perfect

[Jyotishi]

Got it. Thanks.