Hollywood, Tv industry resist calls for diversity

[Ah Xoc Kin]

October 10, 2008
SAN DIEGO, California (CNN) -- Documentary filmmaker Philip Rodriguez is sick of black-and-white television.

The networks' prime-time lineup is cast in an alternate universe where there are virtually no Latinos, Asians, Muslims, or Native Americans. And, on the Sunday talk shows, moderators miss the irony of discussing the Latino vote when there are no Latino pundits at the table.

"The entertainment world, the film and television world, is still a pretty racially exclusive zone," Rodriguez told me. "I think we've made much fewer inroads in that space than many other industries."

One inroad is Rodriguez's new documentary, which uses rare footage and interviews with political observers -- including CNN contributor Leslie Sanchez -- to explore the past, present and future of Latino political activism.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/09/navarette.documentary/index.html