Plot hole!
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bigbadwolf666 — 4 years ago(May 22, 2021 10:32 PM)
so you think some ancestor along the line couldnt have been a male with an American Last name?
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Without strife, there is only stagnation. -
Platonic_Caveman — 4 years ago(May 23, 2021 02:17 AM)
That's possible in real life, sure.
However, remember, this was on a tv show where his entire character was an invention of script writers. The fact they chose an Anglo last name for a Latino is more likely just racism, trying to make the character appeal to a mainstream white audience.
It could also be that the character was never written as a Latino. Maybe the Latino actor just got the role after the character had been named. In that case, it was an honest oversight.
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bigbadwolf666 — 4 years ago(May 23, 2021 02:26 AM)
I dont know if to answer you with my view on what you just said or set you free with the answer you've been looking for. I've decided to let you choose.
Without strife, your victory has no meaning.
Without strife, you do not advance.
Without strife, there is only stagnation. -
bigbadwolf666 — 4 years ago(May 23, 2021 09:03 PM)
Since this show I grew on it when I was a kid I didnt have a concept of racism. The idea is still bewildering to me. AC was in a very white environment where the premise and jokes were of white society. He acted mostly white, and acted mostly white while doing mostly white things. He went after white girls. Mario Lopez doesnt really look all that latino. If it werent for his name he could pass by anything including white. Slater though sounds American could be from many different origins plus it just be a variation. I am still surprised how many famous American people come from other places and either completely change their names, slant their names to sound American, or use their American Version. So when I think of Slater, the nemesis of Zach, they fought for the same White Girls though Jessie Spano was mainly his girl and the name Spano sounds hispanic she looks super white. His hispanic heritage never came through. He did white things and acted white. He played football and was in the wrestling team. His terms and style were white. We never see him addressed as anything but white. We generally never got a hint of him being not accepted or different. It wouldve made more sense had his girl been Lisa. I think a big credit to this was on Mario's acting ability as this couldnt have been easy. He made it seem seamless and for the better of it because as kids learning from shows it certainly did help to act white and learn white cultural. Though Jessie was his girl he had a number of run-ins with Kelly which heighten his portrayal and many can say Jessie was hotter. In either case he wasnt the dork or nerd as he couldve and shouldve been like Screech who was white if anything they did a service to the Latin Community.
Without strife, your victory has no meaning.
Without strife, you do not advance.
Without strife, there is only stagnation. -
Platonic_Caveman — 4 years ago(May 23, 2021 09:30 PM)
So I think you're agreeing with my ultimate conclusion that AC Slater was written as a generic character. Slater is an Anglo name. So a Latino got the role. But the name didn't match the actor's ethnicity. As was said earlier in the thread they came up with the explanation that his immigrant parents changed their surname from Sanchez to Slater.
But I disagree with you that Slater is not like many American Chicanos. I went to school with Mexican-Americans. Many or most don't speak Spanish. When they play sports they mix with the jocks. In a mixed community where I'm from, that's not considered "acting white". It's just the general suburban mentality in Amerika … America.
Screech played the stereotypical Jewish nerd. Spano is an Italian name. I'd bet that Jews and Italians are pretty much integrated into the general population everywhere in America. In California American-born Mexicans are integrated as well. Maybe Latinos are more ghettoized back east.
In prison, the Mexicans are separated into two groups - Chicano, born here, Paisa, born in Mexico. In the LA suburbs there are no Paisas unless they're housekeepers catching the bus home at night. But Chicanos are integrated here.
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Jan_El_Senor — 4 years ago(May 23, 2021 11:18 PM)
But I disagree with you that Slater is not like many American Chicanos. I went to school with Mexican-Americans. Many or most don't speak Spanish. When they play sports they mix with the jocks. In a mixed community where I'm from, that's not considered "acting white".
Correct. Especially in SoCal, where the show is set.
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Platonic_Caveman — 4 years ago(May 24, 2021 01:31 AM)
I didn't know it was set here. I took a Spanish class at community college a few years ago and the class was almost entirely Mexican-American. The second and third generations are like any immigrant group and many don't speak Spanish.
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bigbadwolf666 — 4 years ago(May 24, 2021 12:30 AM)
In your world everything has to match black and white, logic and reason but there are so many people that have English names and other nations names as well and the reasons can be unpredictable.
Why did they change their name from latin to English ever thought of that?
Is white a cultural in Mexico? What would a Mexican be caught dead in American sports, cultural, or mentality? Because he is indoctrinatized. So when you say he is Hispanic but has an Anglo name that is no different that when you say he is Chicano or has suburban American Mentality.
lol. I doubt Jewish nerds get picked on and are class clowns. When you speak of these terms of location, heritages, and origins. I doubt that was the intention of the show.
Without strife, your victory has no meaning.
Without strife, you do not advance.
Without strife, there is only stagnation. -
Platonic_Caveman — 4 years ago(May 24, 2021 01:28 AM)
Yes, Jewish nerds are picked on and are class clowns. Look at our own JewFro. Lol.
In Mexico, the elite is white, yes. And jeezus, plenty of Mexicans play American sports.
My grandfather changed the family name when he got to Ellis Island because the Greek name was too long for Americans to pronounce. It's very common.
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bigbadwolf666 — 4 years ago(May 24, 2021 01:39 AM)
lol. I never have known many jews and always assumed they go to high end private institutions.
But Mexican White is different than American White.
Never seen many. In professional sports you hardly see Mexicans.
So he was trying to appease to Americans.
Without strife, your victory has no meaning.
Without strife, you do not advance.
Without strife, there is only stagnation. -
Platonic_Caveman — 4 years ago(May 24, 2021 03:49 AM)
I live on LA's West Side. There's plenty of Jews and they go to public schools.
Mexican is really a nationality and they can be any race from white Spanish to indigenous aka 'Indians'.
There's plenty of Mexican-American athletes: Oscar de la Hoya, Fernando Valenzuela, Tony Romo etc.
Yeah, immigrants sometimes change their names. But Spanish names are common here in California. Nobody Anglicizes them. Slater's dad was a douche.
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bigbadwolf666 — 4 years ago(May 24, 2021 03:01 PM)
Boxing?
Valenzuela many years ago.
Is Tony Romo really Mexican? Who'd be proud of him?
You just said immigrants sometimes change their names but then you slam Slater's dad for doing so. You yourself said you changed your name. So whats wrong with Slater doing it?
Without strife, your victory has no meaning.
Without strife, you do not advance.
Without strife, there is only stagnation. -
tam87 — 4 years ago(May 24, 2021 05:23 AM)
His hispanic heritage never came through. He did white things and acted white. He played football and was in the wrestling team. His terms and style were white. We never see him addressed as anything but white.
Slater's character was written to be a white guy, and the people who wrote the show were obviously white, so race wasn't woven into it like you pointed out there. Also, unlike most tokens, Mario was cast only after they failed to find any good white actors to play Slater. That's why he's a natural, he's not been hired to fill a quota. He actually suited the part.
If SBTB was being made today, they would make a big deal about his race. That's why everything sucks today.
Mario Lopez doesnt really look all that latino
True. that's another reason why slater's race wasn't a big deal. Slater looks half white/mixed, even if he's probably not irl.
