Projecting Diversity on Screen: Yalitza Aparicio / Actor, Activist

Direct Talk

Roma (2018)

At the 2018 Academy Awards,

Roma was the first ever direct-to-web film
to be nominated for best picture.

The big news, however,

was the nomination of star,
Yalitza Aparicio, for best actress,

as one of Mexico's indigenous peoples,
and a first-time actor.

With her star still on the rise

she regularly appears in television,
magazines, and other media.

Despite the fame,
she labels herself an activist.

Her mission: promoting minority inclusion
through her media appearances.

Projecting Diversity on Screen

Yalitza Aparicio
Actor, Activist

My family loved to watch TV and movies.

With no movie theaters in our area of Mexico,

they always showed movies on TV on Sundays.

The whole family loved to watch them,
but I was interested in other things.

Because I never saw anyone
that looked like me on TV.

At the time, it felt like TV had nothing to teach me.

There was nothing relevant to my situation.

It never encouraged me to try something new.

Indigenous peoples speaking 68 different languages
make up about 15% of Mexico's population,

but the official language, Spanish,
and Hispanic culture dominate,

particularly in the world of TV entertainment,

which had essentially no relevance
for indigenous people like Aparicio.

I want the world to be a place where
people like me can make their dreams come true.

As an indigenous woman she broadcasts
her own internet video channel

featuring minorities, diverse peoples, cultures,
and activities not found on television.

We hope you're the ambassador for this amazing place.

The channel is now supported by
an international fan base of nearly 190,000 subscribers.

The response on YouTube has been incredible.

When I started my intent was to make people more aware

of the diverse range of talents out there
with their own unique appearance

and sense of values.

For years and years, indigenous communities
weren't represented on screen be it TV or movies.

You can see some examples of
indigenous peoples appearing in old movies,

but they're never at the center of the story.

The roles they're given only serve to reinforce racial stereotypes.

People came to believe that to be an actress,

you have to be a certain size,
have a certain type of face or skin color.

I certainly did.

Even if it was unintentional,

this was the unconscious message sent to the viewer.

When we were kids, we had all kinds of dreams.

We dreamed of being astronauts, lawyers,

all kinds of exciting professions.

But seeing how those things are represented in the media

made us think it's impossible, made us give up those dreams.

Her current activities began with
the release of the film Roma in 2018.

While Aparicio was studying to become a teacher,

an audition was held in the city of Oaxaca,
which she attended with her sister.

Movies weren't something
I was passionate about or even really interested in.

We only went because my sister was an art teacher

and she wanted to tell her students
what the casting process was like.

It was just to get information for kids interested in acting.

To her surprise, Aparicio was cast in the lead role.

She was chosen to play Cleo,

an indigenous woman doing domestic work in Mexico City.

The film was a stark depiction of the
low social status of such women.

She became inspired by the film's message

and was especially surprised to see
indigenous characters at the center of the story.

My first project, Roma,

was not only shocking to people from other countries,
but also to Mexicans.

Speakers of indigenous languages
have always been discriminated against here.

When the movie was screened
at various festivals around the world

someone would always come up and talk to me.

It was really wonderful.

They'd thank me for bringing such an important issue to the screen.

The other amazing thing is that
whenever I met other Mexicans abroad

the film always moved them to tears

because they were already aware that many indigenous Mexicans

were forced to abandon their mother tongues to fit in.

It was very powerful.

I thought, "Wow, that's right.
This is the first time we've ever been seen like this.

Someone who looks like us is on the screen."

A year after the film's release,

in 2019, the Mexican government
established a minimum wage, severance pay

and workplace safety standards for women
in domestic service for the first time.

This showed Aparicio

that movies can impact society
as well as the audience.

I found it very interesting.

It was the moment when I discovered
the real impact that movies can have.

The film gave a voice and a face to these domestic workers.

And it made people more aware of the value of their profession.

Domestic work requires real skill and should be more appreciated.

For me, this project was strength to move forward.

To give a voice to those without one in all kinds of circumstances.

Many are silent out of fear.

I've personally experienced discrimination, inequality,

lack of opportunity, racism, sexism and more.

I thought these things were normal, and so I said nothing.

After her appearance in Roma,
the world of celebrity, giving interviews,

and going to film shoots awaited.

And despite the difficulties of sudden fame
and exposure to racist bashing,

she remained determined to stay in the world of media.

She became convinced that as an indigenous person

her work there had real meaning.

It was embarrassing when
people asked me for photos on the street

Maybe it seemed like I was full of myself,

but I only refused because I was shy.

Once I asked a woman and her daughter
who wanted a picture why they wanted it,

and they said,
"Don't you know how great what you're doing is?

People respect you. That's why we want it."

It made me realize

this was a chance to show
what we indigenous people are capable of

and that I had a responsibility to do that.

There was also quite a lot of bashing.

It hurt me deeply. It made me want to quit,

to go back to living a private life as a teacher,

quiet and happy with my students in some small community.

But talking to people who came to see me,
their words of gratitude kept me going.

It made me see that what I was doing was meaningful.

I had seen it just as something I was doing for myself;

they really gave me strength.

Making appearances in major TV dramas,
Aparicio plays a variety of roles,

including a medical student and even a witch.

She sees all this as part of her work as an activist.

Yalitza Aparicio
Actor, Activist

I sometimes feel pressure
when I get asked about my next production.

Every project is different and each one is a challenge,

but at the same time each one has a message to convey.

And I want to convey to society as well as to
fellow actors, directors, and screenwriters

that nobody is only capable of playing one role.

We may all have certain traits,

but I want people to see that we can have many roles,

both in the movies and in real life.

My social activism and work as an actor go hand in hand.

If there's only a single role for indigenous people in film,

then there's no way to fight for indigenous rights.

I want to show that there really are no limits

that indigenous people only think they have a limited role to play

because that's what they've been led to believe

and have become incapable of believing anything else.

In recognition of her influence

Aparicio was made a
UN UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Indigenous Peoples.

We must value and respect our indigenous communities.

I invited them to reconnect with their roots.

Together we can learn to
live in a world which is more diverse,

richer, and more united.

Gracias.

However, she had doubts about accepting her new role
as a champion of indigenous rights.

Despite speaking indigenous languages in her films,

in truth she only spoke Spanish.

My mother speaks Triqui, and my father speaks Mixtec.

But I didn't learn either.

I couldn't because of social discrimination.

So, I felt unfit for such a role.

I got comments from others saying that I wasn't worthy.

They said,
"You can't even speak your own language.

Why are you here?"

They were right of course, but I have a different story.

Was it my fault or the fault of my family?

Or was it society depriving us of our heritage?

Seeing it this way allowed me to accept the role of ambassador.

It's an opportunity to continue the discussion.

I want to influence others.

Everyone, not only me,

can do what I have done.

That's also why I spend so much time on YouTube.

I want to connect with different people and perspectives.

It's a reflection of diversity.

I've made a deal with myself

that if I can influence even a single person
to strive to realize their dreams,

then I'll have no regrets.

I always say, "No matter what, people will judge you.

So, do what you feel is right and avoid hurting others."

In the current climate you have to consider other people.

Every step along the way generates
both positive and negative reactions.

My sister says, "People never like anything.

It's like we're always going in the opposite direction."

So, whenever I make a decision, I prepare myself for criticism.

But you 'go through life saying, "I'll do as I please."

At some point what you do may hurt others.

Then it's no longer right.

I always keep that in mind.

"No matter what, people will judge you.
So, do what you feel is right and avoid hurting others."