Is TV Avoiding Riots’ Ethnic Realities?

Regarding Greg Braxton’s Aug. 27 article “Television’s New Theme: L.A. Riots”:

It almost goes without saying that the producers and directors of the TV programs “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Knots Landing” will ignore the reality in Los Angeles during the April 29 rebellion--that Latinos played a greater role than African-Americans.

But do you think that these programs will reflect that? No way. Just by seeing the photos accompanying the article, one can see that these Hollywood producers still think Los Angeles is frozen in a 1965 time warp. The changing demographics mean nothing to comfortable white writers who don’t want to muddle the black-white scenario that they have in their minds.

They do not want to hire Latino writers, actors, producers to work on these programs. Since “Fresh Prince,” “Doogie Howser” and “Knots Landing” don’t use Latino actors on a regular basis, why should that change with making an episode about the L.A. riots?

EUGENE HERNANDEZ

Lancaster

Figures on the racial makeup of riot-related arrests vary, from 51% Latino and 36% black in a RAND report in June to figures reported Aug. 2 in The Times of 46% black and 45% Latino.