--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being a Chicano in Hollywood, my…" description: "\"Being a Chicano in Hollywood, my experience is that you're not given credit for any sophistication... You're just kind of some guy that just crossed th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/cheech-marin-9561_asian_being-a-chicano-in-hollywood-my-experien_2256980.jpg" --- # Being a Chicano in Hollywood, my experience is that you're… ![“Being a Chicano in Hollywood, my experience is that you're not given credit for any sophistication... You're just kind of some guy that just crossed the border, you know, on the back of a truck and that's it.” quote by Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/cheech-marin-9561_asian_being-a-chicano-in-hollywood-my-experien_2256980.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/cheech-marin-9561_asian_being-a-chicano-in-hollywood-my-experien_2256980.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b57/cheech-marin-9561_asian_being-a-chicano-in-hollywood-my-experien_2256980.jpg) > “Being a Chicano in Hollywood, my experience is that you're not given credit for any sophistication... You're just kind of some guy that just crossed the border, you know, on the back of a truck and that's it.” [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hollywood often stereotypes Chicano actors, denying them nuanced roles. **In simple terms:** Stereotypes limit representation. Key Takeaway Challenge casting biases. Themes representation stereotype culture Mood critical hopeful Type social cultural When to use this quote - casting decisions - film festivals - community theater - media criticism Key Concepts identity media bias Questions to Reflect On - What steps can creators take to broaden representation? - How does stereotyping affect cultural identity? A Different Perspective Changing industry habits takes time and allies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) [Borders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders/) [Chicano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chicano/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Sophistication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sophistication/) ## Related quotes > [To me, you have to declare yourself a Chicano in order to be a Chicano. That makes a Chicano a Mexican-American with a defiant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/to-me-you-have-to-declare-yourself-a-chicano-in-order-to-be-a-chicano/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [You have to want to be Chicano to be Chicano.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/you-have-to-want-to-be-chicano-to-be-chicano/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [Don't ever insult a Chicano about being a Chicano because then all the other Chicanos will be on you with a vengeance. They will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/don-t-ever-insult-a-chicano-about-being-a-chicano-because-then-all/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [The word 'Chicano' was originally a derisive term from Mexicans to other Mexicans living in the United States.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/the-word-chicano-was-originally-a-derisive-term-from-mexicans-to/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [I was interested in a lot of subjects from very early on. And that's uniquely Chicano because every Chicano I knew always had three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-was-interested-in-a-lot-of-subjects-from-very-early-on-and-that-s/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [I've had a little Hollywood experience, and there's nothing like the Disney story experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lin-manuel-miranda/i-ve-had-a-little-hollywood-experience-and-there-s-nothing-like-the/) [Lin-Manuel Miranda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lin-manuel-miranda/) > [I do have to say, there is this incredible benefit to being older. I never thought I'd say that. I've figured out that show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-coolidge/i-do-have-to-say-there-is-this-incredible-benefit-to-being-older-i/) [Jennifer Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-coolidge/) > [I had a taste of the Hollywood experience doing 'Primary Colors.' Constant sunshine, your own chauffeur, drop-top BMW, the life of a 'major motion-picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-lester/i-had-a-taste-of-the-hollywood-experience-doing-primary-colors/) [Adrian Lester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-lester/) > [Ever since I arrived in America to promote Stoker, I haven't had time to go and see it in a theater. The fact that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/park-chan-wook/ever-since-i-arrived-in-america-to-promote-stoker-i-haven-t-had-time/) [Park Chan-wook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/park-chan-wook/) > [We often say that we fear no invasion from the south, but the armies of the south have already crossed the border - American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-jeannette-duncan/we-often-say-that-we-fear-no-invasion-from-the-south-but-the-armies/) [Sara Jeannette Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-jeannette-duncan/) > [My father is pretty much a self-made man, and I am proud of that. He was born in Patiala and crossed the border from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fawad-khan/my-father-is-pretty-much-a-self-made-man-and-i-am-proud-of-that-he/) [Fawad Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fawad-khan/) > [“The characters in my novels are my own unrealized possibilities. That is why I am equally fond of them all and equally horrified by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milan-kundera/the-characters-in-my-novels-are-my-own-unrealized-possibilities-that-3/) [Milan Kundera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milan-kundera/) > [My parents had irrational fears of Mexico and assumed that once you crossed the border, drug runners made you swallow a heroin balloon and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-halpern/my-parents-had-irrational-fears-of-mexico-and-assumed-that-once-you/) [Justin Halpern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-halpern/) > [“When your army has crossed the border, you should burn your boats and bridges, in order to make it clear to everybody that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/when-your-army-has-crossed-the-border-you-should-burn-your-boats-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [“As we crossed the border, I saw God in the sky in the form of huge sunburst cloud above the barren desert. He seemed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/as-we-crossed-the-border-i-saw-god-in-the-sky-in-the-form-of-huge/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## More by Cheech Marin > [Our first gig was a battle of the bands. We did 45 minutes of comedy and never played a note - and we won!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/our-first-gig-was-a-battle-of-the-bands-we-did-45-minutes-of-comedy/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [To me, you have to declare yourself a Chicano in order to be a Chicano. That makes a Chicano a Mexican-American with a defiant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/to-me-you-have-to-declare-yourself-a-chicano-in-order-to-be-a-chicano/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [As a kid, I used to go to the library and take out all the art books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/as-a-kid-i-used-to-go-to-the-library-and-take-out-all-the-art-books/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [I'm old enough to make my own decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-m-old-enough-to-make-my-own-decisions/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [It is surprising how many professional athletes, along with their families and friends, are gaga over movie and music stars, and the reverse is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/it-is-surprising-how-many-professional-athletes-along-with-their/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [Every kid that goes to Catholic school believes he's going to be a priest one day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/every-kid-that-goes-to-catholic-school-believes-he-s-going-to-be-a/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [ I wouldn't want them \[kids\] to raid my liquor cabinet and glug down my bourbon either. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-wouldn-t-want-them-kids-to-raid-my-liquor-cabinet-and-glug-down-my/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [In the end, the great leveler in any sport is performance on the field or on the court. Kids don't care what language players…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/in-the-end-the-great-leveler-in-any-sport-is-performance-on-the-field/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [I've never seen a NASCAR race; I've seen an Indianapolis 500 race.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-ve-never-seen-a-nascar-race-i-ve-seen-an-indianapolis-500-race/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [The reason we're so dangerous is because we're totally harmless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/the-reason-we-re-so-dangerous-is-because-we-re-totally-harmless/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [I was an altar boy and a choir member.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-was-an-altar-boy-and-a-choir-member/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, my wife speaks five languages: Russian, English, French, Italian and, out of self-defense, Spanish. I watched her learn Spanish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/born-in-st-petersburg-russia-my-wife-speaks-five-languages-russian/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [I was part of the draft resistance movement in L.A. where we did demonstrations at the draft centre and burned our cards and made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-was-part-of-the-draft-resistance-movement-in-l-a-where-we-did/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [I'm the go-to guy for Mexican priests. I'm the new Barry Fitzgerald, except with a Mexican accent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/i-m-the-go-to-guy-for-mexican-priests-i-m-the-new-barry-fitzgerald/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) > [Well, sometimes you need the fields to lie fallow in order to gain nutrients.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheech-marin/well-sometimes-you-need-the-fields-to-lie-fallow-in-order-to-gain/) [Cheech Marin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) [Explore all 71 Cheech Marin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheech-marin/) ## More Asian quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-mcduffie/if-you-do-a-black-character-or-a-female-character-or-an-asian/) [Dwayne McDuffie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-mcduffie/) > [When I made it, I still didn't wave the flag and say, Yeah go Asian people. I do want people to know that about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-hugo/when-i-made-it-i-still-didn-t-wave-the-flag-and-say-yeah-go-asian/) [Chad Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-hugo/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. I didnt feel a lot of prejudice or racism. But I do remember, if there was going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-henry-hwang/i-felt-pretty-good-growing-up-i-didnt-feel-a-lot-of-prejudice-or/) [David Henry Hwang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-henry-hwang/) > [When you are in America, at least for me, as an immigrant, I try to be as Americanized as I could. I just want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-you-are-in-america-at-least-for-me-as-an-immigrant-i-try-to-be/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I always tell Asian actors, especially Filipinos wanting to break into Hollywood, to study, study and study and show their best. I haven't stopped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reggie-lee/i-always-tell-asian-actors-especially-filipinos-wanting-to-break-into/) [Reggie Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reggie-lee/) > [The narrative needs to change. Asian-American actresses don't want to be the damsels in distress anymore. We don't want to be saved, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-chung/the-narrative-needs-to-change-asian-american-actresses-don-t-want-to/) [Jamie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-chung/) > [It's always fun to see faces that are either familiar or resemble yours. I was fascinated by movies like 'Big Trouble in Little China'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ng-chin-han/it-s-always-fun-to-see-faces-that-are-either-familiar-or-resemble/) [Ng Chin Han](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ng-chin-han/) > [In view of China's growing military strength and intentions, the best way to safeguard Asia's permanent peace and prosperity is to have all Asian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-costa/in-view-of-china-s-growing-military-strength-and-intentions-the-best/) [Jim Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-costa/) > [I think Li Na and some other Chinese ladies have done so many amazing things for Asian tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kei-nishikori/i-think-li-na-and-some-other-chinese-ladies-have-done-so-many-amazing/) [Kei Nishikori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kei-nishikori/) > [I don't want to have people brought in simply because they are black or Asian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-phillips/i-don-t-want-to-have-people-brought-in-simply-because-they-are-black/) [Trevor Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-phillips/) > [We grew up in rural Arkansas without any Koreans close by, and when I go to Korea feel out of place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-isaac-chung/we-grew-up-in-rural-arkansas-without-any-koreans-close-by-and-when-i/) [Lee Isaac Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-isaac-chung/) > [I've been lucky to come up when there's such a huge explosion of women, and especially Asian women, in music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-zauner/i-ve-been-lucky-to-come-up-when-there-s-such-a-huge-explosion-of/) [Michelle Zauner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-zauner/) > [I knew I was half Chinese, but Iceland is so homogenous that I wasn't able to identify with the Asian part of myself. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laufey/i-knew-i-was-half-chinese-but-iceland-is-so-homogenous-that-i-wasn-t/) [Laufey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laufey/) [Browse all 1,157 Asian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being a Chicano in Hollywood, my experience is that you're not given credit for any sophistication... 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