Drawing of Ruby, Jamal, Monse ; Cesar from @onmyblocktv 👊
~ #BeyondtheDrawing ~
On My Block is a Netflix Original that premiered this year. It is a coming of age story that centers on a group of four best friends, going into high school, while also dealing with challenges that arise from growing up in a rough neighborhood plagued with gangs and gun violence.
One of the things that I like the most about OMB is that it puts POC stories front and center. The main characters are Ruby (Latino), Jamal (African-American), Monse (Afro-Latina) ; Cesar (Latino). Think about it. How many TV shows have you seen in which all the main characters are people of color/non-white? And how many TV shows have you seen in which the protagonist and/or the main characters are white?
Remember that #RepresentationMatters. It is important to support TV shows that showcase diverse characters: people of color, LGBTQ, different religions, three-dimensional female characters, people with disabilities, all body types... People whose stories you do not see frequently on screen. TV shows set in a fictional world where only white people exist are no longer acceptable. Diversity and representation are no longer a “plus”, they are a requirement.
By Dora Pinto (@doradraws on Instagram ; dorareblogs on tumblr)