This book documents in-depth the historical and socio-economic factors that created Latino and Latina images and stereotypes, beginning with the conquest of the American continent by Europeans followed by colonization and the creation of new nation-states in the early 1800s. These concepts were incorporated into the popular literature of the 19th century and then into the infant motion picture art form in the 1890s.

The book presents a technologically focused overview of the Hollywood film industry and the evolution of Latino/a images and icons, with a special emphasis on the 1960s to the present era. The book documents this history decade-by-decade: analysing the socio-economic factors that created the specific images and icons; the key films and film stars and filmmakers (with biographies) from each decade; and a discussion of the role of gender, social class, and ethnicity in film portrayals. The book also provides an overview of the modern Latino community mosaic, one that is dynamically diverse and geographically dispersed throughout the United States and the Americas. Included are more than 80 photos depicting this truly fascinating history.