Latina actress Eva Longoria discussed the influence of the Hispanic community in the United States during an interview with Glam. According to her, Latinos are very factioned and are more focused with the differences rather than the commonalities.
Longoria is probably one of the most influential and successful Latin-American personalities in the world today. Apart from being a famous actress who starred in hit TV shows such as "Desperate Housewives", she is also involved with numerous philanthropic activities and organizations. These organizations include PADRES Contra El Cancer, The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation, Project HOME, Omni Peace, The National Stroke Association, The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Famous People listed.
It only shows that Longoria does not only look good on screen but also off-cam, through projects that aim to strengthen Latin influence in the United States. And one of those projects is her three-year-old non-profit org, The Eva Longoria Foundation.
The foundation aims to help many aspiring Latin nationalities by providing education and business opportunities. The foundation's program focuses on Parent Engagement, Micro Loans for Entrepreneurs, and Mentorship.
She also expressed concern on how Hispanics categorize themselves and how they only associate with something related to their own specific roots in the interview.
"Latinos have not historically been a culture that unites easily. We're very factioned-you have your Mexican Americans, your Puerto Ricans, your Cuban Americans, your Central Americans-and sometimes we focus on the differences more than the commonalities," Longoria told Glam in the interview.
Gina Rodriguez, another Latina actress who is making a name in Hollywood, shared the same sentiment during the PaleyFest, reports Deadline.
The actress encouraged Latino actors to portray characters of different Latino nationalities beside their own." Huffington Post reported.
"We need to unite. They see us as one community - we need to be one community," the "Jane the Virgin" star said.