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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at FSU: Empowering Hispanic voices in entertainment

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at FSU: Empowering Hispanic voices in entertainment

Jaynie Curzi
 |  Staff Writer

Florida State University’s Center for Hispanic Marketing Communication kicked off its 20th Anniversary celebrations on Oct. 11 with its “Empowering Hispanics in Entertainment” event. The panel featured three prominent figures in Hispanic media: actor Carlos Carrasco, sports broadcaster Enrique “El Perro” Bermúdez and musician Tito Puente Jr.

The Multicultural Marketing Student Association (MMSA) organized the panel.

“In the entertainment industry, there are not that many people of Hispanic origin who are famous in the United States,” Santiago Reyes, president of the MMSA, said. “We have a gala coming up, and we decided to bring the panelists to give them awards for their achievements. This panel was open to the public so that students could come to meet them, ask them questions and connect with them because they are important in the entertainment industry and many students aspire to be like them.”

Throughout the gala, the panelists — in both English and Spanish — answered three key questions: What was your start in the industry? What was the biggest challenge you faced? What advice do you have for students wanting to succeed in your industry?

Carrasco shared that his love for acting began as a child when he was cast in a Christmas play at his Catholic school. When he shared his newfound passion for acting, an unorthodox path among Hispanic families, he recounted that his mother responded, “Ay, Dios mío!” From there, he was trained to speak in the “standard” American accent and studied acting with dedication, earning a PhD in speech and theater.

Puente Jr., following in the footsteps of his iconic father, Tito Puente Sr., was interested in exploring various music genres, particularly the Afro-Cuban style his father pioneered. He now aims to ensure that the new generation understands the originators of the music genres they hear today.

Bermúdez recounted his early days playing soccer, which he had to stop due to a knee injury. His transition to commentary came when he was asked if he could recommend a soccer commentator, and he realized that, with his deep knowledge of soccer, he could take on the role himself.

When asked about his biggest challenge, Carrasco recalled auditioning in New York, where he was often asked to play Hispanic characters with a “Spanish accent,” typically cast as criminals, drug dealers, or gangsters.

One day, a professional bluntly asked him, “Why are you trying to be White?”— a comment that left a deep scar. He shared that it made him feel as though he had to “dumb himself down” to succeed in the industry.

Puente Jr. spoke about constantly dealing with the perception of nepotism, though his father did not teach him how to play instruments. He had to seek out lessons and learn to play the timbales, his father’s iconic instrument, on his own. Now, he encourages young people to push themselves beyond simply learning how to play instruments and to explore those rooted in their culture, like bongos and timbales.

Bermúdez humorously recounted his challenge during a game where both teams arrived in identical uniforms. He had to commentate for two hours before the game even started, struggling to fill the time by talking about anything he could—at one point, even French food. Bermúdez said that day tested his ability to handle the responsibility of commentary, and he was proud to have overcome those challenging hours.

For the final question on advice for students wanting to succeed in their industries, Carrasco humorously responded, “Don’t be a diva,” earning laughter from the audience. He emphasized that being compassionate, kind and easy to work with is what keeps you in a room and helps projects run smoothly.

“Surround yourself with creative people, and, thus, you will be creative,” Puente Jr. said.

Puente Jr. explained that his father taught him that creativity flourishes when you are surrounded by others who share the same passion for making art, a truth he sees confirmed with every project he takes on.

“Love studying and the opportunity you have,” Bermúdez said. “Think about how many people would want to be in your place and take full advantage of the opportunity you’ve been given.”

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