Fox News Latino
By Mar Yvette
September 8, 2015
He’s been a steady presence in Hollywood for more than three decades.
Ever
since his pivotal performance as Ritchie Valens’ troubled brother Bob
in 1987’s “La Bamba,” a role that launched a thousand memes and remains
as relevant today in
pop culture as it did then, Esai Morales has played dozens of
characters spanning film and television.
He
recently wrapped the second season of “From Dusk Til Dawn” on Robert
Rodriguez’s El Rey network, where he plays “a vampire culebra underworld
lord,” and he’s currently
on HBO’s “The Brink,” a geopolitical dark comedy with Oscar winner Tim
Robbins and funnyman Jack Black.
“It’s
great. I’m playing the President of the United States, which is a
childhood dream. But it makes me happy and sad at the same time ‘cause
where do you go from there?
President of the world?” Morales told Fox News Latino.
While
Morales’ current POTUS status is strictly fictional, next year's
presidential election is not, and the self-described “actorvist” and
co-founder of the National
Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, has plenty to say.
“Let
me keep it real. I feel like the political process is a circus. It’s
entertainment more than anything else," he said. "It’s basically a
competition to see who can
fool the public the most. Then once the person is elected the real
agenda begins. Just look at all the things that are promised in order to
get your vote and then how few of them are delivered.”
Along
with the lack of honesty in politics, Morales believes there is a lack
of respect for the working class, particularly Latinos. It’s an issue
highlighted by GOP front-runner
Donald Trump’s now infamous remarks about Mexican migrants.
“The
easiest thing to do is pick on the outsider and say we’re going to
build a wall and make them pay for it ... Really?" he said. "Are we
really going to go to war with
Mexico, our second largest trading partner? Do we really want to say
that they’re sending their rapists and killers? No! All societies have
people who have lost their way.”
As Morales sees it, Trump is the one who has lost his way.
“I
feel bad that Trump, this incredible talent at gaining attention, can’t
be apologetic about the way he framed the issue. He could have said,
‘I’m sorry that it sounded
that way, I’m sorry that I said it this way, what I mean is …’ No, he
doubles down. So what that shows us is that he doesn’t care and he’s not
respecting the Latino community," the actor told FNL. "Notice he
doesn’t say that about other communities. He doesn’t
attack the corporations that export jobs out of our country or the
banks that have taken trillions of dollars out of our economy, much more
than any illegal immigrant groups of people. He knows who to pick on …
and it’s the humble people. The people who are
desperately trying to survive.”
Speaking
up for the little guy is something that has always been important to
Morales and it’s evident when you follow any of his social media
networks.
“We’re
taken for granted and it’s a lack of respect. And if there’s anything
our community thrives on and appreciates, it’s respect," he said. "You
don’t have to have
a lot of money, if you have spiritual class, if you work an honest job
for a living, you’re welcome in Latino homes. My mother taught me if you
go somewhere, you leave it better than you found it. If somebody gives
you dinner, you do the dishes; if somebody
lets you stay over, you clean the house. You try to help, you’re not
ever entitled.”
With
such palpable passion and awareness, one can’t help but wonder if life
will imitate art for Morales. Will the Nuyorican boy, who determined his
career path at the
age of 12, ultimately fulfill yet another childhood aspiration of
becoming a political leader?
“Not
yet. I don’t see myself in an office. I see myself as a communicator,
as a representative, maybe Congress, maybe the Senate when I get older.
The thing is, I still
feel like a kid even though I’m getting up there in age. I still have a
child-like view of the world that hasn’t been squashed," he said. "I
still wonder about things and I get excited for the day when people know
enough and know better than to fall for the
same old tricks that keep us divided and conquered, and dazed and
confused.”
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