Huerta’s role as Marvel’s Namor in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” has introduced the Indigenous Mexican actor to global audiences.
Since his introduction to global audiences as Namor in Marvel’s latest superhero film “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” the acclaimed actor Tenoch Huerta has been receiving widespread praise for his role and has been named as one of nine breakthrough entertainers of 2022 by The Associated Press.
This year’s recognition is given to those who became “next-level, a shift triggering where-did-you-come-from vibes,” the AP wrote in announcing the list.
While Huerta isn’t a newcomer, having appeared in blockbuster films such as “The Forever Purge” and the Netflix series “Narcos: Mexico,” he’s using his newfound mainstream pop culture exposure to advance causes like inclusivity and social justice.
“You can’t dream of something” that you can’t see, Huerta told the AP in an interview, referring to the lack of “brown skin people” like him onscreen, in ads, and in theatrical plays.
Huerta, 41, who is of Indigenous heritage, grew up in Ecatepec, a suburban area of Mexico City, known for its high levels of delinquency and often referred to with prejudice by the people in the capital.
His role as Namor, a mutant leader of the underwater kingdom known as Talokan, which is based on Mayan and Aztec influences, is a milestone and a big step for diversity in Latino culture.
The actor has now become a symbol of racial justice in Mexico, denouncing prejudice against those who look like him. He recently published “Orgullo Prieto,” loosely Dark Skinned Pride in English, a book he wrote with kids and young people in mind, detailing his own experiences dealing with racism and classism in his home country.
Source: Excelsior
The Mexico City Post
