Why Diversity, Equity, and Representation Matter
This isn’t just a love letter to Old Hollywood—it’s a battle cry for the stories it tried to erase.”
A Personal Perspective by Regina Luz Jordan, The Vintage Bonita
When I created Hollywoodland News, it wasn’t just about nostalgia. It was about rewriting history—or more specifically, retelling it the way it should have been told.
I grew up mesmerized by vintage movies, Old Hollywood fashion, and the Golden Age of cinema. The elegance, the music, the way dance became an extension of storytelling—I was hooked. My love for dance came from my amazing mom, a tap dancer, who nurtured my passion and encouraged me to express myself through movement. But as much as I adored those films and the artistry within them, there was always something missing.
People like me weren’t in those stories.
Why I Created Hollywoodland News
I’ve always been a storyteller. Whether I was uncovering Hollywood’s hidden history or sharing my experiences as a Yaqui woman, I found power in telling stories that others overlooked. Hollywoodland News is where my passions collide—a space where I can celebrate the glamour of Hollywood while also exposing its flaws.
Representation isn’t just about who gets cast in a leading role.
Representation is about whose stories are considered worthy of being told in the first place. The absence of diverse voices in early Hollywood wasn’t accidental; it was deliberate. The gatekeepers of the industry controlled what the world saw, who got to be remembered, and who was erased.
This isn’t about tearing down the past; it’s about shining a light on the cracks
Hollywoodland News:
Reclaiming What Was Erased
Hollywoodland News is my way of taking back the narrative. I wanted to go beyond the glossy surface of Old Hollywood—the scandals, the fashion, the legendary stars—and uncover the stories that were ignored or buried.
This isn’t just about revisiting the past; it’s about re-examining it through a lens that acknowledges what was lost, stolen, or rewritten.
What would Hollywood have looked like if it had embraced inclusion from the start?
Why This Work is Vital
We are living in a time where diversity, equity, and inclusion are under attack. Across the United States, DEI programs are being dismantled by conservatives who see progress as a threat rather than an evolution.
These programs weren’t created as a trend—they were a response to centuries of exclusion, barriers, and systemic inequalities. They were meant to open doors that had been locked for generations.
And now, those doors are being slammed shut again.
Without DEI programs, people like me—and so many others—would continue to be overlooked, dismissed, and erased.
Without these conversations, history will repeat itself.
The DEI Backlash is Real—and Personal
The fight for representation in Hollywood isn’t just about movies; it’s about power, visibility, and ensuring that the next generation grows up seeing themselves reflected in the world’s biggest storytelling medium.
Not as an afterthought, but as the main character.
That’s why this work matters. That’s why this mission is urgent.
Hollywoodland News isn’t just about reminiscing over vintage glamour—it’s about reclaiming the legacy of those who were left out of the frame and ensuring that the next act of Hollywood’s story is one where everyone has a place.
This Mission Is Personal
When I talk about representation, I’m not just talking about casting choices or film credits. I’m talking about my family. My sister, Shelley—known as La Chiquita in the ’90s chola gang life—was a complex, beautiful soul. She lived, loved, and survived in a world that was quick to judge and even quicker to forget girls like her.
Hollywood never made room for women like Shelley. She didn’t fit the mold—but she had a story worth telling.
We lost her in 2013.
But I carry her with me in every word I write.
Hollywoodland News exists because she—and so many like her—deserved better than invisibility.
“This work is for her. For the girls in the margins. For every main character who was written out of the script.”
Lights, Camera, Conversation!
Let’s Keep It Going!
Looking for more deep dives into Hollywood’s untold stories? Explore the Hollywoodland News Archive for more investigations into the industry’s hidden histories, forgotten trailblazers, and the fight for representation.