Speedy Gonzales, the fast-moving, brown mouse who is shown wearing white leisure wear, a red handkerchief and an over-sized yellow/orange sombrero is an iconic fixture in American culture. "The Fastest Mouse in all Mexico," who at times compulsively spouts Spanish words like, gracias, señor, gringo, hasta la vista with an exaggerated Mexican accent, somehow strayed away from his animators' racist intentions to become a symbol and an icon to Hispanics in the U.S.

The era in which the show was created was a tumultuous, racially-divided time, where audiences enjoyed seeing foreigners and minorities lampooned and prodded for their differences. Their attire, culture and language all became subject for mockery in the media.     

But, Speedy became a cartoon hero. And, though American audiences laughed at the mouse's speech and actions, they couldn't dismiss the character's wit and ability to cleverly outsmart characters like Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Wile. E. Coyote, and Sylvester the Cat, aka El Gringo Pussygato. Slowpoke Rodriguez, Speedy's sporadically seen cousin, better embodies Mexican stereotypes that usually depict Mexican as being slow and lazy, but he isn't the star.

Speedy was quick, smart, and a Robin Hood-type who stole from the rich (cheese from the cheese factory guarded by Sylvester at the Mexican border) and gave to the poor (hungry Mexican mice). He was a ladies man... mouse, easily able to lure female mice, and he was an "undermouse" who had a keen sense of justice.

Speedy first appeared in 1953 on an episode of Cat-Tails for Two. The popular mouse was originally drawn by Robert McKimson but resigned to his current fashion by Friz Freleng and Hawley Pratt; he was caricatured for Warner Brothers Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies. His character continuously gained popularity, and he no longer needed to rely on staple characters. He eventually won his own series, films, and merchandise.

Speedy left the airwaves for a number of years despite his popularity because of the character's negative connotations. Many campaigned for the return of the show, including the League of United Latin American Citizens, and their desire was granted when Speedy returned to television in 2002.

Looney Tunes Golden Collection, who presented Speedy Gonzales shorts in 2002, prefaced episodes with the disclaimer:

"The cartoons you are about to see are products of their time. They may depict some of the ethnic and racial prejudices that were commonplace in American society. These depictions were false then and are still false today. While the following does not represent the WB view of society, these cartoons are being presented as they were originally created, because to do otherwise would be the same as to claim these prejudices never existed."

There is currently a Speedy Gonzales film in the works, and George Lopez will voice and produce the live-action/CG hybrid family film.