#33 Natural Allies
The recent protests about immigration gives African-Americans an opportunity reinforce our natural alliance with Latinos. It would be shameful if we chose to remain silent on the issue and allow the mainstream media to pit America's largest minority groups against each other.
It's very tempting to join the chorus of voices that decry the behavior of the younger protesters. Most were informed of the protests via text message, email or some other electronic communication method. Many who were interviewed didn't seem to have a clear idea about what the focus of the protests were. Critics point at that ignorance to the "facts" of the issue as reason to write off the protests.
Other critics site the display of Mexican or Salvadoran flags as insulting to American sensibilities. They say that if "those people" wanted "Americans" to listen they should have had an American flag.
Debate abounds about the coulda/woulda/shouldas of the protests yet few of those debating have any solution. That isn't surprising because the issue is huge and touches so many other areas. Immigration policy directly effects education, health care, insurance, housing, jobs and security/terrorism. In fact, because America is a country of immigrants, the issue cuts straight to the character of this country. What will America be in the 21st century? Will this country stand for inclusion or isolation? Where should the Black community stand on the issue or should we just keep quiet because it isn't about us?
Those who would rather we stayed out of the debate or join the choir of isolationism point out that many immigrants, specifically Latinos, directly compete with Blacks for jobs. They say that if illegals are not heavily regulated and routinely deported they will push Black people out of jobs. What they fail to point out is that many, if not most, of the jobs that illegal immigrants get are menial and in many cases the illegals are paid lower than minimum wage under the table. Where is the competition for that? How many Americans, regardless of race, are looking for below minimum wage pay-at-will positions? The answer is few if any.
American media concentrates on the illegal Latino population without mentioning that there are illegal immigrants from every country in the world here. There are millions from Europe but they are invisible to the big media radar because Latino immigrants are easy to sensationalize and criminalize.
They do not mention the tens of thousands of European immigrants are not only welcomed into America but are subsidized. Yet they are quick to pit Black and Brown against one another in fights for jobs that neither really wants. Hawkish border watchers arm themselves against the tide of people infiltrating the country saying the illegals are pressuring already over pressured social services, educational systems and health care providers. They do not mention that the people who come here illegally from Central America are fleeing economic conditions that make poverty the norm and all they want to do is make a living. The hawks also fail to mention that those conditions are influenced by America who is notorious for exploiting its southern neighbors.
Few acknowledge that if there were no jobs or opportunity for illegals they wouldn't risk their lives to get here. However, America and American business exploit illegal populations without shame and act as though its hands are clean.
It would be very convenient for Black people to just join the majority and thumb our collective noses at immigration protesters. This is our country after all--isn't it? We were born here and America is our home--right? Illegal immigrants are intruders and interlopers competing for what's rightfully ours--aren't they? It would be great if it was that easy but it isn't.
Unlike any other immigrant group in the US African-Americans didn't voluntarily come to America. Our ancestors were stolen, beaten, renamed and forced to work. Since our arrival we have struggled to maintain and improve our situation. Only with legislation that we pushed through using organization, protest, debate and sweat was our citizenship solidified. Many within our community would still argue that even with legislation we still occupy a precarious position in American society.
Although never legally enslaved by the American government Latinos have a long history within America. Much of the southwest used to be Mexico. American expansion and war turned what used to be Mexican territory into Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and other states. At times laws similar to Jim Crow used to exclude or discriminate against Latinos where their populations were significant. Latinos, like Blacks, are beaten by police, taken to jail in huge numbers, marginalized and isolated by society and searching for solutions to poverty, crime, education, health care and overall discrimination. Blacks and Latinos are more like peas in a pod than competitors. The only thing that really separates us is language because our situations are nearly identical.
What is significant now is that Latinos may be on the verge of a mass movement because of immigration policy. Many Hispanic-Americans are only 2nd or 3rd generation Americans whose parents or grandparents may have come into the country illegally. Many have family in Central America whom they love and communicate with. Others personally know or are related to illegal immigrants directly.
Like all people Latinos want the best for their families and friends and naturally provide shelter and help to people they know or are related to. The government may criminalize these relationships, break up families, or react in the most repressive way possible and implement mass deportations. We cannot say what will happen but if we stand on the eve of a Latino Rights Movement it will surely be influenced by the Civil Rights Movement. If we are to insure justice for all it would be wise for Black people to become informed about the issue and offer what support we can.
If we simply join the mainstream and decry the problem while accusing Latinos of being wrong for protesting we join the ranks of those who decried Civil Rights and whites who said that Blacks should ‘stay in their place’ and accept dehumanization.
There is no clear solution to the immigration debate. It would, however, be a mistake for black people to side with the majority without thinking the issue through. It would be a larger mistake to allow ourselves to be led into the majority opinion because "we" speak English and "they" speak Spanish. If we entertain an Us vs. Them mentality then WE all lose and the fat cats at the top will laugh all the way to the ba
It's very tempting to join the chorus of voices that decry the behavior of the younger protesters. Most were informed of the protests via text message, email or some other electronic communication method. Many who were interviewed didn't seem to have a clear idea about what the focus of the protests were. Critics point at that ignorance to the "facts" of the issue as reason to write off the protests.
Other critics site the display of Mexican or Salvadoran flags as insulting to American sensibilities. They say that if "those people" wanted "Americans" to listen they should have had an American flag.
Debate abounds about the coulda/woulda/shouldas of the protests yet few of those debating have any solution. That isn't surprising because the issue is huge and touches so many other areas. Immigration policy directly effects education, health care, insurance, housing, jobs and security/terrorism. In fact, because America is a country of immigrants, the issue cuts straight to the character of this country. What will America be in the 21st century? Will this country stand for inclusion or isolation? Where should the Black community stand on the issue or should we just keep quiet because it isn't about us?
Those who would rather we stayed out of the debate or join the choir of isolationism point out that many immigrants, specifically Latinos, directly compete with Blacks for jobs. They say that if illegals are not heavily regulated and routinely deported they will push Black people out of jobs. What they fail to point out is that many, if not most, of the jobs that illegal immigrants get are menial and in many cases the illegals are paid lower than minimum wage under the table. Where is the competition for that? How many Americans, regardless of race, are looking for below minimum wage pay-at-will positions? The answer is few if any.
American media concentrates on the illegal Latino population without mentioning that there are illegal immigrants from every country in the world here. There are millions from Europe but they are invisible to the big media radar because Latino immigrants are easy to sensationalize and criminalize.
They do not mention the tens of thousands of European immigrants are not only welcomed into America but are subsidized. Yet they are quick to pit Black and Brown against one another in fights for jobs that neither really wants. Hawkish border watchers arm themselves against the tide of people infiltrating the country saying the illegals are pressuring already over pressured social services, educational systems and health care providers. They do not mention that the people who come here illegally from Central America are fleeing economic conditions that make poverty the norm and all they want to do is make a living. The hawks also fail to mention that those conditions are influenced by America who is notorious for exploiting its southern neighbors.
Few acknowledge that if there were no jobs or opportunity for illegals they wouldn't risk their lives to get here. However, America and American business exploit illegal populations without shame and act as though its hands are clean.
It would be very convenient for Black people to just join the majority and thumb our collective noses at immigration protesters. This is our country after all--isn't it? We were born here and America is our home--right? Illegal immigrants are intruders and interlopers competing for what's rightfully ours--aren't they? It would be great if it was that easy but it isn't.
Unlike any other immigrant group in the US African-Americans didn't voluntarily come to America. Our ancestors were stolen, beaten, renamed and forced to work. Since our arrival we have struggled to maintain and improve our situation. Only with legislation that we pushed through using organization, protest, debate and sweat was our citizenship solidified. Many within our community would still argue that even with legislation we still occupy a precarious position in American society.
Although never legally enslaved by the American government Latinos have a long history within America. Much of the southwest used to be Mexico. American expansion and war turned what used to be Mexican territory into Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada and other states. At times laws similar to Jim Crow used to exclude or discriminate against Latinos where their populations were significant. Latinos, like Blacks, are beaten by police, taken to jail in huge numbers, marginalized and isolated by society and searching for solutions to poverty, crime, education, health care and overall discrimination. Blacks and Latinos are more like peas in a pod than competitors. The only thing that really separates us is language because our situations are nearly identical.
What is significant now is that Latinos may be on the verge of a mass movement because of immigration policy. Many Hispanic-Americans are only 2nd or 3rd generation Americans whose parents or grandparents may have come into the country illegally. Many have family in Central America whom they love and communicate with. Others personally know or are related to illegal immigrants directly.
Like all people Latinos want the best for their families and friends and naturally provide shelter and help to people they know or are related to. The government may criminalize these relationships, break up families, or react in the most repressive way possible and implement mass deportations. We cannot say what will happen but if we stand on the eve of a Latino Rights Movement it will surely be influenced by the Civil Rights Movement. If we are to insure justice for all it would be wise for Black people to become informed about the issue and offer what support we can.
If we simply join the mainstream and decry the problem while accusing Latinos of being wrong for protesting we join the ranks of those who decried Civil Rights and whites who said that Blacks should ‘stay in their place’ and accept dehumanization.
There is no clear solution to the immigration debate. It would, however, be a mistake for black people to side with the majority without thinking the issue through. It would be a larger mistake to allow ourselves to be led into the majority opinion because "we" speak English and "they" speak Spanish. If we entertain an Us vs. Them mentality then WE all lose and the fat cats at the top will laugh all the way to the ba
posted by J.Bailey | 10:18 AM
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