For as long as I can remember it has been drilled into my head that Hispanic people have often been treated with the same malice that afflicted African-Americans. My father is a Mexican American and can remember the poor quality of everything that is forced upon “colored” people. And even though I heard these stories, it took many years for to sink in that the way I have always been treated is not necessarily the norm. It took living in Alabama for me to realize that people still look down upon others whose skin is even a shade darker.
If African-Americans and Hispanics worked together, something might be accomplished. The reason the US, and even much of the world, is run by the white man is because everyone steps aside and lets them run the show. Since the beginning of this country white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestants have been in charge. And because that is the way it has always been people assume that that is the way it will always be. If the minorities of the country chose a candidate for office and banded together to install them, that candidate could win by a landslide. Of course, it would require different types of people to work together, but it can be done. People just have to realize that the white man really is not better than the rest of us. Sure, there are some very rich white people, but Oprah worked hard and is now one of the wealthiest persons in the US.
Another problem that needs to be sorted out is the communication channels. For some reason many people have decided that proper grammar is not necessary for lower socio-economical class people. For some reason some people feel that Ebonics should be installed as a real language. This just holds people back. There is no reason why people who live in low income areas cannot speak proper English. This goes for Spanish speaking persons as well. Certain border states cater entirely too much to those people who speak Spanish. It is great to offer English classes to immigrants, and perhaps writing certain signs in Spanish really close to the border, but bilingual church events is too much. Many of the people that claim to only speak Spanish were actually born in the US and we are allowing them to lower American standards so they can “remember” their mother land. Any other country would be appalled if we showed up at their door and demanded they speak our language so we could live there comfortably. Until proper English is spoken across the board, chances are slim of minorities moving up in the hierarchy.
I am a firm believer that once people start acting the part, the part becomes who they are. Once people start speaking correctly, they can move on to presenting themselves correctly. When teenage boys show up to school with their pants hanging around their knees, they have a much harder time getting people to take them seriously. Likewise, when girls parade around with their bottom hanging out of their skirt, it does not show any professionalism. Then they claim that those were all they could afford. Take a look at just what it is they are wearing. They could invest in decent, well-fitting clothes for an equal or lesser amount. They just chose not to.
If someone shows up for an interview well spoke with decent clothes it makes them more likely to be hired. Those people are the ones who move up in the world. Caucasians figured this out and passed it down to their children. Unfortunately, many minorities are too busy lamenting their burdens to look around and notice what can help them. Therefore their children are already a step behind. For those who break the mold and make something of themselves, they often times forget about where they came from. In order for minorities to have a voice, they must help each other. That means that once they get that degree they need to turn around and pull others up to their standards. They need to encourage family and friends to attend college and earn those degrees. Historically Black Universities began so that African Americans would have a chance. Now, if they are going to continue, they need to stress upon their students how to integrate into society. Integration does not mean becoming a clone of someone, it means acting the part that society expects from professionals. It means dressing well and speaking properly. That does not stop a person from being bilingual (but not in Ebonics) or celebrating their beliefs a certain way. It means raising your standards instead of lowering other peoples. Those Universities need to continue drawing in students, offering scholarships to entice them, and then require that everyone take a class that contains information they need to act the part of success.
If all the minorities in the country banded together, they could create a vast majority with the resources necessary to change things. But before they do any of that, those people who gripe about their lot in life need to assess just what it is that got them where they are today. It is most likely that that is what they expect of themselves and it is just much easier to float along than to actually do anything about it. Only when those people get over themselves will life improve. Only when everyone acts the part will the role open up.
