African Americans and Latinos should work together on all worldly issues for the betterment of all mankind. If both racial groups come together to collectively better each other, both groups will recognize the limitless opportunities to strive forward in all aspects of a troubled society. If the two like communities put their “differences” aside to fight for humanity and pluralism, then people everywhere will realize the power of two dominant cultures. This will compel leaders from different backgrounds to take ownership of multiculturalism and develop a new identity for not only African Americans and Latinos, but all people of color.
There are many political, cultural, and community areas that African Americans and Latinos flourish in. However, African Americans and Latinos continue to deteriorate as well. Whatever the causes of these problems imagine if both the African American and Latino communities came together and jointly cooperated to bettering each other’s populations. Envision the unity, kinship, and camaraderie that would come with this. African Americans need to stop thinking about issues of just Blacks. Latinos need to stop thinking about issues of just Colombians, Guatemalans, or Dominicans. Both groups need to get on a higher level and think about issues for each other. The oppressor enjoys seeing African Americans and Latinos hold each other down, fight against each other, and blast each other’s communities. So why do both communities continue to do it? Both groups need solidarity. Once the bigger picture is realized, this empathy will invoke cultural understanding amongst all people.
The big story a short time ago was how Latinos surpassed African Americans as the “largest minority group” in the United States, as if it were a contest. This terminology has been imposed on both racial groups to signify a competition between the two groups, forcing the two communities against each other. However, I can assure you that neither racial group is battling to become the largest group of little people. Many people call African Americans and Latinos “minorities.” According to recent findings, African Americans make up about thirteen percent of the total U.S. population (estimated 35 million people). Latinos, or Hispanics, make up about seventeen percent (around 37 million people). Today, if African Americans and Latinos band together, over to 70 million people living in the United States wouldn’t be so “minor.” If both groups had a unified voice in political campaigns, educational initiatives, and community issues, a boom would be heard nationwide. This force would be one to be reckoned with, a position that is long overdue for a group of “minorities”.
The term minority should be considered offensive to anyone proclaiming they are one. According to the Oxford American Dictionary, “minority” means a relatively small group of people, esp. one commonly discriminated against in a community, society, or nation, differing from others in race, religion, language, or political persuasion. It is apparent that (ethnic or racial) minorities are bound together by discrimination. In fact, there is not one “minority” group in the U.S. that has not been discriminated against. So why do African Americans and Latinos proclaim they are minorities? Again, both groups need to realize that they are more than a small group of people. Latinos and African Americans must understand they are not minorities; they must understand they are people. This idea starts as a mindset and then becomes a way of life.
Since the beginning of time, colonialism has ruled both African and Latin American countries. This has forced the African American and Latino people living in the U.S. to tailspin into the troubled societies they live in today. Both African American and Latino people alike have resorted to dirty tactics to getting ahead, stepping on anyone to get there, and jealously hating other racial groups. These issues have developed further rifts within these communities, causing disparities between African Americans and Africans (first generation immigrants to the U.S.), similar to some relationships between Mexicans and Cubans or Puerto Ricans. What both groups fail to realize is that there are many Latinos who possess very strong Afro-centric or Afro-Caribbean roots. Both Latino and African American histories are intertwined. Most do not realize that both of these groups came from the same place. Both groups of people have fought the same struggles of slavery, peonage, and discrimination. Unfortunately, most of their histories are brought together by some of the most atrocious acts known to the human race. But when these two groups come together, they soon realize they are not as different as they once believed.
Even though both African Americans and Latinos have linked similarities in personalities, appearance, and passions, the two groups arguably have weak relational ties. This is arguable because I would claim in most urban and populous inner cities, the relationship between African Americans and Latinos is much better than some would suspect. There is a considerable amount of biracial individuals, mixed Latino and African American, living in the U.S. However, there is still work to be done amongst the two groups on all levels. I’d encourage more national groups and committees to be formed that represent all people of color, not just Latinos and African Americans. These groups could tour the country possibly on a bus, reviving political and community issues, educating students beyond the classroom, and bettering the relationships amongst all people. These group would be compromised of young, positive African American and Latino people, giving speeches and holding rallies at Colleges across the U.S. all in the name of solidarity and harmony. These groups would visit inner cities, community centers, boys and girls clubs, and elementary schools, voicing the positives of unity, optimism, and fellowship of all people. This group would also hold concerts in the name of peace. This group would encourage young people of color to be proud of their skin color. They could hold conferences and put on educational programs on the things our young people need to know. The possibilities with this idea are endless. I’d also support and be an advocate for other endeavors such as cultural book giveaways, the making of educational documentaries on Black vs. Brown issues, and inviting celebrities to speak at various events. It could also potentially be something that bigger national organizations, like the NAACP, could take on or support as one of their official initiatives.
On the topic of public speaking, I believe its imperative that African American and Latino activists come together and speak on behalf of today’s “people of color” group. The Jesse Jackson’s, the Al Sharpton’s, and the Johnny Cochran’s need to associate and align themselves with the Latino, Asian, and Middle Eastern activists and leaders to strengthen their causes. This will show the public that each racial group isn’t just for their “own,” but for all people. For example, when a radio talk host or comedian reveals his or her true negative feelings of a “minority” racial group: the individuals who want to take action against that person are the targeted group. If a public figure calls a Mexican a racial slur, most of the people that want that person fired are Mexicans. What our society needs are leaders from a diverse background working together on these issues to better our society. Once common folk realize that these leaders care about issues pertaining to other racial groups, it will inspire empathy and goodwill, resulting in racial harmony.
Historically Black Colleges & Universities should continue to support African Americans and even Hispanics/Latinos because if they don’t, who will? In the U.S. society we live in today, it is hard to be an African American or Latino. These two racial groups have been ostracized throughout history, exploited by the oppressors, labeled “minorities,” and been abandoned to fend for ourselves. It is evident these two groups need all the help they can get. As a young Black man, it is hard to remain positive in a society that continuously reminds everyone of the downfall of his people. The media plays a major role in denigrating the African American people. As a young Latino, with the struggles of immigration in the U.S. today, it is hard to not face some sort of scrutiny in the public. In addition, with the elimination of Affirmative Action in such states as California and Michigan, young African Americans and Latinos may sometimes feel abandoned. This is why, it is more important than ever to support the needs of Latinos and African Americans. These students need to be reminded of hope, refreshed with optimism, and reintroduced with success. Historically Black Colleges & Universities can do this in many ways, even if its financially.
I’d encourage Historically Black Colleges & Universities to travel and recruit as many people of color as they possibly can. Having a school with a large and diverse cultural population will attract much attention, engage enrollment, and promote a pluralistic living/working environment. The school that has the most diverse cultural demographic population in the U.S. should not only be extremely proud of that statistic, but they also should be endorsing themselves as such. In a society that is only now trying to diversify their sectors, a variety of people from different races and ethnicities working together for a common goal is a beautiful thing. Keep giving young students of color the chance to succeed. As the U.S. continues to grow more and more culturally diverse, it is extremely important that our companies, our businesses, and schools reflect the range of the different people in the U.S. This is why the help of such large institutions like Historically Black Colleges & Universities is necessary.
