African Americans and Hispanics MUST work together because as minorities, we share the same challenge of trying to succeed in a country that has historically stacked the odds of success against us. United, we are a stronger force and will overcome this challenge faster than if we go at it separately. The challenge that I speak of, that all minorities share, is to succeed in a country that has been overtly racist for the great majority of its existence. To be clear, I am not a hater. I’m not advocating a “down-with-the-white-oppressors” attitude, and I realize that great strides have been made over the last 50 years toward a more equal society. But remnants of this country’s past haunt us, and have led directly to a situation where minorities have much less opportunity to succeed in life than do whites. For example, since the end of WWII, when African Americans began moving in great numbers out of the South and Hispanics began increasing in number across all parts of the country, most of us were forced to settle in neighborhoods that were "less desirable". This creates a vicious cycle whereby the lower tax base leads to lower quality of public services (ie: substandard schools), which means children receive less education and have less opportunity to better themselves, which means their children are more likely to repeat the cycle. The result? According to the Census Bureau, the median net worth of white non-Hispanic households was over eight times that of Hispanic households, and over ten times that of African American households (U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). The solution? Increase opportunities for education among those in African American and Hispanic communities. Education will improve things at all levels: the individual, the community, and the society as a whole. First, education helps us individually by allowing us to acquire knowledge and skills that will enable us to get better paying jobs and afford more comfortable lives for our families. According to the Census Bureau, over an adult's working life, high school graduates earn an average of $1.2 million, while Bachelor's degree holders earn about $2.1 million and Master’s degree holders earn $2.5 million (Day and Newburger, 2002). Second, education helps the community by increasing the number of minorities in positions of influence, including political, business, and cultural leaders. People in a position of influence, by definition, are able to effect positive change in their community. Those that hold public office can help by ensuring that the government passes policies and laws that benefit their community. Business leaders help by creating jobs and investing in their communities. Cultural leaders (writers, musicians, athletes, etc) provide inspiration and instill pride by expressing the cultural values of their communities. Beyond entertainment, think of the social impact of those like Jackie Robinson and John Singleton (“Boyz N the Hood”), both of whom attended college (UCLA and USC respectively). Education is the key to allowing motivated young people to fulfill their potential as influential members of the community. Third, education improves society as a whole, because through education we broaden our horizons and expand our awareness of the world. This third aspect is the most important, as it is what is needed for African Americans and Hispanics to strengthen their bonds with each other. The more we understand each other, the more we will realize how much we have in common with regards to the challenge of increasing opportunities of success in this country. United, we will be much more effective in increasing the representation of people of color in both education and in positions of influence. The ratio of minorities in schools, in the media, in public office, and in managerial positions should reflect the demographics of the country. According to US Census Bureau estimates, over one quarter of the population is either African American or Hispanic. However, I’m quite certain that 1 out of every 4 politicians or business leaders are NOT African American or Hispanic. We must fix this disparity. Together, African Americans and Hispanics must support and motivate each other, and feed off of each other’s energy. Historically Black Colleges and Universities play a crucial role in this process, as they have for generations. The original purpose was to foster educational advancement for those who had less opportunities than others. As the demographics of our country change and Hispanics swell in numbers, I think it would be a benefit to all if HBCUs extend their support to Hispanics as well…we all have the same goal, that of equal opportunity through education. United we stand.
