In the United States African Americans and Hispanics are two very large and important minority groups in the United States. These two groups constantly struggle to make themselves heard in a country that many times have left them hopeless and disenfranchised. By joining under a united front, it is more likely that the voices of these people will be heard and will be influential in deciding how this country operates, and what its priorities should be. African Americans and Hispanics are two different groups with different cultures and different senses of self. At times differences may seem to supercede the similarities. However, in this day and age when those who are influential constantly ignore the plight, discrimination, and inequality of these two minorities, it becomes necessary to put aside differences and realize the importance of coming together for a greater good. By joining together and realizing that together there is a chance of changing the status quo, African Americans and Hispanics will become an important staple in the future campaigns and agendas of society.
In many instances African Americans and Hispanics are lumped together in the category of minorities, which is an attempt to create a feeling of “us versus them”. Being a minority does not automatically mean that within all minorities people are friends and have the same culture or values. Many times for this very reason African Americans and Hispanics become proud and struggle to maintain their identity by separating themselves from each other. As separate entities, achieving the same goal of equality and freedom is more difficult to obtain. Many times leaders and politicians take advantage of this separation to instate decisions for the “majority,” leaving African Americans and Hispanics without. In order to escape this handicap encouraged by the majority, it is necessary to put pride and discrimination aside and work together. Starting from a young age children are exposed to other children of different races. By encouraging acceptance and communication at a young age, African Americans and Hispanics have a better chance of realizing that a lot of the time they are striving for the same goals.
Historically Black Colleges and Universities are important for the preservation of African American identity and culture. Many times typical universities do not provide the adequate amount of support or encouragement of African American students. By providing a place that specifically serves the African American community students can gain knowledge without facing the discrimination or sense of not belonging that may exist at some other universities. As stated, previously, the unity of African Americans and Hispanics is increasingly important in order to make a lasting impact on society. Historically Black Colleges and Universities would help provide a supportive and accepting learning environment to Hispanics or afro-Hispanics that could also use the encouragement of these Universities to succeed. By taking the initiative to encourage enrollment in Historically Black Colleges, and ensuring equality and respect, more African Americans and Hispanics would feel it worthwhile to become part of the collegiate environment and to make a stand.
The increasing disparity in the United States has created a country where discrimination and stereotypes are allowed to flourish. If African Americans and Hispanics are not willing to put aside some differences and compromise, their voice will be lost in a whirlwind of arguments, pride, and fear. Identity, sense of self, and community are important, but when groups get so tied to this idea of who they are, it is easier for the majority in American to put them in those stereotypical groups that do not have the legitimacy to define anyone. To make a stand in the coming years it is necessary to unite against the enemy of poverty, discrimination, and inequality, not skin color or cultural background.
