In today’s society, as a 21-year-old African American male, it is becoming more and more evident everyday that, although times have changed from the way they used to be, African Americans are still a minority. Yet, we are not the only ones. In fact one other group of people looked down on in the world is Hispanics. However, many African Americans and Hispanics are “happy,” so-to-say, with the way the world is today. They are comfortable with it as long as they are able to work and make a little money. What they do not realize, however, is that it does not have to be this way. Why is it that the United States has never seen an African American President? Why is it that there are very few Hispanics who hold high office positions? If you ask me, this deals with more than just votes and popularity if you ask me, I really feel that it is an issue of racial prejudice as well. This brings up a point of interest in my mind. “Why should African Americans and Hispanics in the United States work together as minorities to address political, cultural, communication, and community issues?”
The answer to this question is simple. African Americans and Hispanics should work together to address these points because if not, we will remain at the bottom in the world. I want to use the old saying, “Actions speak louder than words,” to prove my point. We as the minority can nag and complain all day long about the way we are treated, but that can only do so much for us. However, if we come together as one to focus on what really matters, not only will we show the world that we are tired of being treated unequally, but by us combining and joining forces, we will also show that we are serious about what we want.
Nevertheless, before this can be accomplished, we have to be able to work together. In some areas in the U.S., African American and Hispanics do not get along with each other. In California, African Americans and Hispanics fight and **** one another everyday. Surprisingly, they do not even fight for major reasons, they fight just because of the colors of the opposing gang. For example “bloods,” a gang that wears red, may fight the “crypts,” a gang that wears blue. I really hate the fact that this goes on. It really bothers me to know that two of the main minority groups in the world today are constantly at war. How can we try to convince the rest of the world that we are the minority if we continue to act in this immature fashion.? How can we stop our battle with the world if we cannot stop fighting amongst ourselves? There is no way that this can work unless we come to an agreement and work together. For this to happen we have to start in our own communities.
To strengthen the relationship between the African American and Hispanic communities within the United States, we must first grasp that this is not up to anyone else but our own people. No other race or nationality can help us in this matter. It is then that we will realize that all we have to do is communicate more. Just as two friends would do, we as two minorities should do the same thing. To me, the world works off more than money, it revolves around communication as well. So, before we can communicate with the rest of the world about are equal opportunity issues, we have to know how to communicate with each other. If African Americans and Hispanics can learn how to communicate amongst each other, not only would it build a stronger connection between the two, but also when the time comes to speak on our problems, it would be a lot easier to accomplish.
As a student at an HBCU, I have come to realize that many universities do a lot for African Americans and Hispanics. One thing they do is try to make it as easy and as cheap as possible for minorities to not only get in to school, but be able to afford it as well. Many students of African American and Hispanic descent have a hard time paying for school. However, most HBCU’s have lower tuition prices than those schools that are not historically black. I believe that this is something that should stay how it is for two reasons. HBCU’s should continue to support African Americans and Hispanics because, when we are born into this world, we are already looked at as if we are unable to do anything right because of our race, but by going to college we can prove them wrong. The other reason HBCU’s should continue to support African Americans and Hispanics is because going to college gives us a chance to do something with our lives. When I was a little boy I was always told I could be anything I wanted to be in life. Now, as a student at an accredited HBCU, I have the chance to pursue my dreams and do just that.
