In today’s society, a growing number of American’s are falling under the poverty line at an alarming rate. With the exporting of jobs overseas and the constant struggle of American companies amongst a global market, the American working class is pressed for heavy job losses. Highlighting society’s lower class are African Americans who average a yearly income of $29,000 and Hispanic Americans who average a yearly income of $41,000 (Census 2002). These are extremely low numbers and must be addressed now before more and more descendants of Hispanic and black Americans are unfortunately affected by these statistics. The best direction for both minority groups to take is a call for togetherness to create a collective support system addressing and solving problems that plague both societies. The past cultural layout between each racial community can be connected. Many black Americans are descendants of slaves who were forced from their country and homes. Many Hispanics are Spanish speaking descendants of Native American and Spanish background, who dealt and overcame the constant infiltration of outside European countries seeking land and wealth. In short, both races have seen an almost destruction of their past and were forced to rebuild their lives alongside people who have prospered in each races misfortunes. To combat this, both groups must unite and build upon one another in order to achieve some type of prosperity. To benefit each race politically, leaders must be placed in society that support lower class blacks and Hispanics. Lower class African American and Hispanic concerns are always placed aside and never addressed. Concerns like education and police action are constant issues never pressed by the government. Blacks and Hispanics must bind together and establish a connected voice, supporting those individuals who care about their problems. With Hispanics and Blacks together making up almost 25% of the American population, political power is very much in reach. In order to do this, communication between African Americans and Hispanics must be created in order to possess a political standing in the nation. As of 2007, a small connection between Hispanics and blacks is present, but has not been pushed in order to benefit both races overall. Attending an HBCU such as Morehouse College, one can easily see this connection, as Hispanics are present and flourishing within the student body. A Hispanic attending an HBCU is not at all uncommon and his or her presence will never get a second glimpse. With this commonality, the small connection between both races can be transformed into a deeper brotherhood/sisterhood, benefiting both peoples. Community values and issues are ideals that can be presented to form better connections as well. Although past and present issues affecting both Hispanic and black Americans in a negative form are similar, they have not been dealt with in a unified manor. Unfortunately, neither blacks nor Hispanics have leaders within each respective community that can speak for their entire community. With a lack of leadership a rift is created in terms of forming a feasible connection amongst each group of people. Again, a lack of a productive high school education is a major concern within both communities that must be taken into account and solved. These are some of the problems that must be addressed. These problems and concerns call for a strengthening of the relationship between African Americans and Hispanics.
The relationship between African Americans and Hispanics can be strengthened through effective communication and the influx of community leaders. As stated previously, communication is present, but must transform into a tighter one in order to truly benefit both races. This tighter knit includes the supporting of each race in various activities. An example of supporting one another could dabble in the field of athletics. Jersey of fan favorites such as Kobe Bryant and Ladamian Tomilson are constantly worn. Blacks could show support of Hispanics by simply wearing jerseys of well known Hispanic athletes like Tony Gonzalez, a future Hall of Fame tight end and David Ortiz, a future Hall of Fame baseball player. The Hispanic and black unity would tightened if well known black fashion moguls highlighted the stars of Hispanic culture. Communication can also be strengthened through the presence of history. Although many Hispanics are aware of black history, few blacks are aware of their counterparts historical past. In fact, many blacks still believe that Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican holiday for independence! If historical inaccuracies are corrected a better understanding of each others past can lead to a better understanding of each others present and future. Hispanic and Blacks, similar to two smaller nations, are two communities that must align themselves if they are to effectively compete and succeed in American society. The influx of community leaders must be created in order to achieve a firmer connection between races. A huge factor leading to the pains of both communities is that there is no accountability for the present situation. Both races seek for the government to take this responsibility, but the fact is the government awards other tasks ahead of lower class Hispanics and blacks. With this truth present, accountability must come within each separate community. Black leaders must put it upon themselves to help blacks succeed and Hispanics must do the same. If a community cannot survive within itself, then the presence of a relationship between outside communities like Hispanics and Blacks will never come to be. These issues fall into the hands of higher educational institution created to aid the African American and Hispanic communities directly.
The higher educational institutions of historical black past must play a pivotal role in addressing the needs of Hispanics and blacks in America. In order to effectively address issues and concerns affecting each group, the correct issues and concerns must be pointed out. The failure of the public educational system in America is a great travesty that even Bill Gates constantly addresses. Education is much more than just what one can learn and apply from a book, education sculpts the mind and overall character of individuals. Education is a tool necessary to build effect members of the community. HBCUs like Morehouse, Spelman, and Howard University are trailblazers who make it their goal to educate every student’s soul as well as mind. Teaching American past, focusing on African American involvement instead of the usual European slant is a great way to cultivate and inspire new thought from young black Americans. Highlighting black and Hispanic leaders in politics, business, science, and sociology is another great way for blacks and Hispanics to take pride in their culture and want to add in it. This education cannot be given at other higher institutions of learning, unless a student is majoring in that respective field. This situation is a travesty as the full depiction of African American history as well as Hispanic history is just as much a part of America as British and French history. Students must learn their past and must be told by successful blacks that success can be achieved by other means than just the white deemed American dream. HBCU’s must take on this responsibility and present this to the youth for them to create a new generation better than the last.
