African-Americans and Hispanics in the United States work together as minorities to address political, cultural, communication and community issues because we represent the same socio-economic class in society. In a capitalist society based an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, esp. as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth. Today, many of our politicians do not represent our voices or needs, instead they neglect the issues that transpire in our communities each day. Multitudinous propositions passed daily throughout the country, are secluded from our conscious, but embody a monstrous affect on our position in society. Ironically, these elected politicians do not even live in our communities, yet we allow them to make laws and decisions more than likely do not favor our devotion. For example, inner-city school districts, which mostly accommodate minority students, are frequently relinquished and left behind with inappropriate school materials and funding. This results in a continuance of deficient school assessment test, lack of after school programs and an abundance of ill-equipped minority students vulnerable to the natural world. While the school boards members consisting of majority leaders, maintain the suburban schools with incomparable subsidies and assets. I recall watching the “Oprah Show” last year, which featured a teenage inner city African-American girl and a suburban Caucasian girl, were required to switch schools for one day. The smart classrooms, new books, technology etc astonished the African-American girl. As a straight “A” honor students at her inner city high school, she was unable to comprehend the math and English being taught at the suburban high school. In contrast, the insufficient technology, old books, filthy atmosphere etc. appalled the Caucasian girl. She could not believe students were actually subjected to the type of learning environment the inner city students had. This is exactly why we as African-Americans and Hispanics need to come together to earn firm representation within politics, so we can receive demand the equality declared in the constitution.
Furthermore, as for cultural, communication and community issues, these all are relevant to another and have a boomerang effect. Both the African-American and Hispanic culture though different are similar in various ways. I would say our biggest cultural difference is religion, considering most Hispanic is Roman Catholic and most African-Americans are Christians. In contrast, our greatest similarity is our struggle and I feel that overrides all our differences, because it is a tradition for both ethnic groups especially here in America, which in shall pull us together. The Hispanic culture is deeply rich in customs, tradition, food, dance and art. So much of their culture is rooted direct relation to the Native-American and Spanish culture, which presents a multitudinous spectrum of unique heritage. As colonials of the Spanish Empire, many Spanish cultural influences significantly present, such as Roman Catholicism. In addition, the Spanish Empire imported African slaves to their Spanish colonies that created a mixture of ethnics groups resulting in Mulattos, Mestizos and the Zambo. Mulattos- refers to offspring of African and European ancestry, Mestizos- being the people of European and indigenous non-European (Native American) ancestry and the Zambo- are the people of African and Amerindian ancestry. This is important because the traditions brought over by the African people appear in Hispanic culture of today. For example, the Samba, which is one the most popular forms of music in Brazil, is rooted from Africa mainly Angola. Likewise, as African-Americans, our roots our directly related to many African rituals, customs, art, dance etc. For example, Voodoo- a name attributed to a traditionally West African spiritual system of faith and ritual practices. Like most faith systems, the core functions of Voodoo are to explain the forces of the universe, influence those forces, and influence human behavior. This religious practice was able to survive in the Southern United States mainly in Louisiana connected with Christian mysticism in the minds of rural African Americans. It later transformed into a system of widespread African-American folk belief and practice known as Hoodoo. Although suppression of Hoodoo and Voodoo tradition in the United States has lead to near extinction of the religion, there are still traces of it with “New Orleans Voodoo”. In addition, African-American dance and music is similar to many West African styles with fast-past movements and drums. Moreover, it is vital we communicate and become more interactive with another, to build a sense of insurability. Without communication there can be no intellect and entrustment amongst ourselves; therefore, we repress another from comprehending each other’s viewpoint. This will proceed to a misconception between the African-American and Hispanic community, creating skepticism between the two. Resulting in an uncivil community, filled with tension and distrust.
Moreover, I feel there can be plenty done to strengthen the relationship between the African-American and the Hispanic communities living within the United States. As African-Americans we be should firm supporters of the Hispanic fight against unjust immigration laws, just for the simple fact that Hispanics are the indigenous people of American land. In addition, Hispanic has not done anything to disenfranchise the African-American community; instead they have honorably embraced the jobs in America we as African-Americans were suppressed to for multifold years. Nevertheless, it would emphatically contradictive for African-Americans to encourage immigration laws and denigrate the Hispanic community because they are portrayed as low-class problematic ethnic group of the 21st century. When throughout history and still today, the American government frequently tried to conceive laws and systemic methods to deprive the African-American community of social, economic and political progress. On the other hand, I feel Hispanics should be more exertive with African-American community in fight against poverty and racial profiling, which leads to thousands of incarcerated minorities each year. These jails are overflowed with minorities and the American government has done nothing to prevent the growing capacity of inmates, except to build more prisons.
Historically Black Colleges & Universities should continue to support the needs of African American students and possibly the needs of the growing Hispanic (and Afro-Hispanic) population in the United States because it is fundamental to our growth as a social class. Historically Black Colleges & Universities should not only support the needs of African-American students and the growing Hispanic population, but should encourage enterprise for future involvement within the government. For example, organizing protest for extensive issues, such as “The War on Iraq.” In addition, Historically Black Colleges & Universities should sponsor televised national conventions on subjects of ****, HIV/****, business and voting. I am confident it will have a considerable affect on minority students and communities, who are not securely knowledgeable about the significance of these affairs. These actions should urge the African-American students and the growing Hispanic population to become more observant of the government’s behavior. Therefore, the African-American students and growing Hispanic population will be able to contest government policies, by using the power of the people. Correspondingly, the national conventions shall inspire and illuminate African-American students and the growing Hispanic populations of these issues that perpetually tarnish our people on daily basis. Hopefully, it will have a momentous affect similar the BET’s voting advocacy in during the 2004 presidential election. Besides, with the rising Hispanic population, projected to be the majority within years, it is imperative Historically Black Colleges & Universities work to cultivate bondage with the African-American community. After all, the power of the people within a democracy is a voice second to none; we are stronger together than we are apart.
