"We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." - Benjamin Franklin
There is strength in numbers. Nowhere is that more evident than in a democracy. In a society governed by the voice of the masses, cooperation is necessary to get anything meaningful accomplished. Too often, the relationship between inferior populations in a society is competitive. They seek, instead of working with each other, to work in spite of other, advancing only their own agendas, looking out for only their own needs, without realizing that each is a **** of the same system.
Oppression, universal in its definition, is not colorblind in its application. Hispanics and Blacks share a bond that, perhaps, is stronger than between any other two populations in America because of their inability to assimilate—because of their skin color. As a result, both groups are generally regarded as the least among the many members of the American melting pot. This belief, however, is a mistake when one considers the sheer numbers of their citizenry.
Moreover, each has a history rich in overcoming the impossible. Despite all odds, both Hispanic and Black Americans persist. This is a result of many factors, chief among them, cohesiveness, adaptability, and an ineffable sense of identity. Adversity has taught us that we are capable of achieving individually, so imagine the possibilities we could reach together.
In order to do this, we must redefine the word “brother.” We have to extend its definition and realize that as long as we face the same struggle, we are on the same side, regardless of our respective races. The best way to do this is to tear down the barriers we have erected to protects us. Cultural specific practices, while a testament to our expansive history, must be used to unite and not to divide. For example, Juneteenth and Cinco de Mayo are both racially indicative holidays. Separated by barely a month, both holidays celebrate freedom, a universal idea that transcends cultures, and yet how often do you see us celebrate with each other?
While both groups are experts at preserving their own, imagine how much better we could both be if only we would protect and serve each other.
It has been the motto for the United Negro College Fund for years, and it is still true today. Knowledge Is Power. We must educate ourselves and each other, thereby grooming the next generation of visionaries and leaders, grooming them to continue the fight we have fought sense our inception in this country. Historically Black Colleges and Universities were created because the majority institutions of America refused to accommodate their Black brethren. We know how racism hurts, let us then extend our hands to our Hispanic brothers in every way we can, including admissions into our institutions for higher education.
If we can learn to love and respect one another, if we can learn to work together, imagine what we can teach the rest of the country, let alone the world. It can be done and we must be the ones to do it. Just as injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere, the subjugation or alienation of a minority population must be taken as a threat to every minority population. As the two largest minority factions in America, the prosperity of both Blacks and Hispanics are irrevocably linked. So let us then prosper, together, lest we suffer separately.
