In January of 2000, a young boy by the name of Elián Gonzalez found himself at the center of a heated debate surrounding immigration laws. The saga of events that unfolded during the following months turned into a media frenzy, as the case highlighted this country’s internal divide on the topic of immigration. Now seven years later, the debate concerning America’s immigration policy continues, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill confront this issue through attempts of legislative reform. While those who oppose unauthorized immigration argue that undocumented immigrants are taking American jobs and eroding American culture, Hispanics across this nation have rallied to make known their ongoing contributions to American society and to fight for their rights to live and prosper in this country.
In November of 2000, George W. Bush defeated Al Gore in one of the closest, most controversial Presidential elections in this nation’s history. This election left a particularly bitter taste in the mouths of African Americans, as reports of irregular voting activities in Black communities unfurled shortly after election night. Such irregularities included allegations of harassment and intimidation at the polls, a disproportionate number of rejected ballots from voting sites in African American communities and many other incidents that seemed to liken civil rights infringements of America’s past. After the election, these allegations were confirmed by the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, which reported that half of the ballots rejected in the 2000 election were cast by African American voters, while only one out of every ten voters was Black.
The 2000 Presidential election would not be the last time African Americans would feel rejected by their government. Nearly half a decade later, **** Katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast of the United States, mercilessly destroying everything in its path. As the world watched thousands of New Orleans natives wait in desperation for relief, the mismanaged, prolonged response of the U.S. Government ignited feelings of outrage among African Americans, who felt once again their government had discounted their value as citizens of this country.
The events referenced above reflect just some of the pervasive barriers African Americans and Hispanics face as they struggle to validate their relevance in the context of White America. And while each group attempts to fight its own battles in an effort to gain a stronger foothold in society, neither seems to recognize the similarities that exist at the root of their struggles. The events discussed above distinctly highlight the rejection and disfranchisement both African Americans and Hispanics continue to experience in this country. However, instead of acknowledging the things each group has in common, many African Americans and Hispanics fall **** to an ingoup-outgroup mentality. This type of “us versus them” mindset often results in the belief that the advancement of one group will directly hinder the progress of the other. Ironically, it is this outlook that in turn impedes the progression of both groups. That said, if African Americans and Hispanics hope to overcome many of the obstacles they face today, it is important for them understand the value each group has within our society and to support one another on the issues that infringe on each group’s civil liberties.
It is undeniable that Hispanics will play an integral role in changing the economic and cultural landscape of this country over the coming years. The rapid growth rate of the Latino population in the U.S. underscores the tremendous impact this group will continue to have on our economy, particularly as it relates to the labor market. And while the growth rate of the African American population is not nearly as staggering, the buying power of this group has reached record levels in recent years, as Blacks continue to benefit from steady increases in disposable income. In addition to purchasing power, African Americans are able demonstrate more “consumer clout” than ever before due to their omnipresent influence over cultural trends that extend across the world.
One key way to combine the power and influence each group has on our country at large, is to bring together significant leaders of the African American and Hispanic communities and encourage dialogue surrounding the issues each group faces and propose solutions as to how both groups can work together toward social and economic advancement. African American and Hispanic Congressmen and women, as well as social leaders, must come together and demonstrate to the general population that the two groups represent a united front that is eager to work toward social justice and equality.
Once political and community leaders from both groups have come together to address the issues African Americans and Hispanics confront, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) should continue this dialogue by encouraging students to seek opportunities to learn about the struggles of cultures outside of their own. The most obvious way to promote cultural awareness is to offer an extensive curriculum surrounding historical reviews of the development of different cultures, including Latin American, Caribbean and African ethnology.
In addition to providing more culturally focused curriculum, I believe one key way to foster awareness and acceptance of different cultures is to encourage direct exposure to such cultures through study abroad programs. By living and studying in a foreign country, students are able to gain a greater appreciation for the intricacies and complexities of a particular culture and society. The type of insight that is gained through a study abroad program is truly unique and cannot be replicated in the standard classroom setting. As such, I strongly believe HBCUs should dedicate substantial resources toward creating more robust opportunities for their students to study abroad.
In addition to building programs intended to encourage African American students to study abroad, HBCUs should work toward forging relationships with international schools, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, to encourage students of these nations to take advantage of an abroad experience at an HBCU. By creating a strong foreign exchange program with these schools, through both the export and import of students, HBCUs would play a vital role in strengthening the relationship between African Americans and Latinos worldwide.
African Americans and Hispanics must realize that they cannot continue to their journeys toward racial equality and social justice alone – it is now time for their paths to intersect. Once these paths cross, African Americans and Hispanics will be able to merge their growing power and influence and will undoubtedly evoke both social and economic change in this country. However for this to occur, each group must first engage in meaningful dialogue with one another and seek opportunities for immersion into the other’s culture. These steps toward cultural awareness and acceptance will eventually lead to a deeper understanding of the issues African Americans and Hispanics face and will prompt both groups to seek a united approach toward reaching a common goal.
