As the past history books failed to mention the “minority” bloodshed that helped build this country and the adamant chains of racism are left unbroken, African Americans and Hispanics must become interdependent on one another. Like any other curious Hispanic student, I look at the percentages of how many “minorities” represent us; after seeing a measly ten percent out of thirty thousand students being Hispanic at my future university, it sends messages to other people and it provides them with a reason to chastise us. African-Americans and Hispanics—being two common minorities—must cherish an education to strive for justice. And it is opportunities like this scholarship that appease students as they pounce on every aid available—another one thousand dollars can help any education, an education some parents cannot afford bear to afford. A greater interest in education will create mature and ripe minds; students will not rely on their minority status in order to enter a university of caliber. They will proudly mention their high SAT scores and effective writing skills to pour out their voices—voices that are constantly muffled by the outside society. We have seen on movies, our textbooks and websites of historical groups who learn to cope with one another in order to lessen the severity of racism and disunity among their people. Hispanics and African-Americans have a greater chance of succeeding in this country and anywhere else in the world by maintaining an open mind and an intelligent voice. Of course, the sting of prejudice will never become reduces; our audacity to strive in classes where we are not wanted and to receive praise from our minds is much more appealing than using our minority blood to succeed. Again, as I saw that Hispanics were ten percent of the student population at UC Berkeley, I wondered of how much I could do to help students and the young from these two minority groups to become mature beings. An open mind will not only raise our socioeconomic status, it can provide a firm foundation for politics and a mentality to help solve social problems. After possessing a great perspective on life, Hispanics and African-Americans can teach other children of minority backgrounds to possess an incentive to continue school. Since a child’s mind is not fully develop, Hispanics and African-Americans can use that to teach children to think for themselves. By turning on National Public Radio in the car and asking a child what their stand is on that particular issue, we can become connected. True, we are minorities. But who said this? We may be minorities due to the lack of incentive to pursue an education. An education is certainly a step up and a fabric uniting Hispanics and African-Americans. By joining educational clubs to discuss events that matter, we are becoming closer and trying to sew that huge boundary between community disunity. By becoming educated in important events like politics, Hispanics and African-Americans can discuss certain issue and not complain. I remember attending a “Raza Day” at UC Berkeley; our supervisor complained of the disunity and low number of minorities at school. Of course, I did not agree with her. We, as minorities, have a chance to unite with our “less recognized” groups. We need an open mind and a possibility of teaching others the reality of our social world. Until then, can Hispanics, African-Americans and Afro-Hispanics unite to become a majority.
