African American and Hispanic Unity
by Roxanna Rayla
For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has always been my role model. My grandmother, Josephina, and her family came to the United States back in the 1920's as a very poor but confident girl. She met my grandfather, Cirillo, at the young age of 15. After a year long courtship, they married, settled in a small town in central Kansas, and began a family. The Marquess family became a vital part of their community, as well as their 15 (yes, fifteen) sons and
daughters. In addition to their strong bond as a family, many members dedicated their lives and careers to serving and improving education, law, and human resources. Four sons and 2 daughters became teachers, as one became an attorney. Another son represented city council for many years, while another 2 daughters became social workers. My uncle Steven and Aunt Helen both became well respected business owners in the community, often reaching out to minorities, those in need or
those who were disadvantaged. I believe it is important to work together and give back to the community to make our diverse cultures grow and succeed in harmony.
I believe Hispanics and African Americans have wealth of knowledge and talent to offer. I feel that more chances and responsibilities should be given to those minorities, both in work and school, so that they may gain pride and dignity. They need to be empowered; confidence and good self-esteem are the rewards of those who can experience personal worth.
By continuing to support and show interest in educating the minorities who attend the historically black colleges and universities, we are displaying a kinship and bond to a culture. Every culture and minority needs special attention and focus on traditions, values, customs, and organizations specific to that race. I feel it is necessary to nurture and uphold while gaining the knowledge to perpetuate this in the working world. I also think minority-based publications, circulars, and newsletters can create connection and encouragement for those who want to start businesses or pursue investments.
There are strength in numbers–the more minorities that share and prosper in the business world, the more self-assurance and confidence will be generated throughout the community. In turn, the larger picture of the business world will benefit from the diversity and collaboration as well.
I believe more assistance and contributions should be made for those minorities actively pursuing careers in this slowly evolving non-traditional business world. I think the term "minority" too negatively denotes an individual. It puts a stigma on the person as to say he or she is an odd or not the normal. If I had to come up with a word for any race other than Anglo Saxon, it would be "manjority", meaning a "group of race belong to a whole". This would be more considerate and
appropriate in this planet of "politically correctness."
We must all remember that we are essentially "one" race, that of its creator, and we all strive to
make the best of life for ourselves and our families. A famous baseball player by the name of Roberto Clemente once said, "Any time you have an opportunity to make a difference in this world and you don't, then you are wasting your time on Earth."
