Immigrant Rights Supporters Must Reach Out to Blacksby Jasmyne A. Cannick and Earl Ofari Hutchinson

Immigrant rights leaders have repeatedly and with great pride compared the movement for humane immigration reform to the great civil rights battles of the 1960s.  They have cited the Poor Peoples March in 1968, the high esteem that Cesar Chavez held for Dr. Martin Luther King, and the unequivocal support that top civil rights leaders and the Congressional Black Caucus has given to immigrant rights as solid models of black and brown cooperation.  Yet, despite these public pronouncements, there has been no sustained movement to build any real coalitions with blacks on the immigration issue. 
   
That has led to confusion and even anger. California Legislative Black Caucus Chair Assemblyman Mervyn M. Dymally  came out in support of humane  immigration reform.  Dymally, who is was born in Trinidad and became the first foreign born black member of Congress, in a statement on his website said that “While I have not participated in any of the demonstrations because I was never invited by the organizers to do so, Assemblymember Joe Coto, vice-chair of the California Legislative Latino Caucus knows of my support for the demonstrations.”

While a Field Poll in California found that blacks -- by a bigger percentage than whites, and even American-born Latinos -- backed liberal immigration reform measures little has been done on the side of immigrant rights groups to work with blacks on issues that both groups have in common.

The Field Poll does not paint an accurate portrait of the feelings of most blacks on illegal immigration. 

The majority of blacks feel as if the illegal immigration debate is a single-issue fight that does not include them.  Immigrant rights leaders have been MIA at rallies and gatherings on issues that blacks find important including renewal of certain parts of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that are due to expire in 2007, police misconduct, improving failing inner city public schools, and most importantly the astronomical crisis of black joblessness among young blacks.  Particularly since it is perceived by most blacks that illegal immigrants take jobs away from blacks.

The NAACP's mission statement reads: The mission of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.  But unlike the NAACP, the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), which has been a major backer of the immigrant rights protests, has not spoken out continually and relentlessly for black rights issues.  Its mission statement reads: The Mexican American Political Association, founded in Fresno, California in 1960, has been, and is, dedicated to the constitutional and democratic principle of political freedom and representation for the Mexican and Hispanic people of the United States of America.  There is no mention of blacks, poor whites or even other immigrant groups, just Latinos.

This lack of an interracial message in the fight for civil rights has been heard loud and clear by blacks in America.

When black members of the Minutemen Project held a protest in a predominantly black neighborhood in Los Angeles, immigrant activist and MAPA president Nativo Lopez said that he believes they are out of step with most black leaders and that both blacks and Hispanics face the same problems.
 
While many blacks denounce the Minutemen, blacks, especially in Los Angeles, are not completely supportive of illegal immigrants.

With the exception of a few marginalized black leaders, blacks in general have not come out in support of illegal immigrant rights but many have gathered opposing illegal immigration.

While Spanish language continues to be a huge divide in communicating between blacks and Latinos, Black brown relations will continue to be strained as long as blacks are the only ones reaching out to Latinos to build coalitions. 

Latinos who want to change the mindset of blacks on illegal immigrants' rights must make a visible and concerted effort to reach out to blacks and not just on immigrant rights issues but on issues that are important to blacks as well.  Just as they vigorously pound on Congress, the Bush Administration, employers, and the American people to make jobs and justice the watchwords for dispossessed immigrants, they must make jobs and justice the watchword for dispossessed poor blacks too.  That is the right and indeed the only way to build a firm and lasting relationship between blacks and immigrants rights groups.

Comments

[Keven Eldridge]

I am appalled that prominent Black Leaders have not stood up and spoken on this issue. Are blacks who support Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants aware of the impact that it will have on the nation? Of any one minority group in America today, this effort stands to impact the black community the hardest.

First and foremost, let me say that I am not anti-Hispanic. I am a resident of Southern California so I have a better than average view of the culture. Mexican culture is as essential to the United States as Black, Native, Asian, or Anglo culture. I am not anti-Hispanic; however, I am anti-poverty. The wave illegal immigrants to this nation have caused a ballooning effect in the number of persons living below the poverty line. This massive number wreaks havoc on state and local governments struggling to keep infrastructure and resources at sustainable levels. Quite frankly, they are overwhelmed with no help in sight from Uncle Sam. Here’s my assessment you decide:

Public Education is in crisis. For years educators and school officials have been fighting trying to get reduce class sizes. Now federal mandates like “No Child Left Behind,” have increased pressures on our education system to increase reading and math scores. Immigrant children are not educated in wealth school districts. They attend inner city schools. Many children are limited or non English speakers. As a result, most schools are in a place where they are competing, on one hand to get their students math and reading levels up to par, and on the other, to help students learn English. Blacks make up a large portion of inner city schools. Who suffers as a result?

Recently I attended funerals for both my mother and grandmother. Their deaths were two weeks apart to be precise. While they had pre-existing conditions that caused their deaths, neither had the proper care needed to prolong the life of my grandmother, or save the life of my mother. For example, my mother was unable to get a bed in the ICU for approximately a day and a half. She had visited the emergency room several times prior to her death, the doctors basically sent her away, ignoring her complaints. In a conversation with my mother’s primary care physician, several weeks before her death, my brother told me that the doctor said she was just trying to get attention. She got our attention alright. My Big Mama, had similar experiences. Her physicians were so overwhelmed that they did not have time to stop to accurately access her condition. In my grandmother’s case, after repeated phone calls to her doctor, my aunt explained that the doctor told her to put my grandmother in a nursing home.

You might ask, what does this have to do with Illegal Immigration. When we visited the hospital, to see my mother prior to her passing, the hospital’s emergency and ICU units were full of illegal immigrants. Those immigrants needed treatment, many of their conditions were critical, but such numbers as I encountered, I find it impossible to believe that folks are getting adequate care- impossible. In the event that I get sick, the first thing I am asked for when I go the emergency room is money for a co-payment along with my insurance card. Illegal immigrants get treatment and leave. The states have to pick up the cost. Is this fair? I have known hospitals that have closed because of this practice. Blacks suffer most because relative to our size, population-wise; a large portion of our people are without medical insurance. We pay taxes and go to work everyday too.

The nation’s workforce is in a crisis. I work in employment services for the Orange County, CA. Every year I see thousands who have lost their jobs due to outsourcing. Outsourcing is not merely an exodus of jobs overseas. Many jobs are being outsourced here in this country to illegal immigrants. Take a look at what’s occurring in New Orleans. Go to a typical American restaurant here. They are not staffed by Americans. I have worked with youth, adult and senior populations, assisting them in finding employment. Youth and our seniors are finding it hard to get jobs- many which are low skilled jobs that help them either gain work experience, in the case of youth, or supplement their existing incomes, in the case of the seniors. How does this affect Blacks? Again, relative to our population, many blacks depend on low skilled jobs, especially those getting out of prison. They have hardest time finding jobs; they have a strike against them.

Unemployment of low skilled workers in our community creates an environment where crime is rampant. People have to make money doing something, or they can’t feed their families, worse yet, they can not pay for housing or relative expenses.

The Bush Administration says that they do jobs that Americans won’t do. What jobs are those. Americans work in restaurants, hotels, and construction. Name the occupation I can show you a relative or a friend.

Lastly, poor communities have grown beyond capacity. Cost of living has skyrocketed wages have remained relatively low. Take, for example, upon graduating high school, I worked at Long John Silver’s. My ending wage was $4.25 per hour. Today the federal minimum wage is $5.15. Here’s the tragedy: Minimum wage has increased by 21.2% in the last 12 years, while inflation has increased by 36%. Plug in the numbers yourself at: http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

The following charge outlines poverty line based on number living in house hold and the amount of income you have received in the past six months. In other words, if you are a family of one and you have made 4,785 or less in the past 6 months you are considered below the poverty level living in California.

Number living in household 6 months 12 months
Family of 1 $4,785 $9,570
Family of 2 $7,080 $14,160
Family of 3 $9,720 $19,440
Family of 4 $11,995 $23,990

Take a look at the numbers. The average rent in Los Angeles is $735.00. According to rent.com, the cost of living in Los Angeles is 33% above the national average. Why add to the collection of poor people when it only seems proper to concentrate on ridding our nation of poverty?

Who is going to pay for it? You and I Mr. and Ms. Tax Payer will pay for it. The feds are broke. We have a multi-trillion dollar deficit, and the President has added insult to injury with the approval a 70 billion dollar tax cut mainly for the wealthy.

I find it ironic that those in Congress who support an amnesty bill don’t have their children educated in inner city schools. Their family members don’t have to compete for low wage jobs, their medical care is secure, and moreover, they don’t live in our communities.

Could it be that, generally, poor people don’t vote so why should Congressman or Senator Joe Blow care about poor people when Businessman Bill funds his or her election campaign? Let us not exclude Unions. Last year, the two unions severed ties. The problem: Many unions are having problems getting numbers needed to keep union bosses in power. Influxes of low wage workers have the bosses salivating at the mouth- a pool of money and- Power. It hurts me to say this because I belong to a union, but it’s the truth.

Oh, I almost forgot, the Democratic Party’s strongest ally and supporter, financially is the Union. They have to keep this financial base. That’s one of the reasons you see Dems aligned with an Amnesty Bill. Also, Dems have not done particularly well with the Hispanic community in the past. Hispanics tend to lean more conservative. Guess what, we have an election coming up in November of 2006. Connect the dots.

It’s time to break the cycle of poverty. I would be remised if I did not offer a solution. The solution is at www.theconstituency.com.

God Bless,

Keven Eldridge
Blog Editor,
http://www.theconstituency.com

[Texas76132]

Don, your last post was correct. NO disagreement from me.

[Texas76132]

Denise,

Your last post was right on target.

[Derrick from Philly]

Oh, please. I wish the Lord would throw every damn body out of this courty except for the Native Americans. It would still be their land if they weren't practically exterminated. Ever look at the average Mexican? Who looks like they got more Native American blood in them?

[Texas76132]

L,

Sorry I have to disagree with you on this one.

This is not their land. They took that land away from the American Indian in the form of conquer and war. Then they sold it to the United States much in the same way France sold their land in the Louisiana purchase;albeit, some of it may have been under duress, but the majority of it was sold because the Spanish leaders thought the land was full of disease and uninhabitable. They don't lave any legal or moral claim to get back something they stole themselves. Are they going to return the land back to the Yuma Indians in Arizona or the Waco Indians in Texas? The answer to that is NO WAY. Native Americans are not and never were Hispanic. Spanish is not or never was their native language. These people wanting their so-called land back can live by example and return Central and South America back to its pre-Hispanic state. They can give their land back to the Aztecs, Mayan and Chiapas Indians for start. The Chiapas Indians are still being murdered to this day in southern Mexico to this very day by the government because they want independence and their land returned back to them. They should not tell us to do something they are not willing to do themselves. And they should stop comparing illegal immigration to the struggle of blacks because it ain't the same.

[denise]

L,
African Americans are as racist towards Latinos?

You are just stupid; or a racist yourself who thinks that you are dividing something that never was together.

Who are the ones who have not only reached out to the Latino community; but every community that comes here?

African Americans.

Every concessions African Americans got; and many times by some form or other of death - they came right on in and benefitted and in some cases; as is Florida, they helped to close the door on African Americans.

Who gave them jobs and space in the Entertainment business? And many times the ingrates would turn right around and try to caste some disparages on Us.

Remember Rosie Perez's dumb Black movie spiel? Spike was sick.

Remember J.Lo's "Niggah"? Okay that was a bad example.

More Recently Eva Longoria, after being warned by her mother that she could not introduce her boyfriend, frenchman Tony Parker to her grandmother because his skin was dark (she said "black," but most Black people want to be white so...) said, that they won't tell her he is "dark," just that he is french.

For that I don't blame them totally; American Negroes are some of the most self-defeating sychophants in the World.

Now you name one Latino who has given any of that shit back.

I have been to the Dominican, I have gone to Puerto Rico (where I observed probably the least racism toward the darker (cause they be White, or so they say)
peoples) and I have gone to Panama. Racism there, toward those "black" White peoples is something that I can only imagine on my worst day.

It is well documented that even today in Mexico; the "dark" natives are relegated to the outskirts and are made to show i.d. that they are citizens. I am talking about the natives! And you did not know that Fox's racist comment about Us was just political posturing????????????????????????????

What about the Latino lowlifes in the California jails who have joined with the Aryan nation against the Blacks?

What kind of repruccussions are you going to dole out to them? No, dumb question, people like you come with some reasoning why they rightfully killed the Niggers; I know.

Name the repruccussions that they can level:
They don't employ any African Americans.
They have not ever made any space or supported African Americans... Look at Telemundo... name one African American on Hispanic radio.

Hispanics are looking for support based solely on an
anti - black theme.... and because of it I am surprised they have not gotten it. But, White folks, are rightfully looking out for their own best self-interest.

Other than being totally against any kind of amnesty for illegals in this country... I don't care now, and never cared about numbers; or what they want, or if they go after it, they have a right to go after whatever it is that they deem to want; and many times to garner support they come with an anti- black message. FACT.

The power brokers in this country have always and will continue to pit groups against each other; that keeps them in control... most times normal African Americans don't fall for the trap... Hispanics utilize it.

That is why Negroes always find themselves with nothing...and many of them deserve it; they cut their own throats and the throats of their own people, so someone can smile at them.

Smile Niggah, Smile.

Don, to get more Blacks in this country, including Blacks from some South American countries; it was a bill put forth by the Legislative Black Caucus.
I think that that is enough, don't you?

I wonder if L is trolling on Hispanic boards and telling all those Hispanics who are against illegal immigration; and who have joined the minutemen, or are supporting them financially; or those who are members of the KKK if they are going to face huge repercussions!

What kind of Repercussions are Whites who are against illegal immigration; who I have seen abuse and misuse Hispanics (When I was in my late teens and traveling during the summers and would take jobs in different states; I could not believe how some of these people were being treated; and what happened my 18th year, when I was living and working in Lynn, MA; and saw the mental abuse that some of the kids faced; while Hispanic adults said nothing...)

Fuck that and Fuck you too, L.

I think I have reached that point, and it is time for me to go. I wish those who fight the right fights good luck. But there is no hope in sight.

African Americans; Gay, Straight, Normal and Crazy are the sickest, stupidest people walking the earth.

We base our thoughts and opinions on who We are fucking; and Lord if someone other than a fellow African American would fuck'em back...well, We have arrived!

We subvert Ourselves, and put Ourselves on auction blocks for money, for sanity, just to be seen.

To African Americans, if you got straight hair, that means you are good.

If you have a lighter skin hue, then you must be mixed with White folks, and that means you are good; and smart.

African Americans, tell Nigger jokes right along with others, so they can feel that they are okay; and never question, "When you say, Nigger, do you mean me?"

Yes. Nigger.

And if We are going to be truthful, We know that in the African American community this has nothing to do with social class or economics... the same sicknesses that befall the whole African American community, certainly befalls the African American gay community.

[Don "Stuffed Animal" Charles]

Black people are as racist to Latinos as White people? I think that statement would be hard to prove, especially since many Latinos are themselves Black. How about this: Many White Latinos are are as racist to African-Americans and Black Latinos are non-Hispanic White people are? I think that would be much easier to prove.

I didn't approve of NAFTA, and I tend to sympathize with any group of poor, working class people. However, I don't sympathize with people who threaten my livelihood and throws their illegal status in my face. I would be happy to "help" with the immigration movement, but I will never "help" with the illegal immigration movement. False accusations of racism won't intimidate me into doing so, either. Nobody can obligate me to support a movement, least of all a movement I have strong reasons to oppose.

I'm living on Mexican land? Bulls***!!! Whose land was it before it the Spanish arrived? Don't just tell half the story, tell it all! If the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which annexed northern Mexico to the United States was unjust, I daresay that the massacre of thousands of Indians and the seizure of their lands by Cortez and his conquistadores was unjust, too. Both countries have blood on their hands. Mexicans can hardly present themselves as innocent historical victims.

We are not living in the 16th century. We are not living in the 19th century. This is the 21st century, and reality is that the United States and Mexico are separate countries. Get used to it, already! I'll be damned if I willingly suffer the consequences of illegal immigration because some radical Latinos still resent the outcome of the Mexican-American War.

Why should Mexicans be allowed to flood the United States and take over our government when they allowed grinding poverty and open corruption to thrive in their country while they were still there? Why didn't they march, rally and boycott then? They chose to leave Mexico in shambles and sneak into the United States. They didn't even have the ambition to stay at home and fight to make living conditions better. Is that the kind of citizen we want here?

Not only do I refuse to help illegal Mexican immigrants achieve their selfish, opportunistic aims, I will resist them . . . and every rational American, regardless of racial or ethnic background, should do the same! It's high time we put a stop to the kind of economic terrorism they (and the Wall Street interests that support them) represent.

[L]

The reason why Latinos don't seek our help is because we are just as racist to them as white people. If you don't believe me, just read some of the statements made on this site about the Immigration movement. Black people, we need to realize, whether we like it or not, Latinos are here to stay. We need to stop being so quick to turn into racist and try to help with the Immigration movement. If not, we will face the repercussions of this for a long time to come. Latinos have always been here and they are never going to leave. Besides if you live in California, Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Texas, and Las Vegas, those were originally Mexican territories anyway, so technically, you are living on THEIR LAND!!!!!!

[Don "Stuffed Animal" Charles]

There is indeed prejudice inside Black communities which works against coalition-building. Nicolas Vaca's book says as much. However, I didn't say anything at all about "nativism." That is a very tricky term to use, by the way. You must assume I don't know that many Latino families lived in this territory long before it was US territory. African-American opposition to illegal immigration stems less from a sense of "nativism" and more from a feeling that their economic well-being, political clout (such as it is) and cultural norms may be threatened. Regardless of what their motives are, the point I was making is that Black/Latino coalitions are an increasingly dubious proposition, and I was making it from the viewpoint of a Black person.

[Chris]

Don, It is funny that with your statement "There is rampant racism and homophobia inside many Latino communities." you put all the blame on Latino communities. So there is no nativism, prejudice and homophobia in the African American community?

[Don "Stuffed Animal" Charles]

Anybody who thinks African-Americans and Latinos are natural allies should read the book "The Presumed Alliance : The Unspoken Conflict Between Latinos and Blacks and What It Means for America" by Nicolas C. Vaca . . . and they need to read it yesterday! There are far too many people running around these days who insist on overlooking the obvious: There is rampant racism and homophobia inside many Latino communities.

[Shannon]

I've got to agree with Don and M. I was astounded by the fact that when they first held some of their protests, they were held in Spanish. All illegal immigrants are not from Spanish speaking countries. I think that just went to show that they're only really concerned about themselves. I'm not blaming them for feeling this way, but as someone said earlier, "there will be no cum-by-yah moment."

[ROXX]

JASMYNE
sO TODAY I FINALLY HAVE TO SAY IT. I SERIOUSLY THINK YOU HAVE BECOME UNSTABLE AND CLOUDED IN YOUR FIGHT FOR JUSTICE. I THINK THE FIGHT HAS BECOME TOO DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO REMAIN ON THE FRONT LINES. YOUR FIGHT SEEMS TO COME FROM A CENTER OF PERSONAL SELFISHNESS AND POSSIBLLY INNER STRUGGLE. I AM A LESBIAN WOMAN AND AS I READ YOUR BLOG DAILY I HAVE TO WONDER ABOUT YOUR MENTAL STABILITY IN THIS RACE. MAYBE YOUR LIFE HAS BEEN FILLED WITH MORE TIME OF WAITING FOR HAND OUTS THEN SOMEONE GIVING YOU THE GUIDENCE TO GET UP AND GET IT FOR YOURSELF INSTEAD OF STEALING OFF OF ANOTHERS PLATE. IF BLACK PEOPLE CAN'T FIGHT FOR THEMSELVES WHO ARE YOU TO DEMAND WE HONE IN ON ANOTHERS BATTLE AND INSIST THEY INCLUDE US? I WONDER IF THEIR FIGHT HAD NOT HAD THE SUCCESS IT SEEMS TO HAVE AT THE MOMENT WOULD YOU EVEN CARE. HOW CAN YOU SUGGEST OR BE ANGRY WHEN THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND THEIR SUPPORTS PARALLELS THEIR STRUGGLE WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT BUT SCREAM BLOODY MURDER WHEN THE CIVIL RIGHTS HEADS BLAST THE GAY COMMUNITY FOR MAKING THE SAME PARALLELS? I HAVE TRIED FOR A YEAR NOW TO ALLOW YOU TO EVEN OUT AND GET A MORE CLEAR LEVELHEADED AND EMPOWERED VIEW OF THIS JOURNEY FOR JUSTICE. IT SEEMS TO BE LIKE BEATING A DEAD HORSE. I WILL HAVE TO STICK WITH KEITH BOYKIN FOR MY DAILY FILL OF NEWS AND OPINIONS AND TRY OTHER LESBIAN BLOGS AND SITES. NO I DO NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH kEITH'S OR OTHERS VIEWS EITHER BUT HIS VOICE IS MORE REASONABLE EVEN IF IT MAKES YOU HAVE TO RETHINK YOUR POSITION. EVERY POST IS NOT ABOUT WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE SOMETHING TO ME A UNEMPOWERED LGBT PERSON WHO HAS NO CLUE AS TO HOW TO GET IT ON MY OWN. IT SEEMS WHEN CONTROVERSY HITS YOU LASH OUT WITH STATEMENTS AND HAVE TO GET BACK UP TO SUPPORT IT FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO MORE CLOUT THAN YOU DO IN OUR COMMUNITY AND THEN MAKE SURE NO ONE CAN RESPOND TO THOSE STATEMENTS.
TAKE CARE AND STAY IN PRAYER!

[Don "Stuffed Animal" Charles]

With all due respect, Mr. Hutchison does not speak for me when he implies that I and the rest of the Black community are willing to support the cause of illegal Latino immigrants once they support our issues. I will not lie in bed with the Devil, no matter how comfortable he makes the bedclothes look.

The reason those Latino activists haven't spoken out on the behalf of African-Americans is because they don't give a sh** about us! They don't care about anyone but themselves. Their game is to intimidate with numbers. They want to make politicians and political groups terrified to oppose them, for fear of Latino backlash at the polls. So politicians decide that the smart think to do is coalesce with them. But guess what? They're not going to get anything of significance out of the coalition!!!

I wouldn't mind getting nothing back if I believed the cause illegal immigrants are marching for was just. But it is NOT just! The marches and boycotts yesterday should have made it clear to everyone that this movement has a sinister intent. Latino activists angrily dismiss the fact that illegal aliens are lawbreakers. Why should that be of any importance? Regardless of immigration status, they are here in large enough numbers to force their agenda on everyone else. If we don't give them what they want, they will cripple our economy. They will shut down our schools. They've already compromised our national security, and in a time of terrorist threat, too.

If our government is foolish enough to actually meet their demands, there's no guarantee they'll accept what is offered. I've listened to interviews with numerous so-called immigrant activists, and it's obvious to me that they not only want amnesty, they want to dictate the exact terms of amnesty. It ain't nothin' but a power grab! Who knows when they'll be satisfied?

Their selfish, destructive demands cannot compare to the Civil Rights struggles our Black and Gay forebears waged. Not in any way, shape, or form! Our people had no desire to destabilize the country. They were already citizens, and they just wanted the full citizenship rights due them as native-born Americans. They didn't storm down streets waving the flags of other nations. They didn't rewrite the national anthem and try to use it as a political weapon. It's a bet they didn't get days off from their employers to participate in sit-ins and protest marches, either! "Grass-roots movement" my Black ass!

To sneak into a country, or overstay your Visa and then demand that immigration laws be changed to suit you . . . that's wrong. It's outrageous. I can't think of any other nation whose citizens would sanction such a demand. Organizations that purport to advocate for the rights of Lesbians, Gay Men, African-Americans and other disadvantaged groups of Americans do their communities no good by seeking alliences with illegal aliens. It is a major mistake they . . . and WE . . . will surely regret.

[Lourdes]

April 10, 2006

An Open Letter to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community:

We are a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people
of color who work in the LGBT movement. We are writing to you in
response to Jasmyne Cannick's article "Gays First, Then Illegals", which ran
in The Advocate (

http://www.advocate.com/exclusive_detail_ektid28908.asp), in which she,
a black lesbian, argues that she cannot support the current battle for
immigrant rights because LGBT people have not yet won the right to
marry. We are writing to express our profound disagreement with her, and
to offer alternative LGBT perspectives to the current immigration
battles happening across the country.

To begin with, Cannick fails to realize an obvious fact - the LGBT
community and the immigrant community are not mutually exclusive. There
are thousands of LGBT immigrants in this country. There are thousands of
black immigrants. And there are thousands of black LGBT immigrants.
To put forward an argument that says "we should get ours first" makes us
question who exactly is the "we" in that analysis. In addition, we
recognize the historically interconnected nature of the immigrant and LGBT
struggles - such as the ban on "homosexual immigrants" that extended
into the 1990's, and the present HIV ban, which disproportionately
impacts LGBT people - and we believe that only by understanding these
connections and building coalition can we ensure real social change for all.

And we ask those who share the destructive views of this article to
remember the immortal words of Audre Lorde when she said that "There is no
hierarchy of oppression". We reject any attempts to pit the struggle
of multiple communities against each other and firmly believe that
"Rights" are not in limited supply. We condemn the "scarcity of rights"
perspective espoused by Cannick and other members of the LGBT movement,
and are surprised to see members of our community trafficking in such
ugliness. But then, one reason why it has always been so hard to shift
power in this country is because the ruling class has successfully made
us believe that there are only a few deserving groups to whom rights can
be given. This strategy has always been used to divide oppressed groups
from coming together to work in coalition.

We are painfully aware that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
communities still lack many basic protections under the law in this
country, including the right to care for and support all of our families, in
the various ways in which we construct family and kinship.
Nevertheless, supporting immigrant rights, while we continue to work for LGBT
liberation, does nothing to hurt our cause. In fact, we believe the
opposite to be true, and want to work towards building powerful coalitions
between immigrant and LGBT movements to work together for social justice.

We are also aware that many immigrant right advocates have
(intentionally or not) used anti-black rhetoric to move their agenda forward.
Arguments such as "Don't treat us like 'criminals'" or "We are doing work
that 'other' Americans won't do" have the effect of positioning
immigrant narratives as subtly juxtaposed with American stereotypes of
non-immigrant black communities. They leave native-born black Americans as
among the only people who do not have access to the immigrant narrative,
and so are in a permanent position of subordination, as the state
consistently negotiates and redefines citizenship and "American-ness" for
almost everyone but blacks. Nevertheless, the solution to this problem
is not to abandon support for the struggle of immigrant communities.
Rather, we call on immigrant movements and (non-immigrant) black
organizations to work together for real racial and economic justice in this
country. Together these movements can work to end the exploitation and
targeting of both communities, and to ensure that black folks and
immigrants do not end up having to choose between competing for low-paying
jobs, or being targeted for detainment or imprisonment.

As lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of color, we support
the current immigrant rights marches and rallies happening across the
country this month, and we march too. We march because immigrants are
among the most politically vulnerable, underpaid and exploited
communities in the country, and are asking for basic human rights, including the
right to live free from torture and exploitation, and the right to
work. We march because we recognize the connections between the state
attacks on immigrant and LGBT communities, and that LGBT immigrants in
particular are disproportionately affected by much anti-immigrant
legislation. We march because we oppose the heightened policing and
criminalization of immigrant communities, including the increased militarization
of the border, as mandated by HR 4437 and Senate bills. We march
because we oppose indefinite and mandatory detention of noncitizens-as well
as the mass incarceration of people-of-color-communities in the U.S.
more broadly-and envision a society that ensures the safety and
self-determination of all people, regardless of national origin, race, class,
gender or sexuality. We march because we oppose the guestworker
proposals, which would continue the exploitation of many low-wage workers. We
march because we demand the repeal of the HIV ban. We march because
our sexualities have been historically criminalized by this country, and
we understand that "law" and "justice" are not the same thing.

It is our understanding that Jasmyne Cannick was writing as an
individual, and not as a representative of either the National Black Justice
Coalition (on whose Board of Directors she serves) or The Stonewall
Democrats (for whose Black Caucus she serves as Co-Chair). As LGBT people
of color, we call upon both of those organizations to publicly clarify
their own positions in this ongoing civil rights discussion.

We also call upon our community to imagine how much more progress we
could make if we all stopped thinking of social justice as a zero-sum
game.

Sincerely,

Katherine Acey
Executive Director, the Astraea Lesbian Action Fund

Faisal Alam
Founder & Former Director, Al-Fatiha Foundation for LGBTIQ Muslims

Samiya Bashir
Board Member, National Black Justice Coalition
Communications Director, Freedom to Marry
Board Member, Fire & Ink

Noemi Calonje
Immigration Project Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)

Noran J. Camp
Office Administrator, Freedom to Marry

Chris Chen
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
immigrant from Taiwan 1997

Alain Dang
Policy Analyst, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Debanuj Dasgupta
Board of Directors, Queer Immigrant Rights Project

Carlos Ulises Decena, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey

Joseph N. DeFilippis
Executive Director, Queers for Economic Justice

Marta Donayre
Co-Founder, Love Sees No Borders

Andres Duque
Coordinator, Mano A Mano

Monroe France
Educational Training Manager, Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network
Board of Directors, Queers for Economic Justice

Eddie Gutierrez
Rep. for Christine Chavez, granddaughter of labor and civil rights
leader Cesar Chavez

Priscilla A. Hale, LMSW
Executive Director, ALLGO

Lorenzo Herrera y Lozano
Director of Arts and Community Building, ALLGO

Kemi Ilesanmi

Surina Khan
Interim Vice President of Programs, The Women's Foundation of
California
former Executive Director, International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights
Commission

Lee Che Leong
Director of Teen Health Initiative, New York Civil Liberties Union

Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assistant Professor
of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center
Board of Directors, Queers for Economic Justice

Yoseñio Vicente Lewis
Board Member, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Latino, Trans Social Justice Activist, first generation U.S. Citizen

Glenn Magpantay
Steering Committee Member, Gay Asian & Pacific Islander Men of New York

Rickke Mananzala
Campaign Coordinator, FIERCE!

Gloria Nieto
National Latino Justice Coalition

Doyin Ola
Welfare Organizer, Queers for Economic Justice

Jesús Ortega-Weffe
Director of Community Organizing, ALLGO

Emiko Otsubo
former Board member, Queers for Economic Justice

Clarence Patton
Executive Director, NYC Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project

Donna Payne
Senior Diversity Organizer, Human Rights Campaign

Earl L. Plante
Development Director, National Minority AIDS Council
President-Elect, Board of Directors, National Black Justice Coalition

Achebe Powell
Betty Powell Associates

Lorraine Ramirez
Public Policy Committee, Queers for Economic Justice

Lisbeth Meléndez Rivera
Convener, the National Latino Coalition for Justice

Ignacio Gilberto Rivera
Founder, Poly Patao Productions
Board of Directors, Queers for Economic Justice

Russell D. Roybal
Director of Movement Building, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

Rebecca Sawyer
Chair for Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Questioning Issues,
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, DC-Chapter

Shay Sellars
Major Gifts and Events Administrator, National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force

Pedro Julio Serrano
Communications Associate, Freedom to Marry
President, Puerto Rico Para Tod@s

Sarah Sohn
New Voices Legal Fellow, Immigration Equality
Board of Directors, Queers for Economic Justice

Lisa Thomas-Adeyemo
Co-Coordinator, National People of Color Organizing Institute, National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Director of Counseling, San Francisco Women Against Rape

Carmen Vazquez
Deputy Executive Director, Empire State Pride Agenda

Robert Vazquez-Pacheco
former Program Manager, Funders for Gay and Lesbian Issues

Lisa Weiner-Mahfuz
Capacity Building Project Director, The National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force

Andy Shie Kee Wong,
Coalition Manager, Asian Equality

Lancy Woo and Cristy Chung
lead Plaintiffs in the Woo vs Lockyer, marriage rights case

Miriam Yeung
Director of Public Policy and Government Relations, the LGBT Community
Center

[Chris]

The comments I am reading on this page mirror exactly what White people say about Blacks: too many of "them", "they" are ruining the schools, etc. The authors state that there is a "perception" that Latinos are "stealing" jobs from Black folk. Guess what? Whites also have a "perception" that make them afraid of Blacks. We call that racism.

Also, the authors contradict themselves. They state that the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA) only cares about Mexicans and not other Latinos. This is false. MAPA states that it supports all Hispanics. Besides, MAPA is called the MEXICAN AMERICAN political association. While the NAACP says "all races", we all know it means Black folks. It is OK for groups to fight for their own rights.

Besides, why do others hahve to fight for Black rights in order for Blacks to fight for immigration justice. While I have a lot of issues with the white LGBT movement, they do state to allies that one should not fight for issues only because they will get something in return (in response to some shameful things white queers say about racial justice issues.) We should fight b/c it is right.

[denise]

Damn M-
I agree with most all of what you have posted on here.

Jasmyne,
Why you would hook up with Hutchinson is beyond me. He is at best a two - faced Tomming Morally Treasonous Negro; whose views swing according to whom is begging from. Someone who calls a potential rape victim a liar(and infers that she is a whore)and portends that so-called Blacks leaders should condemn Black racist behavior... and never for once mentions the Black men who were hung; by the lies of Whites women and the legions of Blacks who are hung in this country each and every day - as you were recently - aided by morally treasonous NEGROES, just because they have the ability to think and articulate their own notions...

I guess nothing is changes... Harriet Tubman did Us a huge disservice when she did not kill the NEGRO who wanted to remain a slave.

[Writer M]

Essays/Letters/Opinions/Editorials:
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
and One Poor Black Man’s Opinion

by Writer M
________________________________

As a black man, I am highly offended and insulted when I hear the Mexicans equate their ILLEGAL immigraton efforts to the efforts of blacks in the Civil Rights Movement who fought for human rights FOR ALL AMERICANS, NOT JUST FOR MEXICANS.

I think I've got it; why not have the children, of the children, of the children of illegal immigration - those who broke the law, cut the line, cheated and succeeded... those who are now powerful, political, boastful and successful - foot the bill for the illegal immigration mess.

Surely their great dignity and aggressive support for illegal immigration will allow them to dig deeper into their pride and wealth, rather than into the empty pockets of poor and middle class people, children of the children of the children of Americans.

Writer M
South Los Angeles

###

Dear Illegal Alien and followers; The United States of America was NOT “built by illegal immigrants,” it was built from the blood, sweat, tears and free labor of blacks who did the jobs Americans won’t do FOR FREE!

The same job that paid me $18.00 an hours pays $7.00 per hour. Need I say more on that issue?

I am terrified! The Mexicans already run the infrastructure of Los Angeles and they promote Mexican traditions and values, alone not America’s. What happens when they, in their larger than large numbers here, take the vote from the poor minority and middle class American, looking out for their selfish interests and not the interest of ALL AMERICANS!

They proved where their loyalty is by flying Mexican flags and burning or flying upside down the American flag.

I have paid thousands of dollars in taxes over the last 20 years supporting illegal immigration, overpopulation and the impoverishment of a once fine city. Will the American middle class and poor foot the bill for the next 12 million?

As a black man, I am highly offended and insulted when I hear the Mexicans equate their ILLEGAL efforts to the efforts of blacks in the Civil Rights movement, who fought for human rights FOR ALL AMERICANS, NOT JUST FOR MEXICANS.

Mexicans are the most racist people when it’s comes to Blacks. And, illegal is illegal, despite all the deceitful rhetoric support breaking American immigration laws!

###

Dear Senator Feinstein:

PLEASE HELP ME !

If you politicians, shucking American Law and Tradition, by allowing the City of Los Angeles INVADED AND IMPOVERISHED by illegal immigrants, TAKING THE JOBS AMERICANS WILL DO, for lower wages.

AND, THESE PEOPLE ARE SOME OF THE MOST RACIST TOWARD BLACKS IN THE COMMUNITY! THEY ARE ATTACKING OUR CHILDREN IN LARGE NUMBERS AND THEY ARE CHEATING US OUT OF LOWER PAYING JOBS, HOUSING, SERVICES AND BENEFITS. I AM DISABLED AND CANNOT GET MY MEDICATIONS DUE TO OVERPOPULATION BY ILLEGAL ALIENS AND A STRAIN ON BENEFITS!

Why don't you people care about the poor and the middle class!

I VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION. I feel it's a waste of my time now!

POLITICS IS DUCKING REALITY!

###

Dear Mr. Hutchinson
THE HUTCHINSON REPORT

And I quote:

"... In rapid succession a slew of blacks have screamed that illegal immigrants are to blame for the towering ills that plague poor, under-served, crime ridden black neighborhoods. ...

"The race cry in each instance is another tired example of blacks badly overplaying the race card. But more disturbing is the refusal of black leaders to open their mouths and condemn them for doing it...."

WHAT ????????

I don't know if it's because you're an older black man, out of touch with reality and the poor black community, or you're just trying to stay in the middle of these debates. Maybe you've gotten comfortable in your wealth and, as we used to say, forgot where you're people came from, not knowing where they (poor blacks) are.

RACISM IS STILL ALIVE, MY BROTHA!!! The Mexicans are now the perpetrators of racism and hate in the poor community. Their influence is great. In their large number, power, authority and control, they have literally disenfranchised blacks.

The Mexicans are attacking (ganging up on...) our children in public schools!

Mexican Prison inmates are ganging up on black brothers and KILLING THEM.

Mexicans are cheating blacks ("especial price por u...") running illegal businesses.

Mexicans are now the infrastructure of Los Angeles and look out for their own (racist).

Mexicans are cheating poor blacks out of jobs and housing, benefits and services.

Mexicans import cocaine (crack) into the community - big money, black death!
WHAT DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

I am a DISABLED, 49-year-old black male, LIVING/SURVIVING in the poor community - South Central Los Angeles. Every step I take around this city, I am automatically under suspicion. I am disrespected, snarled at and often pushed to the back of the line. I pay low rent (HUD), however, the large number of illegal immigrants living in this building pay less rent (I have proof of this fact)!!!

Sir, step out from behind your prissy lifestyle, grow a beard, put on a pair of jeans, come into the ghetto/poor community and interact with the Mexicans. SEE HOW THEY RESPOND. SEE HOW THEY DISRESPECT. SEE HOW THEY FEAR OUR YOUNG BLACK MALE CHILDREN (Devon Brown Shooting by Officer GARCIA...). SEE HOW THEY EXCLUDE YOU FROM EXISTING in the poor community.

I read many of your opinions and editorials. I respect for you sir. However, you and the rest of "BLACK LEADERSHIP" are ducking the reality of illegal immigration and the devastating affects on the poor community. Black leadership is in denial about illegal immigration and out of touch with the reality of "new-age" racism.

God help us all!

Signed,

TERRIFIED in dah hood...

###

OH, ANOTHER PRISON BRAWL BETWEEN MEXICANS AND BLACKS...

OH, ANOTHER SCHOOL BRAWL BETWEEN MEXICANS AND BLACK CHILDREN.

__________________

Please stop the FLUFF about race tensions between brown and Blacks and children in the public schools. The hate comes from homes FIRST and spreads into the schools. I really can't believe Blacks would be perpetrating race hate anywhere, most knowing their history and the results of hate and intolerance. Logically then, the tension has ONE ROOT!

In the poor community, that used to be made up of mostly blacks, now made up of mostly Mexicans, the AIR IS THICK - MEXICANS DO NOT LIKE BLACKS!

There is power in numbers! The now MAJORITY Mexicans HATE and DISRESPECT Blacks and they proudly say it and show it. For example, a Mexican involved in one of the prison brawls proudly stated that "WE'RE BETTER THAN THEM..." to CBS News.

The Mexicans, in their large numbers, are also HATING other races here. I guarantee that the Russian/Armenian community/school aged children in Hollywood would agree as they are also being attacked and overtaken by the Mexicans desperate, aggressive, intolerant and insensitive to other races!!!

The Mexicans have horrid preconceived notions about all Blacks: "we stink...," “we’re dirty...," “we’re loud...,” “we're stupid...," "we're lazy...," "we're all crack heads"; Ironically, much of the Black community has been devastated by the drugs Mexicans smuggle from Mexico. The poor Black community is “high,” homeless, jobless and hopeless, disenfranchised, displaced and put on the streets of downtown L.A. by the large number of illegal immigrants and their anchored children in positions of power.

THE HATE AGAINST BLACKS AND OTHER RACES IS PERPETRATED BY THE NEW MEXICAN MAJORITY IN THEIR LARGE NUMBERS, IN THEIR POWER, AND IT IS AS BAD AS THE WHITE HATE THAT KEPT BLACKS DOWN IN THE 50'S AND 60'S.

THE TRUTH HURTS AND NOBODY - MEDIA - WANTS TO FACE THE NEW-AGE DISCRIMINATION AND RACE HATE HEAD ON. The media continues to sit behind it's "vale" of ignorance as the boiling point in this city is nearing. There will eventually be a major race riot between browns and blacks, driven by aggressive immigrant Mexicans and the like.

It is not just between the children in the schools and the thugs in prisons, but THE POWERFUL MEXICAN RACE are the haters and promoters of growing tensions between the two cultures! The aggressive Mexican gang bangers (the driving force behind the race hate toward blacks...) have family members who love them and who have the same beliefs and invalidating values toward blacks.

Please stop misreading reality, sitting behind professional positions, denying the hate and racism toward blacks by the Mexicans, mostly in the poor and devastated communities. Put on a pair of old jeans, jump on a public bus, come into the “hood” (poor community) and experience the racism first hand, as YOU WILL be treated as if you are less than... and as if you do not belong here.

The Mexicans are cocky and denounce America Laws. Certainly, I could not go to Mexico and do the same things they are doing here, breaking laws and forcing their language, tradition and values on America.

Public Officials, The Police Department and the media must STOP making excuses in denial of a very serious and growing problem here in Los Angeles and other border states.

Spending money on upgrading prisons and the Mayor taking over the school system is NOT THE ANSWER. TOLERANCE, RESPECT FOR OTHER CULTURES AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS, RESPECT FOR BLACKS AND THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THIS CITY/STATE/ COUNTRY, AND HOW TO RESPECT IMMIGRATION LAWS AND OTHER LAWS OF THIS LAND IS THE ANSWER.

Are you speaking Spanish yet? Do you have two or three illegally run taco stands on one of your nearest corners yet? Have your been cheated and overcharged in one of their illegally run markets? Has one of your children been ganged up on and beat up yet? Has the local emergency room nearest you closed yet? Have you been pushed out of a job by an illegal immigrant willing to do the same work for less yet? Have you been disrespected by a Mexican because you're not Mexican yet?

The TROJAN HORSE will soon FLEX it's MUSCLE (take over and control) YOUR middle class and rich communities next and start beating up on and disrespecting your children too!

God help us; history really does somehow repeat itself !!!

###

Illegal Immigration
One Poor Black Man’s Opinion

I didn’t realize the enormity of this problem until I saw the crowd of 12 million illegal immigrants and their legal (anchored) children marching in rebellion, in verbosity, in power, in large number, in coercion. I realized that at this point there is absolutely nothing America can do to those already here. America is forced to meet their needs, value their traditions and standards, and respect their power.

In Los Angeles, enclaves of illegal immigrants were formed and small groups began to become large crowds taking over neighborhoods. Illegal immigrants began penetrating and taking over poor neighborhoods, mostly black. Now, rather ingeniously, they have penetrated middle class and upper-middle class neighborhoods. Many have become filthy rich, sending thousands of dollars to Mexico. The children of illegal immigration have taken over political, social, public school, safety and community concerns. They are the authorities!

The illegal immigrants say they are here to work. Every illegal immigrant is not here to work, preface the prison system. Those who can’t find work hustle running illegal businesses that contribute to their own economy - monies exchanged from Mexican hand to Mexican hand. They say they do work that others, especially blacks, won’t do, yet they come and do the same jobs for lower wages. Finally, they say they are here to pursue the “American Dream,” denying the fact that they are not pursuing the dream, but taking it illegally, jumping in front of the line of thousands of others waiting to pursue the “American Dream” legally.

Certainly, the successful, rooted immigrant contributes to the economy. Adversely, there is an enormous cost to tax payers. Though Mexican leaders side-step this issue, statistics from any emergency room or county hospital will reveal the truth of the matter. The cost to O.B. wards alone has to be astronomical. The illegal immigrant crowd has affected the poor community, especially the black community negatively. Here are a few personal examples of how illegal immigration has affected my family’s life, well being, and finance:

In a crowd, Mexicans stood around my 12-year old son kicking and beating him onto the ground. My child said they called him a “dirty nigger.”

Mexicans crowded me out of housing; she herself an illegal immigrant checked my background and called me a “criminal,” denying me and my children a place to live.

Mexicans crowded me out of the neighborhood emergency room; a Latino staff member rudely said there are 100s in line, ahead of me. I suffered, I waited for hours, in pain.

The Mexicans crowded me out of public transportation, as I either stood up during entire bus rides, or got passed up by busses filled to capacity. Better now, however it’s cost to public transportation to accommodate the crowd is tremendous.

The Mexicans crowded me out of the work force; the same job that paid me $18.00 an hour now pays $7.00 an hour. Oh, yes, and, you must be bilingual!

The Mexicans crowded my black child out of a good education, focusing on teaching the illegal immigrant child.

The Mexicans crowded me out of public benefits and services, as a disabled, citizen of the United States of America.

I am not a hater, nor am I racist. I feel that illegal immigration is out of hand and has affected certain communities and it’s people adversely. But after seeing the immigrants out in large number, in force, I was honestly terrified and have decided to bow down and work toward communication and a level playing field, accepting their presence. I/We have no choice.

In my opinion, the “problem” can be easily solved by:

1. Use the prison population to “do the work that Americans won’t do.”

2. Use computer (information) technology to register each and every illegal immigrant already here, checking their backgrounds and sending those who do not have a job and those who are criminals back to their own country.

3. Make it a felony to cross the border, from this very day forward. Those already here should not be penalized.

4. Teach the immigrant English and respect for America, not just their own country.

5. Teach the immigrant tolerance and respect for contributions by other cultures.

6. Create an addition tax for the rich, successful children of illegal immigration.

7. Suggest that they share their wealth and success (jobs and housing) with others, less fortunate.

Sincerely,

Writer M
South Central Los Angeles

###

See the big picture, Sister: Every city is not the same. The issue is greater for U.S. cities located on the border.
See the big picture, Sister: It is the Latino's who DO NOT LIKE BLACKS here. It is not that Blacks don't like the Latino's.

See the big picture Sister: Come to Los Angeles. Wear a pair of jeans and mingle in the Latino Public here. You WILL experience straight out hautiness and disdain from these people. They do not respect us, and have pushed us out of communities and jobs here.

See the big picture Sister: I've got two teens in Middle School and High School. My youngest has been beaten up and attacked by Latino kids, on four occasions. My son is soft and sensitive, not a fighter, yet he's always getting beat up by Latino's. The first day of High School, my daughter came home terrified, telling me that the Latino's and the Blacks were fighting! This is old news in this city.

###

THE TRUTH REALLY HURTS!

CALIFORNIA MEX-I-CANS -

POEMS OF GRIEF!

Selfish Weeds

In a great,
fertile land,
soils dark and rich,
diverse wandering flowers grew,
several species flourished free,
some blossomed,
some budded,
some seeded,
some weeded
all replenishing the earth,
but,
one particular plant,
an aggressive fertile weed,
grew,
grew,
and grew,
creating several needs,
for more weeds,
choking out and smothering,
other fields that be,
trying hard to take over,
even the grand ole trees,
weeds finally outnumbering,
every other plant and tree,
growing every where it could,
many, many, many, many weeds,
now powerful in numbers,
became too good for others
in the garden.

Once Full of life,
flowering pretty blossoms,
overtaken by selfish weeds.

###

Truths

“Mex-I-Can” unity, reproduction,
power and pride,
has pushed the average,
“black” man aside.

###

Truths That Hurt

I Come Illegally

I am illegal, but I am “legal”
I crawl under the fence
I swim the Pacific Ocean
I come in trucks, cars and buses,
I come, if not me, my mother or father, my grandparents,
I come illegally

I sneak into a sea of 30,000 illegal like me,
I live here pretty much carefree,
I have my own people to back me,
I love my people, my families,
I profit my brothers and sisters
I solicit to my people
I rent to my own
I hire my own
I come illegally

I take jobs from other minorities,
I ostracize the black minority,
I bring in my own brothers to make a majority,
I am now the fast food industry,
I am the cooks, nanny’s, maids, gardeners...,
I work for less than minimum wage, at first,
I make it hard for minorities trying to get ahead,
I come illegally

I cheapen the quality of manufactured goods,
I cause deep pockets to spend less money on production,
I smile in the white man’s face,
I make false insurance claims,
I buy homes and gain fame,
I am not homeless here,
I despise black men, 85% homelessness,
I come illegally

I don’t care,
I see them living in the streets,
I see them living in cardboard boxes
I see them as inhuman
I see there is no room for them anymore,
I promote my youngsters fighting the blacks
I come illegally

I exclude the likes of dark skinned men,
I would kill them if they mate with my daughters,
I know they are not good enough like me,
I despise their mere presence,
I despise the black man, he is inhuman,
I lock out others as my people become the majority,
I come illegally

I see them as on trouble makers,
I believe a horrible myth that says they are dirty,
I teach my children to disrespect them, inhuman,
I teach them that they don’t deserve my respect,
I change seats when I have to sit next to them,
I prefer not to talk to them,
I come illegally

I have many more babies to anchor myself,
I don’t go to church, but claim the catholic religion,
I have in reality a problem with sex addiction,
I know the more of me, the power will be,
I push drivers licenses for people like me,
I force my language on others too lazy to learn
I come illegally

I defy city ordinance with illegal food stands,
I partake in illegal sales of goods,
I specialize in illegal identifications,
I illegally rob others of their identity,
I crowd out every public systems in place,
I am the cause of the state budget deficit,
I come illegally

I crowd the schools - more $$$
I crowd the Department of Public Social Services - more $$$
I crowd the court system - more $$$
I crowd out medical facilities - more $$$
I crowd and exhaust insurance policy - more $$$
I crowd out the public transportation system - more $$$
I come illegally

I force the state to care for me and my many children,
I walk about boasting 3 to 10+ kids per family,
I implant myself and my family in positions of authority,
I push others out of opportunity,
I walk around with my nose in the air - prideful
I come illegally

I however, maintain great respect for the white man,
I have been accepted and adored by the white man,
I now cook, clean, and care for the white man,
I have the white man’s precious respect - economy they say,
I mock the white man and they adore me
I come illegally

I will continue to have large families,
I am the majority, less every other minority
I will continue draining every public system in place,
I will continue to control the job market with my people,
I will continue taking advantage of everything I can,
I will exhaust the state of every benefit available,
I will make this state poor, broke and hungry like Tijuana,
I come illegally.

###

###

Homeless Blues

“Mex-I-Can” Fools

Homeless “hatin’” on homeless,
so, nowhere to go,
“Mex-a-Can’s" “takin’” ova,
lookin’ down “dey noooze,”
“pushin’” everybody out,
black man homeless in self doubt, selfishness they “kno’,”
plenty of them “multiplyin’ fo sho,” working like horses,
noble and “regal,”
their presence illegal,
certainly seems unfair,
arrogance in the air,
as they hate on “‘dose”
who made the way for them to “glo,” a glimmer for them,
other minorities they condemn,
despising brothers as low,
so proudly, “stepin on mah” toe,
the Civil Rights opportunities made by Blacks, “takin’” advantage of low pay and fruit sacks,drugs realities,
jails,crazy mentalities,
amorous raping hells,
we together don’t grow,
power in numbers go,
my life despises in control.

###

LOVE THY NEIGHBOR

Let me begin this essay by saying that I am quite aware that every Latino does not fit this mold, however, I will venture to say that more than 75% of them do! To those who are not perpetrators of disrespect, my hat goes off to them, respectfully. I have friends and relatives of all races, including Latino, so this is not to offend those who are true neighbors to blacks, or to say that every Latino person is guilty.

We have chosen to ignore this issue long enough! I am in the thick of things, out in public, and continue to observe this insanity and disrespect of the black people, especially black men, by Latino people, especially Latino women. I have come to the conclusion that Latino women fear black men, so they rebel in aggressive behaviors in public. These behaviors, driven by fear, have caused great friction between Latinos and blacks. Latino parents have passed this fear, and many ugly myths about blacks to their children, thus continuing a vicious cycle of hate and disrespect.

This country was built with free labor and sweat from the black backs of my ancestors! It seems a little arrogant for illegal aliens to come here and disrespect blacks, when we built this country that they have so much opportunity in!

This is one of many statement responses that need to be express-delivered to the Latino population, here in Los Angeles, those that continually walk around and outrightly disrespect black people in a haughty, rude and insolent way. I actually heard one young Latino boy, about 16, say blacks are “INHUMAN.” It was his response, and his protection of his girl friend, who cursed out this black man who had to make his way through a thick crowd of Latinos on his way to his seat. I was shocked!

Recently, I got on the bus, went to sit in a seat in which a young Latino was sitting. She had her notebook sitting in the seat. I looked at her and said politely, excuse me. She looked me up and down, hesitated for a long time. She forced me to literally sit in the seat, almost on her notebook, before she would move it. Reluctantly, she did. Then this young lady gave me a dirty look. At that point, I was in unbelief. Also, her knee protruded into the seat I sat in and she wouldn’t move it. She began saying things under her breath, after I looked at her and said, “yes,” taking the seat. She mocked me in a very snotty way, saying, “yes” too! A few stops down, she had to get off the bus. She wouldn’t return the same respect and say to me, “excuse me.” No, instead, she took it upon herself to just push me out the way, without saying excuse me or anything. Upset at this point, I looked at her and told her, don’t push me! She continued to push anyway. I said, again, very loudly, don’t push me! She smartly began saying something in Spanish, and I told her, “look little girl, don’t get yourself hurt.” She looked at me and didn’t say anything else as she made her way off the bus.

Here, in South Central Los Angeles, Vermont and Manchester, an area in which my mom often took my family shopping in over 40 years ago, a neighborhood I was born and raised in, a neighborhood that I am a second generation native of, a neighborhood that used to sport fine stores and great shopping. The other day, I had to go to the post office on 83rd and Vermont. When I arrived there were only a few people (3) in line. After waiting a few minutes, my turn came and I approached the counter to talk to the postal clerk. The postal clerk searched around her work area for this form I had to complete, one that they don’t provide in the waiting area, as they do with most other forms needed. She gave me the form I needed to complete and asked me to step aside while she assists other customers. She told me to let her know when I was done, and I did just that, according to her instructions.

There was a large family of Latino’s (6 people) standing at the window, helping each other to understand what they needed to do to handle their business there. None of them spoke English. Well, when the postal clerk ask the family to step aside, so that she could finish helping me, this Latino women, approximately in her 50s, got angry at me! She begin looking at me as if I was a piece of trash, up and down, with a mean sneer. Then this women began cursing at me in her own language, insisting that I go back to the end of the line, a line that had suddenly grown quite large with Latino’s.

I politely refused trying to explain that I had already waited my turn in line. Well, this woman wasn’t hearing that and she continued snickering at me and saying angry things in Spanish. I ignored her to keep the trouble down! When I finished, I walked to the door, where she was standing partly blocking my path. I looked at her with my head down a little and said, “es stupitha” in a very low tone of voice, as I exited.

My cousin, and matriarch of my family, age 65, is also frustrated with Latino’s because they are pushing her out of a home that she’s owned for over 50 years. I told of the many horror stories about how the Latino people are treating us! She expressed the same thing. Now my cousin is of Puerto Rican decent!

I have witnessed it over and over again, observing the extreme pride they exhibit and how each family has 3 to 10 children, average. Nobody wants to face this issue, or discuss it or talk about it. We continue to ignore it, or brush it under the rug, or make excuses for them.

I have had it up to hear! I am one angry black man when it comes to this issue. It needs to be seen as the issue it is, and addressed in public forums, open discussions and, more importantly in the schools to help the children avoid the same hating ways their parents are projecting. My major complaint is that because they have had so many children and crowded everything out, exhausting every public system in place, my son has to be denied an education because they have crowded out every school and the resources are all directed to them, teaching them not only reading and writing English, but also reading and writing their language. This has been very expensive to the school system, and there is no time to pay attention to the needs of other minority children. All the resources available are teaching and printing English to Spanish, accommodating them.

The black male image sucks, and I happen to be one, a 46 year old black man, a single parent, raising my children the best way I know how. I have taught my children not to hate and to love all of the unique shades of color God gave us all. I should be judged by the content of my character, not by the color of my skin, and especially not by a group of people who have immigrated here illegally! Black men are being outrightly degraded by Latino’s, especially Latino women who have become very aggressive and pushy out in public.

I had another Latino women curse me out, call me a “benjy madicone,” (homo) because she didn’t have room to sit next to me. As they more often than not do, I had several bags of groceries and also a large book bag, so as I expressed to her, I’m sorry, there’s just no room. She began loudly complaining in Spanish, eliciting support from other Latinos. Latino men are generally quiet and don’t rebel against us as their female counterparts do. But, they too rebel too.

On the Big Blue Bus Line, a Santa Monica bus line, I once saw a Latino man looking at me in a very hard and mean manner. So, I unfortunately returned the look. He than began jerking his head up at me, challenging me to a fight and flexing his muscles. I am in my 40s, this young man couldn’t have been over 25, at least 20 years younger than me. Yet, this young Latino man wanted to fight with me. In fear, I ignored him! But, from my ghetto raising, I kept my eye on him, watching his every move, until I got off that bus.

I do volunteer work for a homeless organization! I have been studying the statistics of who the homeless are. 85% of homeless are black men, where as only 7% of homeless are Latino. But, they say, ,they aren’t pushing us out of our neighborhoods. They are buying up property and only renting to their people. An investigation and set-up would prove this.

By choice, I look scruffy! After working in the corporate world in a monkey suit (suit and ties) for over 20 years, I have found direction in life and now look natural (beard, dread locks, and jeans and T’s equal, scruffy. That is no reason to hate or despise me, or treat me differently as if I don’t belong here in a country that my ancestors built with free labor.

You can’t judge a book by the cover. Black men are embattled, embedded, and embittered! It was my uncle that was a butler, my grandmother that was a nanny, my aunt that was a cook, my mom who was a nurse, my father who was a mechanic, my cousin who was a gardener, my nieces and nephews who worked in the fast food industry. Not any more! My last employment was in the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, rich areas that now only employ Latinos for these kinds of jobs.

It is the Black man and women that stand to give their seats on the bus, seldom Latino men. And the children are simply not polite at all. They don’t care if you’re old, they will sit and will not give up a seat to an old person.

Finally, my son has been jumped and beaten on three different occasions by Latino boys. And, yes, I had the school prosecute, or I would have myself. There are so many Latino children that the schools are also exhausted and are having a very hard time educating so many children, hence, the new Track A, B and C programs that attempt to oblige them all, and in the process, deny my son of a quality education.

I heard the excuse used that they are “Catholic” and don’t believe in birth control. I’m sorry, that is a weak excuse for uncontrolled sexual behavior and addiction to sex. Ireland is Catholic as well, with the very same beliefs, but they practice birth control to avoid overpopulation, and the resulting cheapening of manufactured products and the value of the dollar. I feel that it is very inconsiderate of Latino’s to come here illegally, have babies as if there is no tomorrow, and straight out disrespect blacks who fought for the many civil rights they thrive on.

We black people are your brothers, we are your neighbors; and God says one of His most important commandments is to “love thy neighbor!

This issue really needs to be addressed! Please don’t disrespect me!

Thank you!

Sincerely,

Writer M

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