"Why Blacks Should Join Browns in the Immigration Fight"

Source: Whitney Larkins

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"Why Blacks Should Join Browns in the Immigration Fight"

By Whitney Larkins
April 3, 2006

With America's gaze focused intensely on immigration reform, I have
noticed that there is a glaring omission in the discussions regarding
immigration. For some reason, the news media does not seem interested in
the opinions of African-Americans on this issue. Is it because we don't
have an opinion? Of course not. Then, I began to wonder, is it justified
to completely blame the media for this?

In the 1990s, when Haitians were being denied entry into the United
States due to a "HIV/AIDS" scare, African-American leaders rallied in
support of the Haitians who were being treated unfairly and kept out of
America's borders. When will African-Americans step up and challenge the
racist/nativist legislature that is threatening to turn other people of
color into felons? Have we convinced ourselves that we are treated
equally as citizens in this nation? How can our community continue to
decry racism, yet remain silent on this issue?

This proposed legislation has potential to affect tens of thousands
of people of African descent who are in the United States illegally.
Since immigration rights boil down to human rights, where are the black
people in this discussion?

For 400 years, Africans were brought to this country illegally (we
have been "illegals" all this time and didn't know it). When the Voting
Rights Act passed in 1965, quite arguably, that became the moment that
we were full-fledged citizens in this nation. Human rights issues should
still be fresh on our minds.

African-Americans should step up and let their voices be heard
regarding the inhumane policies that are threatening the livelihood of
many people of color, including those of African descent who also happen
to be Latinos who are attempting to escape the racism and inequalities
of their home nations.

How can we African-Americans sit in silence while our elected
officials consider making felons out of people of color whose ancestors
once owned on the land we stand on? This country once made it illegal
for blacks to learn how to read, so we cannot rest on our laurels with
the excuse "Oh well, it's just the law".

I hope that the black community does not lose sight and have a short
memory on this issue. Perhaps we will dust of our marching shoes from
the 1960s and join the battle cry for justice and human rights. Only
time will tell...