https://adriansthoughts.home.blog/2020/05/09/america-as-a-black-hispanic/
by Adrian
May 9, 2020
Those of you who know me personally know that I come from Cuban and Mexican descent. Having my father’s family immigrate from the communist and informally segregated country of Cuba in order to get a better life has influenced who I am today. Having a mother from Mexico, our neighboring country that is very misunderstood, has also influenced my view of other cultures. I do not claim to be representative of all Hispanics or black people or politically correct with some terminology. However, I know many people share my views and experiences. And I think we, as a nation, need to understand each other and change our language and attitudes if we are ever going to get past the current division in the nation.
I grew up being a black Hispanic going to a primarily white private school and lived in decent neighborhoods. I did not grow up the most oppressed or the most privileged. But no matter how rich or poor, a person of color can never escape the racism in today’s world.
Growing up I didn’t recognize racism. I remember certain comments bothering me but not really knowing why, failing to recognize microaggressions. So many times, I have heard comments like “you’re so white” or being called literate without finishing with “for a black person.” As if my education, knowledge, or proper language only was associated with white people. I would often ask myself “what do they expect me to talk like?” I remember people I consider friends saying negative comments about African American blacks, then saying “oh but not you. You speak Spanish.” As if that made me more valued.
Racism for black Hispanics is being too black for some Hispanics and too Hispanic for some blacks. Racism to me is also referring to black people as ‘black people’ but white people simply as ‘people’. Racism to me is hearing the term “big black dudes” when telling stories about encounters, as if them being black adds to the scariness of their encounter. Racism to me is being in stores with my friends and being followed around and stared at by employees.
I have seen the racism towards my family subtle and explicit. Having relatives falsely imprisoned for 10+ years when the verdict comes down to a black man’s word vs theirs; Having my own father dramatically pulled over and stopped with 20+ guns aiming in his direction for simply matching a description; having family and relatives feel their hair is ugly, constantly straightening their hair to finally feel beautiful and match a standard are all forms of racism.
Recently, I dedicated a year of my life to be a missionary teacher in a 3rd world country. Being heavily influenced by Korea and other parts of Asia, my students had a flawed idea of what was beautiful. I remember going to the beach with students for them to stay under the shade and tell me it was in fear of becoming as dark as me.
Racism is an issue throughout the entire world. In America, people do not understand the effect of America’s history of slavery. Slavery has become something forgotten in the textbooks about an unfortunate history of America. This is the slavery in which African people were forcefully brought to the Americas, whether the United States or Cuba, Jamaica, etc. This is the slavery in which people of color had to do everything and anything a white man said. This is the slavery in which people of color were overworked, tortured, and murdered, being treated with less respect than modern people would give their pets. Colored people in the Americas endured four centuries of slavery to build this country and it only ended 200 years ago. Since then, they have been expected to lift themselves by their bootstraps without being given bootstraps. They have been expected to catch up and be successful when only 70 years ago there were Jim Crow Laws. These laws prevented many of YOUR colored friend’s parents and grandparents from living a normal life, not allowing them the right to speak up against corruption or even sit on a bus. The mindset that created those laws did not disappear in 70 years. It remains dug in bureaucracy and institutions.
In today’s world I see the large majority of Covid-19 patients being black/brown. In Michigan, where I live and am, blacks are 6 times more likely to die from coronavirus than whites. But even in a world without coronavirus, job applications with ‘black names’ are 50% less likely than ‘white names’ to get a call back. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) in 2013 black males accounted for 37% of the total male prison population, white males 32%, and Hispanic males 22%. One might say white and black numbers are close because the percentages are close, but keep in mind that whites compose 72% of our population, Hispanics 16%, and blacks only 12%. Then there are also the numerous police shootings which I need no further explanation.
People do not commit crimes because they are enjoyable. People are put in situations and become desperate. Thanks to my father, I was raised learning carpentry and have always seen it as a backup plan. But someone who might not have a father, is not receiving calls back, and is jobless may see selling drugs and stealing as the only way to catch up when bills are due. I am not saying I condone this behavior, but I am saying we need to assess the psychology and causes of their actions. By addressing these problems, we can fix why people would feel desperate enough to do things they do.
The majority of my close friends whom I grew up with are black Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Mexican mixes. So I grew up around a mostly mixed Hispanic community and consider myself lucky to have been considerably shielded from racism growing up. And yet, racism was not something I could escape. I truly can’t imagine how much more those raised in African American communities have faced. Keep in mind there is also racism among Hispanics and African Americans.
Minorities have a sense of looking out for one another. For my family, this looked like allowing someone to move into our house for a year after their husband was deported to Mexico. I think other minorities will know what I mean by this. There is almost a respect and sense of looking out for one of our own among the minority communities because of similar lifestyles and struggles. I was neither the most privileged nor most oppressed. But I could see very clearly the gap between white America and the rest. It is visible to all minorities. I am also not saying that all minorities have it rough. I would say I lived a very comfortable life. However, my comfort did not keep me from seeing the inequality in the United States. It did not keep me from seeing the majority of my church community and neighborhoods working long hours and, in some cases, multiple jobs just to get by.
Relating to politics, Obama was a change for America. He addressed the injustices in America, problems that the minorities faced, and the vast gaps in the incomes of racial groups. Seeing a black president who was near perfect, charismatic, and patient was inspiring. He understood the struggle and was a symbol for all minorities.
He made policies that directly affected all low-income Americans. The Affordable Care Act decreased prices of health care and expanded its coverage, and teen birth rates fell 50%, the Obama Phone program allowed struggling low-income citizens free cellphones, texting, and calling. People who were uninsured were able to afford insurance. Minimum wages were increased, and tax credits were given to low income families. DACA allowed 800,000 young people to enter the country and go to school legally in order to gain citizenship. Family friends of mine have entered through DACA and are now enjoying the United States as Americans. These are what minorities see as important. Hopefully we can all see this as important. The DACA immigrants, and low-income citizens are often our friends.
There is this idea that programs like ‘Obama Care’ and EBT are just programs for people to be “lazy at home and getting paid.” The reality is that they are NOT at home doing nothing. Too many people I grew up with work multiple jobs for long hours and still barely get by. They understand they need to work hard and do.
When it comes to politics, Hispanics are often uninformed. Many watch the news, but that is the full extent. That is also something that needs to change. To them, there is an appeal in the word ‘democrat’, a belief that all are included. Supporting the Democratic party has come to be understood as something you do as a minority—an expectation meant to empower the minorities. The majority of blacks in the U.S. are democrats even though they widely range as conservatives, liberals, and moderates. This shows it is not about labels, economy, or trade. This is because of their values and previously stated social issues. They find strength when they are united in the Democratic Party—the party that has actually addressed the divide in the nation and the desire to provide opportunities for low income families such as healthcare, and social programs. Again, I do not speak for the entire minority population, but many share my views.
I acknowledge the good that Trump has done such as bringing jobs back to the U.S., but he has done it while completely ignoring the social problems in America such as racism, poverty, and immigration—the problems that matter to us. He has emboldened white nationalists and given them a gentle tap on the hand when they act out, raising fear that we could eventually be victims of these movements.
Unfortunately, Republicans are seen by many people I know as selfish and racist. I understand that Republicans aren’t racist or maybe even selfish. But when people go waving the MAGA flags and hats, we don’t see people promoting economic policies or economic growth, we see the comments about Hispanic alienation, building the wall, and tax cuts for the rich while poorer people struggle to provide. If you didn’t know, the median income for a white person is $68,000, $40,000 for blacks, and $50,000 for Latinos.
We don’t care about the china tax wars, Iran or Korea deals, or corporate tax cuts since many of us aren’t in corporate positions. People are not concerned with the stock market if they don’t have any money left over to invest. What minorities care about is DACA, ACA, EBT, etc. People desire to feel safe and to achieve basic needs like healthcare and a livable income. Even successful minorities want other minorities and Americans to share the success. Until then, no other proposed policies will take precedence.
My mother’s family used to live on the border. A family member of mine was taken last year by the cartel for trying to help refugees and hasn’t been heard of since. People simply want a life better than what they have, so they want to come to the United States. I hear people say, “I don’t have a problem with immigrants, they just need to do it legally.” The reality is that the system is broken. Some people end up waiting decades while some wait a few years.
I personally knew people who have crossed the Arizona desert and others who rode sandwiched in the back of a truck for 12 hours to enter this country. I am not condoning illegal immigration. I am pointing out that people desperately want to immigrate here and have found a way when no path was provided. Do you think people want to immigrate “illegally”? Either the immigration process needs to be reformed or the reason people are immigrating by the thousands needs to be looked into. What is going on in other countries that is making people want to leave?
I have grown to avoid being friends with Trump supporters or even Republicans because of their acceptance for Trump’s behaviors and ideas towards immigrants and lack of acknowledging so many issues. I’ve grown to avoid speaking to white citizens who are over the age of 60 scared that I will have to deal with ugly looks or comments. Many people I know share the same feeling that I do. This is my experience as well as some of my fellow young minorities.
When the POTUS vows to end ‘Obamacare’ and DACA protections, this does not sit well with many people I know. The term “America first” seems like a lie when the problems and infrastructure of minority communities are ignored. It seems less like “America first” and more like “white America first.” Saying “Yeah Trump sucks as a person but…” or “he doesn’t mean those things he says” shows me that the problems in the U.S. aren’t an issue to you. Those are our friends he is talking about. I have spent lots of time angry or upset at people who say these things. But how can I be upset when you have never been exposed to the problems minorities face? This is the reason I am writing this. White privilege is real. I am not saying whites are the issue. But as 72% of our population, they have the power in the U.S. They have the power to make the rest of America great.
The idea of a trickle-down economy has done nothing for those who feel oppressed. Tax cuts often end up with companies like Amazon and Berkshire Hathaway paying themselves (through stock buybacks and such). While it can be effective if done right, you are putting the effectiveness of it in the hands of other white run corporations. That money could be put directly in the hands of those low-income citizens. Let me emphasize that low income citizens don’t expect the government to do it all for them. They understand the need to work hard. But they are at a disadvantage monetarily, with infrastructure, and communities. I understand that the wealthy tax cuts that people promote could be the difference between making $110k to $120k for example. Who doesn’t want to make more money? But that same money could be the difference between disadvantaged minorities having health care for their families and not. With a slight change in priorities, all American citizens can have a decent shot at life. We need to reevaluate our priorities and think of what is best for ALL America.
Racism to me is seeing trends of the previously stated black and Hispanic struggle and not looking into it. Racism is being a child and having your friend’s dad lose his job for being black, no lawyers wanting to take the case, the statute of limitations playing in, and eventually them having to move to another state to find a job. We often think about the racist people. What if they are employers or police officers? My friends, the black American youth, and I have had “The Talk” with our parents about police encounters: Keep your hands on the steering wheel at all times, do not make any sudden movements, and do everything the officer asks. Interactions with law enforcement are not just unpleasant, they can be scary. Knowing that a police officer could say anything about me or plant drugs in my vehicle if he wants and get away with it is scary. White privilege is REAL.
The police shootings brought about a movement—Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter is not about politics. This is about bringing awareness and finding strength in others who have all been through the same struggle. Seeing people call black lives matter protestors thugs or crybabies shows me people have not listened at all to what they are protesting. Black people are called thugs when they protest in the street, and unamerican and disrespectful when they protest during the national anthem. That was the only way they were heard, but then the point was instantly missed. People created a protest to protest against black lives matter. That to me showed that black lives never mattered. Colored people do not want other races to be oppressed. They want for themselves to not be oppressed. They want to feel safe when their child is playing with toy guns out front, safe jogging in any neighborhood they want, feeling represented in the media, and feeling safe that they won’t be harassed by law enforcement. Black people want simply to LIVE. Hispanics simply want to LIVE. Asians want to LIVE. Whites want to LIVE. We all, as Americans, want to live at peace knowing we won’t be treated differently because of how we look.
With regards to the recent event of Ahmaud Arbery, this event seemingly was an open act of racism and hate crime. But let’s say it wasn’t. Let’s say the killers weren’t individually racist and had a valid reason to shoot, which would be a pretty ignorant view. But, let’s just say. Some people would be quick to say “See! Not an act of racism.” The question is why was there no information or investigation? Why was it brushed under a rug? Why is his mother still looking for answers 2 months later? That is the racism we need to fight. Racism is not just the words or emotions toward someone of color. Racism is a system that we, people of color, have to live with every day.
There is a James Baldwin quote: “To be a negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.” And it is true. To be even slightly aware of the systemic racism is enough to be angry. After all the police shootings, hate crimes, Black Lives Matter protests, and NFL protests, it took the killing of Ahmaud Arbery to reach a Nationwide awareness of blatant racism in today’s world. The reality is Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Ahmaud Arbery were fighting for their lives long before they died.
After all my experiences, I am very happy to be a black Hispanic. Being labeled as black while having Hispanic culture has made me aware of multiple cultures and perspectives of America’s reality. People of color are the most resilient people I know, having endured slavery, segregation, and racism, all in 200 years. I am proud of my heritage and culture. I want to be proud as a nation, not just as an individual; and it starts by thinking of what is best for ALL of our citizens. Do not tolerate racist behavior simply because you don’t feel or see its effects. Don’t be ‘not racist’, be anti-racist. People like me see its effects in our lives and community. Try to be mindful of your subconscious biases and micro-aggressions such as “for a black person” or “acting white.” Because whether you realize it or not, these ideas shape your actions and thoughts which keep people at a disadvantage. We should be acknowledging each other’s cultures, successes, and struggles if we are ever to understand each other and solve the division in America. That way everyone can have a decent shot at life. Not as white America, black America, Latino America, or Asian America, but as the United States of America.
