Comments on: What Are the Latino Migration Trends?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 22:13:41 +0000

Latino! Who are we talking about? This descriptor is also like “Hispanic,” a poor one. Each nation has its own “normal” personality, folkways, mores, taboos. There is even diversity within a national origin group. Lumping people just because they speak Spanish does not speak to the historical, social, geographical differences. The Joni Hersh study has some interesting findings on “Hispanics” in the U.S.A. Symbolic racism is powerful and people even deny they are racist but their acts make it clear that they consider race in their dealings with others.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:19:39 +0000

what the brother (or sister) in Arizona is describing is one of the many sad consequences of internalized racism: the reality that as people of color we sometimes internalize the values and beliefs of racism. In this case the assumption that whiter (read: lighter skin) is better. Unfortunately these values and beliefs have permeated sectors of our Latin@ communities and they are intertwined with other values, beliefs and practices which support hierarchies and oppression based not only on race but on class and other sources of privilege as well. As communities of color we need to fight not only the oppressor outside but the oppressor within us as well. Unity and understanding between African American/Blacks and Latin@s/Hispanics as well as other groups is essential if we are to achieve peace and justice for all.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:45:53 +0000

To the gentleman from AZ. Although I am not of Mexican decent, I am Hispanic. I feel badly for your experience. The Mexican people for the most part have been treated like second class citizens in this country (especially if they were not born or raised here). I believe people first band together for protection and to support each other when people who are different than they treat them poorly. Many times though, in doing this, we isolate ourselves even more and become like those who caused us harm. Distrust for one group or another creates exclusion. We are all good and evil and we must seek out good. Perhaps you will be an positive influence on someone else even without knowing it. Although I am a white Hispanic, I believe we all can trace our roots back to Africa anyway. (smile)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:26:29 +0000

I have to state honestly that as an African American resident of Arizona, I am concerned about the HUGE influx of Mexican immigrants into our country and especially this state. I have met with more racism in the Mexican community than I have ever had to endure living in and amongst white people all my life. I am originally from the East Coast, so I am used to living in a very diverse community of people, but the Latinos in the East are often Puerto Rican and Cuban, and they are not ashamed of being brown and are proud to admit to African ancestry. Am I being paranoid and weird about my fear that Blacks will become the new minority and be treated just as badly by the Latino population as we have been in the past by whites??? “Brown Pride” is a big slogan in the Mexican community out here, but when I asked someone if that included me they were very clear that it did NOT. My son’s have had problems with the parents and families of Mexican women that they have dated, and I have heard one too many Mexican mothers discuss how important it is to keep their children out of the sun so that they won’t get “too dark.” Perhaps it is just fear of the unknown and I certainly never considered myself a racist, but I have had to seriously grapple with my belief system in the more than five years I have lived here in AZ. Any thoughts??