Joel Dreyfuss, editor at The Root.com recently penned the article, “Why Blacks Should Be Outraged at Arizona’s Immigration Law.” Mr. Dreyfuss observes that “Black Americans have not turned out in large numbers at immigration rallies, despite the fact that many African-American politicians talk of the need for coalitions with Hispanics.”
And his is only one of any number of similar articles by African-American journalists and/or activists, making me quite reflective in recent days. Many, many questions are bubbling in my brain—competing alongside my fixation on the upcoming Supreme Court (SCOTUS) nomination. I’ll just share some of them here.
For starters, have Latinos “turned out in large numbers” in support of African-American causes? Ever? Moreover, do Latino politicians “talk of the need for coalitions” with African-Americans? Ever?
And with regard to the SCOTUS, would Latinos support the petition urging President Obama to nominate a Black woman to the SCOTUS? Moreover, if an African-American woman were to be tapped for the high court, would Latino organizations write to their memberships, urging them to contact their senators to ensure her confirmation, as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. did in support of the Sotomayor nomination?
Returning, however, to the Arizona immigration law, I see the potential for racial profiling—if its application is abused.
Dr. Christopher J. Metzler, international human rights law expert and Associate Dean, Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies, believes that “opponents of the law should express their opposition of the potential for abuse, not the law itself. While there are many things to challenge in the law, labeling it a racist law is not a winning argument.”
And there’s just no getting around the fact that securing the Mexican border is a very real problem. Few would argue this point. But some do, most notably Temple University author and professor of African American Studies Dr. Ama Mazama.
