|
These
are issues that most concern blacks. Their website is
filled with xenophobic, nativist, borderline, race tinged
code word taunts at the "invasion" of "hordes" of "illegal
aliens." The Minutemen's pitch to blacks is a shrewd,
cynical ploy to capitalize on the split among blacks
over illegal immigration. And that split is wide and
deep. The NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil
Rights, and the Congressional Black Caucus vigorously
oppose the punitive Sensenbrenner House bill and have
generally supported the massive immigrant rights marches.
A Field Poll in California in April found that blacks
by a bigger percent than whites and even American-born
Latinos back liberal immigration reform. But many blacks
express views that are wildly at odds with the black
leaders and the polls. Black callers have singed the
phone lines at black radio talk shows with anti-immigrant
tirades. They bombard black newspapers with letters
blasting illegal immigrants.
They complain that Latinos are hostile, even racist
toward, blacks. The quip by Mexican President Vicente
Fox last May in which he praised the work ethic of Mexican
illegal immigrants, and disparaged that of blacks caused
deep resentment. But the issue that pricks a raw nerve
is the issue of jobs. Economists are deeply divided
over the extent that illegal immigration depresses wages
and helps fuel joblessness among blacks.
Even if there was not a single illegal immigrant in
the country, employer discrimination, poor skills and
education, and the high percent of young black males
with criminal records would still insure that the unemployment
figure among marginally skilled, poor black males would
be double and triple that of white males. Yet, the increased
visibility of undocumented workers in low wage service
and retail, construction and light manufacturing jobs,
that blacks once were employed in, has stoked resentment
and reinforced the perception among some blacks that
illegal immigrants take jobs from blacks.
Then there is the issue of law enforcement. Polls show
that blacks increasingly are more supportive of the
police, and back tough crackdowns on gang and drug violence.
They also rankle at what they perceive as the kid glove
treatment by authorities of illegal immigrants. While
there is no evidence that that is the case, that's the
perception.
Minutemen leaders have tapped into the anger and anxiety
of some blacks over the economic free fall of poor blacks,
and their tough on crime sentiment and managed to corral
a handful of black supporters. The week before the start
of their caravan, they held a noisy flag-waving rally
at a park in South Los Angeles. A few days later they
joined a small group of anti-illegal immigrant black
activists in a march for jobs to an employment office
in South L.A.
The Minutemen have set an ambitious goal of 500 new
chapters nationally by the end of the year and over
1 million new members. They're passionately convinced
that the majority of Americans agree with them that
illegal immigration is a plague on American society
and that only harsh employer sanctions, tough criminal
penalties, and the militarizing of the border is the
only way to eliminate it.
They bank that thousands of blacks agree with them,
and join chapters, and jump in their flag festooned
autos and tool to Washington in protest. That's not
likely to happen. But the few blacks that will jump
in cars with a group that has said and done nothing
to promote civil rights and fight poverty, and that
has checkered ties with racist groups proves that immigration
like politics can make strange bedfellows.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is a columnist for BlackNews.com,
an author and political analyst.
For
media interviews, contact:
Mr. Hutchinson at 323-296-6331 or hutchinsonreport@aol.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
Reprint Rights - $25.00
---------------------------------------------------------------
Payment To: The Hutchinson Report
Invoice For:
Column Title: __________________
Total Payable: $25.00
Payable by Paypal or Check to:
5517 Secrest Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90043
hutchinsonreport@yahoo.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
|
Email
This Article To A Friend
