We Are Humans, We Are Citizens

photo by: http://www.nigroartist.com/ civil rights marchin Forsyth County, GA Bill Clark

 

I know that immigration as the media goes is not a very big topic anymore with similarities to New Orleans and Haiti. I however want to further add my comments to the “ongoing” conversation about immigration. I was watching the news this morning, (I cannot recall which show I was watching, so bear with me). I heard a speaker, expert or maybe activist on immigration, make a statement something pertaining to Latinos and the work that they do in America. Part of her opinion for immigration reform was based on the very fact that Latinos are doing jobs that most Americans will not do!

                I am not condemning this lady or anyone else because the truth is I have made ignorant statements like this myself.  I must admit, this is clearly a misunderstanding of the humanity of Latino’s. We as people who are looking for reform and equality for minorities (this statement does not include homosexuals) should not look at this situation as a benefit to America or any other country. Allowing Latino’s into this country is not and should not be because they are doing the “servant jobs” that no one else is doing or because they are willing to work for less money. Rather, they should be allowed to stay because they are humans who are in desperate need to feed their families.

                If we pass laws, march and advocate on the strength that Latino’s are great workers we run the risk of maintaining racial or ethnic inequality. Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves with the emancipation proclamation, so these former slaves, my ancestors, were free and yet not treated as equal to the white establishment of our nation. We hail Pres. Lincoln for taking the step forward and we also acknowledge many who fought for the freedom of African-Americans. However, the Emancipation Proclamation fell short of one thing and it was huge, equality amongst all. See, though the slaves were free physically they were still held captive in others mind as being less than human. It would be years later until the civil rights movement began; many sacrificed their lives to fight for another freedom, freedom that was forgotten in the Emancipation proclamation. Out of this civil rights movement arose Martin Luther King Jr. and his slogan was equality for black Americans. He and others recognized that America had not held up to that Christian ideology that guaranteed every man “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

                Let us not repeat history and allow illegal immigrants to become citizens because they are modern day indentured servants. Don’t allow them to become citizens because they do the jobs that we are not willing, due to a selfish heart of entitlement. If we pass shallow laws, and march shallow marches, and advocate shallow advocacy all in the name of false equality and shallow love. In a couple years another revolution will began but not for jobs because they will have them, this time for equality in all forms. We will all see Latino’s of every color take the streets, boycott as they recall what King did; they will call the politicians’, and advocates of the past unjust and un-loving. Their hearts will be heard in the streets, chanting “WE are humans, We are citizens!”

Posted By Da Writar to Inkkulture