TEXAS’ Widest Circulated and Read Newspaper with a Black Perspective

On March 27, 2006 the day began much like every other trouble-filled, perplexing day in this war torn world. Yet, what happened in several cities in the land of the free could well become the kind of history that African Americans so proudly celebrate (on Black History Month, Millions Man March, Millions More Movement and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday), for the nation’s (legal and/or illegal) Hispanic population. What the nation’s leaders first thought was an isolated incident of civil unrest confined to Houston, Texas was later identified with a loosely planned, orchestrated movement that involved computer networking Hispanic students and Spanish speaking radio’s talking heads that wanted to send a proactive message to America’s lawmakers.
We Must Understand that the ideal time to proactively send a message to whomever is before the deed is done, insofar as once a majority of the U. S. Senate vote aye on a bill it becomes the law of the land. We say this because African- AmericanNews&Issues, Texas’ widest circulated and read newspaper with a Black perspective, is not only the editorial watcher on the wall for our audited estimated 2 million readers and million more accessing our Web page (www.aframnews.com), but an uncompromised voice for all disenfranchised citizens of good consciences. Especially, those who embrace our common sense premises that all minorities are struggling in this racist nation together. Perhaps, not equally, but certainly together. Therefore, we have no shame in our game to say that we applaud and support those protesting Latino students. On the other hand, we understand where disenfranchised, underserved, political illiterate African Americans are coming from when they hastily concluded that the Latino kids were a bunch of ungrateful, descendants of undocumented immigrants who’ve been afforded a wonderful opportunity to survive and thrive in the land of the free. In addition, they had the nerve to protest under Mexico’s flag. In fact, I heard many of our Black faces in high places say that the Latinos were disrespecting “our country.” Especially, the disenfranchised, impoverished, unemployed Black citizens who are convinced that “Dem Mexicans are taking all of our jobs.” Shame, shame, shame on you Black America. Have we really progressed so far until we no longer can identify with an oppressed people that have been divided and confused by greedy and devious politicians?
We Must Understand that before Black people come to any conclusion, whatsoever (about another minority), we must remember our own history. There’s no need for us to remind you that those who forget their history are doomed to repeat the mistakes that turned our freedom marches into a moonwalk. Ironically, Black America’s 1960’s civil rights movement didn’t get serious until our kids got involved. But, that’s as it should be, because they’re who we so passionately say are our future. When you listen to the talking heads on TV and the radio, including “Houston’s only Black station,” you hear the misconception that the Latino kids are speaking for undocumented immigrants per se. Instead, the kids were proactively demonstrating to stop an immigration law that could be abused in the future to criminalize innocent citizens.
Racial profiling notwithstanding, history records that oppressive laws are always abused once they’re on the books. Remember when we applauded the “War on Drugs” laws (that at first glance appeared to be salvation), that became a Trojan horse in the hands of a racist, double-standard criminal justice system? Today, we realize that those laws have negatively impacted Black America’s youth more than slavery. Surely, the kids are trying to say that what they’re doing now is for their future. And their future is now. I’m sure that critical thinking Hispanic leaders listen to those conservative radio talk shows. An article (“Hispanic students take to streets again Protests draw critics, supporters — and efforts from schools to stop them”), in the Houston Chronicle’s March 29, 2006 edition revealed: The local protests captivated listeners of KSEV-AM (700), a conservative radio station.
"The perception is that these kids are not waving American flags and standing for a better America. These kids are denouncing America,’ said host Dan Patrick, a Republican nominee for state Senate. ‘They're demanding that America change their laws, give them free health care, and give them free education— that it's their right. The issue is not one of racism,’ Patrick said, ‘but the strain on the country's resources. Both Hispanic and non-Hispanic listeners are worried that undocumented workers burden Texas' hospitals, schools and tax base, he said.” When you have a Patrick, who got almost 90 percent of like thinking people’s votes (that put him in a position to make laws), one should understand why the Latino students are wise to realize that their future is now.