Minorities in the United States, Research Paper

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African-Americans males currently comprise half of the prison inmate population in the U.S., Hispanic youths (18-34) adding another twenty percent to that number.

Unfortunately, many of these inmates are in prison for random or gang-related violence, often between members of the Latino and African-American community. Recently, and especially in California, the number of hate crimes between the Hispanic and African-American communities has been on the rise.

For instance, in early October 2009, Madison WI, a 51-year-old Hispanic man was attacked and mugged by four young black males, in what was a continuing pattern of violent crimes against Hispanics in the area.

In the weeks leading up to this attack, the Madison police had received several reports of groups of young black men attacking and mugging their Latino neighbors.

Part of this racial tension comes from a right of ownership, and the need to assert one's community and culture into a more plural society. After all, the definitive culture of both Latin Americans and African-Americans is very important to each minority. Because both of these groups originated in countries beyond the United States, each representing a unique narrative, pride in one's culture and heritage is a commonality in both of these minority groups.

Consider the 2008 presidential campaign, during which many African-Americans were asking, "Is Obama black enough?" The argument was as follows: as the son of a white woman and Kenyan man, raised in Hawaii and Indonesia, could Obama possibly share the black American experience? To most African-Americans, the ability for Obama to identify with them was vital to his success. Said Chuck Raash of USA Today, "[Barack Obama] has been judged through racial prisms that no previous presidents…have endured."

Hispanic journalist Edmund Tijerina noted that for Hispanic politicians, earning the trust of their own cultural group is equally difficult.

Tijerina remembers a recent political race in San Antonio, wherein the two mayoral candidates were persecuted for their lack of immersion in the Latin culture.

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"[Ed Garza and Julian Castro] sometimes took some grief for not speaking Spanish, even though most Latinos in this city don't speak it fluently."

The similarities and shared struggles of these minorities is the more difficult thing standing between the people and effective communication between the groups. Because a general lack of education plagues these communities, breaking barriers provides an especially unique challenge. In the past, social change has begun at the universities and in public schools. With low college enrollment rates among these minorities, beginning that discussion grows ever more difficult.

Which is perhaps why the discussion by the Presumed Alliance at GWU was so important. It began the dialogue necessary to invite communication between these groups and to discover what that relationship means for the future of America.

Dabiri, B. (2005). Students Discuss Black-Hispanic Relations. Retrieved December 03, 2010 from George Washington University, the GW Hatchett: http://media.www.gwhatchet.com/?media/?storage / news/?2005/? 09/?29/?campusnews/? students.discuss.blackhispanic.relations-1002869.shtml.

David Kempa. (28 January). Why do millions risk their lives to cross the border? McClatchy - Tribune News Service,***[insert pages]***. Retrieved December 2, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1949784671).

TEGO CALDERON. (2007, February 14). BLACK PRIDE - LATIN AMERICA NEEDS ITS OWN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT SAYS the WORLD-FAMOUS RAPPER. New York Post, p. 047. Retrieved December 3, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1215922781).

Gene a. Budig. (2010, January 31). In AMERICA:: More black men in prison than college. Sunday Gazette - Mail, C.1. Retrieved December 2, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1952085181).

BILL NOVAK. (2009, October 1). HISPANIC MAN MUGGED by FOUR YOUNG BLACK MEN. Madison Capital Times, WEB. Retrieved December 2, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1870939341).

CHUCK RAASCH. (18 November). Obama's challenges are personal, too. Gannett News Service,***[insert pages]***. Retrieved December 3, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2192583121).

Edmund Tijerina. (2007, March 22). UN POQUITO DE TODO; Latino….....

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