African-Americans have a stake in supporting immigrant rights

[DemFromMem]

African-Americans have a stake in supporting immigrant rights
By Alan Jenkins
April 12, 2006

Black Americans should stand together with undocumented immigrants.

Watching the landmark demonstrations by immigrants and their supporters, few could miss the parallels with the historic protests of the 1960s that helped power civil rights laws and moved our country closer to equal opportunity.

Now, in African-American communities, newspapers and chat rooms around the country, those parallels are part of a pointed debate: Would giving undocumented immigrants lawful pathways to employment and citizenship be good or bad for black Americans?

While immigrant labor could reduce the salaries and competitiveness of low-wage black workers, immigrants are also consumers whose demand for goods and services can create new jobs and rejuvenate neighborhoods where black people work and live.

But a narrow focus on employment figures misses the point.

The stake African-Americans have in the immigration debate is not just a matter of economic quid pro quo, but of national values, shared destiny and the kind of country we want to be.

<snip>

Alan Jenkins is executive director of The Opportunity Agenda, a communications, research and advocacy organization with the mission of building the national will to expand opportunity in America. His past positions include director of Human Rights at the Ford Foundation, assistant to the Solicitor General at the U.S. Department of Justice and associate counsel to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He can be reached at [email protected].



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A different perspective on this issue. The whole piece can be found at http://progressive.org/media_mpjenkins041206

[Virginia Dare]

1. One thing I haven't been able to understand...

how certain African-American clergymen can be against civil rights for homosexuals. It seems to me that the same arguments are being used today that were debunked 50 years ago.

:shrug:

[marmar]

2. I agree, but it's kinda complex...

I think most black clergymen, unlike their far right white counterparts, are in favor of basic civil rights for gays and lesbians, i.e. job discrimination protection, hate crimes laws that include gays and lesbians etc etc. Where the black clergy gets all right wingish is on the issue of marriage, which I, a heterosexual African American male, think should be open to everyone. And actually, you'll find lots of people in congregations who agree, but never challenge their churches on it.

[Virginia Dare]

4. Interesting, thanks for the explanation...n/t

[bvar22]

3. "national values, shared destiny and the kind of country we want to be."

Gee, all the African Americans I know would be happy to give up a few dollars per hour for "national values, shared destiny and the kind of country we want to be."
That stuff sure beats money for those living below the Poverty Line.


Why don't you go give them the news!
:rofl:

K&R so others can share the laughter!

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those
who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[madeline_con]

5. The crux of it...

"...immigrant labor could reduce the salaries and competitiveness of low-wage black workers ..."

'Nuff said...

[bliss_eternal]

6. A presumptive article, to say the least.

Why should anyone, African American or otherwise take the opinion of an article, as opposed to asking members of the group directly how they feel about immigrant rights.

Articles like this do more damage than anything else. I thought articles were designed to inform.

All this does is create the assumption that African Americans do NOT support immigrant rights. It also assumes that the majority of African Americans live in poverty and work in low wage jobs.

Assumptions and articles like this, don't help to bridge the gaps that already exist between human beings.