In response to legislation, which would authorize more walls along the U.S.-Mexico border, at least 100,000 people gathered in the streets of downtown Los Angeles, in protest of the legislation that would make it a felony to be in the U.S. illegally.
In addition to the laws against immigrants, there would be new penalties imposed on employers who hire illegal immigrants.
Fences would also be erected along one-third of the U.S.-Mexican border.
Is the American government really in the position to impose penalties on those who are not born here-but choose to live here-when British power built America with African slave labor on American Indian land?
I really don’t think so.
Not only am I appalled that the Senate has the audacity to propose such legislation but that black people have yet to organize, mobilize and publicly protest any of the many injustices that have gone so terribly wrong within our community.
It’s not just George Bush who doesn’t care about black people, but our lack of activism surrounding the hurricane Katrina disaster, proves that most black people don’t care about black people.
Or maybe the death of at least 1,422 people, as a result inadequate evacuation routes, starvation and just plain old neglect isn’t enough to piss off the black community.
If that didn’t upset you, maybe this will.
The New York Times did a write up on how black males are disproportionately behind, in terms of education and the job market, when compared to males of other ethnicities. And the gap that is between them is growing.
According to the article, in 2000, 65 percent of black male high school dropouts in their 20s were jobless.
In 1995, 16 percent of black men in their 20s who did not attend college were in jail or prison; by 2004, 21 percent were incarcerated.
Personally, I’m disgusted and saddened at how tolerant and complacent the black community has become.
When things get really messed up within the community, black people get together and devise a plan.
We planned what needed to be done after the State of the Black Student Summit.
We planned what needed to be done after the State of the Black Union Address organized by Tavis Smiley.
A book was even developed.
So my question is, when do we put our plans into action?
When do we finally say enough and strive to be more than mediocre?
When do we make a concentrated effort to level the playing field?
I doubt if any of the protestors had family members enslaved or involved with the Civil Rights movement, yet it seems that they are the only ones who know what true activism is all about.
Black people, myself included, need to step it up and start caring about what happens to and within our community. Our survival depends on it.
Amber Vaughan is senior public relations student from Pensacola. She can be reached at ambervaughan82@aim.com.