August 8, 2009 will forever go down in history as the day the United States Supreme Court sworn in the first Hispanic supreme court justice. This historical period in our society is quite profound considering less than 100 years ago we actually had Klans men as Supreme Court justices. In fact many are not aware that the Supreme Court overturned the initial integration doctrine and allowed the Southern states to operate under separate but legal, which we all knew was actually separate and illegal for the unfortunate person of color. Sonia Sotomayor, Supreme Court Justice, girl you got lots of graves turning (LOL). While we recognize the maturation of unity our nation is experiencing, we should also take into account how two supreme minority classes are actually coming together, I’m talking about Boricuas and Morenos or also known as the Browns and Blacks.
Growing up as a Black Puerto Rican I’ve had my share of racism on both ends. I had Black friends who ridiculed my Salsa music, the gandules (peas) in my rice, my accent, the stereotypical jokes about welfare and tons of kids as well as countless other experiences that I’m failing to mention. I’ve also experienced the ignorance of those who share my ethnicity in thinking that I was a morena, which by the way is a word that closely resembles mono (monkey in Spanish, hmmmm……) and how they went out to degrade me for being a morena. Some of these instances were the cowardly way they would talk about me in Spanish not knowing that I knew the language, tell me I had bad hair, they would say all Black people stink, oh and the best one they weren’t allowed to bring Black people into their house, ya’ll know who you are! But today in the year 2009 I’m beginning to get a different feel from Blacks and Hispanics. The nomination of Sotomayor from an African American President, Barack Obama spoke volumes.
Historically Hispanics tend to associate themselves and maybe its just imaginary but nevertheless they see themselves more in the white arena than the Black arena. Even your dark Hispanics would never admit to being Black or even contain African ancestry. This denouncement of their true ethnicity is not due to poor knowledge but of shame. Hispanics would rather be anything than Black to the point that they wouldn’t even side with an African American. Some may think based on my experiences I’m making this up, but if you recall during the Democratic primary between Barack and Hilary, Hispanics were all over Hilary. Hilary this Hilary that. Shamefully my own mother hated Obama. To quote Ms. Thing “Barack is a Muslim from Africa” She don’t want nobody who grew up in a jungle running the country.” It took all of me not to disrespect my mother. But I realized she was just honestly speaking what most Hispanics thought. Now nearly a year later Obama is like Jesus to her. He’s looked out for her kind more than any other white person ever did. Just take a look at Bush and poor Alberto Gonzalez. The Bush administration made Albertito take the fall for firing those judges. Haven’t heard a peep from Albertito and you won’t either! See that’s not whitey looking out for you.
For years we’ve all known to prosper we must work together, yet we never took the initiative to do so. So busy trying to assimilate and knock each other out as if the white race only has room for a few Black and Hispanic cohorts. But finally one of us took the plunge and what a step it was. A Black president nominates a Puerto Rican from the Bronx and voila for the first time eyes have been opened! Hermanos/Hermanas, Sisters and Brothers we are not enemies we’ve been fighting the same fight for many of years. We were robbed and we built this country. This division between Black and Brown, which coincidentally are related colors in the Crayola box has got to stop and I pray to God we are on our way.
This past Saturday comedian George Lopez announced during his standup on HBO the names of the Senators who opposed Sotomayor, coincidentally they were all white. He urged their constituents not to vote for them again. The roaring applause of the crowd mostly Hispanic was proof enough that “WE” are all finally getting it. Thank you President Obama and Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor for leading the charge on this one. This is a cultural awakening that you both should be extremely proud of!
