Richardson YES, Hillary NO to 1st Indian Country Presidential Forum

In a July 27, 2007 editorial, 'Big Three' can learn much from Richardson, Indian Country Today had this advise for the three leading Democratic presidential candidates--Hillary, Obama and Edwards:

As they begin to develop Indian policy proposals, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's strong record on government-to-government relations with tribal nations stands as a beacon. Shortly after declaring his candidacy, Richardson told Indian Country Today that if elected president, he would install a cabinet-level secretary of Indian Affairs. Given his record, this is less lip service than intention. In 2005 he appointed Jemez Pueblo native Benny Shendo Jr. as New Mexico's first secretary of Indian Affairs. It is the only state in the country that has a cabinet secretary and a department of Indian Affairs. Spoken commitment followed by action is the key to winning the increasingly critical Native vote.

Apparently, providing quiet advise goes only so far. Indigenous Democratic Network (INDN's List) has scheduled a candidates forum, Prez on the Rez, for August 23rd at the Morongo reservation in southern California. It is the first such forum to be held in Indian country, and leaders from the federally recognized tribes will be present. All of the Democratic presidential candidates were invited to address the forum. However, Obama and Edwards have not agreed to attend--and according to the INDN's List website, Hillary has refused.

Thankfully, Bill Richardson promptly accepted.

Are our First Americans of such little value to these politicians? It smacks of the sort of arrogance displayed by Republicans when they refused invitations to address national Latino and African American forums this year.

Shameful.

A Trillion $ U.S. Latino Market!

According to a new study by the University of Georgia's Selig Center for Economic Growth, Multicultural Economy, African American buying power in the U.S. will rise 34 percent to top $1.1 trillion by 2012, up from $845 billion now.

However, the Latino market will be even bigger, growing from $860 billion now to $1.2 trillion in five years.

The top 10 states, as ranked by the rate of growth of Latino buying power over 1990-2006, are:

1.) Arkansas (1,174%)
2.) North Carolina (1,042%)
3.) Tennessee (833%)
4.) Georgia (832%)
5.) Nevada (748%)
6.) Alabama (679%)
7.) South Dakota (652%)
8.) Minnesota (633%)
9.) South Carolina (626%)
10.) North Dakota (623%)

Latinos, which comprised 14.7 percent of the country’s population in 2006, had disposable income of $798 billion. In 2006, the 10 states with the largest Latino markets, in order, are:

1.) California ($214.5 billion)
2.) Texas ($140.2 billion)
3.) Florida ($82.2 billion)
4.) New York ($63.3 billion)
5.) Illinois ($34.8 billion)
6.) New Jersey ($30.5 billion)
7.) Arizona ($26.4 billion)
8.) Colorado ($18.5 billion)
9.) New Mexico ($15.1 billion)
10.) Georgia ($12.4 billion)

Report reveals discrimination against Latino workers

A new survey, Diversity in the Workplace (Report reveals discrimination against Latino workers (La Tribuna Hispana USA via IPA - 7.3.07), found that one-third of respondents had suffered discriminatory practices at work.

In accordance with the anti-Latino campaigns of the right, the survey found that Latinos are under siege in the American workplace, too. Here are some of the survey findings:

1) 15% of Latinos said that they have received a racist insult at work.
2) 25% of Latinos feel he or she is paid less and has fewer possibilities to progress in his or her career, compared to their white colleagues.
3) 26% of Latinos rank as serious discrimination or unequal treatment they've suffered.
4) 29% of Latinos say they suffer discrimination or unequal treatment at least once a week; 18% indicated that it occurs once a month; and 31 percent said that it occurs one to three times a year.

The most frequent discriminatory or unjust practices report by Latinos include:

1) not receiving credit for one’s own work (53 percent)
2) colleagues talking about fellow workers behind their backs (41 percent)
3) not receiving raises or bonuses (38 percent)
4) having concerns dismissed or not taken seriously (37 percent)
5) feeling that one’s ideas and opinions are generally ignored (34 percent)
6) being passed over for raises (32 percent).
7) paid less than their white colleagues, despite having the same skills and experience (22%)

Sound familiar? Had Enough? Visit ¡Ya basta! and sign the petition.

Americans Still Support Immigration Reform (including citizenship for the undocumented)

Behind Acrimonious Debate, Public Support High for Comprehensive Immigration Reform

National Immigration Forum -7.30.07

In the spring of 2007, Congress engaged in a bitter debate on the issue of immigration reform. A fierce battle was fought between those who seek practical, comprehensive solutions to our broken immigration system, and those who favor only the enforcement of the broken status quo.

The debate was conducted in an atmosphere poisoned by the followers of conservative talk radio and anti-immigration reform groups who complained loudly that any practical immigration proposal was “amnesty.” They managed to intimidate Congress into a stalemate. Until Congress picks up immigration reform again, the nation will continue to suffer the consequences of a broken immigration system.

In the aftermath of a debate that had strong anti-immigrant and anti-Latino overtones, citizenship applications are at record levels, and new Americans are registering to vote and preparing to have their say in the next election.

If recent experience proves to be a trend, however, the defenders of the broken status quo may come to regret their opposition to comprehensive immigration reform. In 2006, the Republican leadership...listened to the loud voices of immigration restrictionists and bet their political careers on...demonizing undocumented immigrants. [T]he American people were not impressed, and...Latino voters...offended—not to mention moderate and Catholic voters, who deserted the Republicans in droves. Many hardliners lost their seats and leadership positions.

Unfortunately, as the recent debate has demonstrated, lessons were not learned. The general public continued to show steady support for immigration solutions that include enhanced border security, workplace and employer enforcement, and earned legalization for undocumented immigrants with a path to citizenship. Yet, Senate immigration hardliners continued to take their queues from the loud minority opposed to reform.

Click here for a summary of recent public opinion polls on the immigration reform debate.

Draft College Republicans

Max Blumenthal documents the hypocrisy of young college Republicans that are staunchly pro-war but refuse to fight in Iraq. Blumenthal refers to them as Chicken Hawks or Cheney Republicans.

Obama on Hazelton

Chicago, IL-- Senator Obama released the following statement in response to Judge James Munley's ruling that the city of Hazleton's anti-immigrant ordinance is unconstitutional.

"Today's ruling by Judge James Munley is a victory for all Americans. The anti-immigrant law passed by Mayor Barletta was unconstitutional and unworkable - and it underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform so local communities do not continue to take matters into their own hands.

Recently, the U.S. Senate failed the American people by blocking progress on immigration reform for the second time in two years. We cannot put this off any longer.

The ongoing problems with our immigration system are dividing our country, and distracting us from the work we need to do in other important areas such as health care, education, and jobs.

We need to act urgently to create an immigration system that secures our borders and enforces our laws, reflects our best traditions as a nation of immigrants, and upholds the values and ideals that all Americans cherish.

I have been fighting for that kind of system for several years now, and I will continue fighting for that kind of system until we pass comprehensive immigration reform once and for all."

Latinos: A Legacy of American War Heroes

Latinos: A Legacy of American War Heroes

Tears rolled down the face of Jaime Lopez as he re-called the torrid memories of the Korean War. Mr. Lopez was a soldier in Puerto Rico’s 65th Infantry, a proud and dedicated band of fighting men known as the "Borinqueneers.'" For over 50 years, Lopez believed that the blood of over 700 fallen comrades, in the snow and hills of Korea, would never be recognized. The memories of the heroic men of the Puerto Rico’s 65th Infantry, who fought gallantly against Chinese and North Korean forces, fell into obscurity. But a new documentary, The Borinqueneers, by Noemi Figueroa Soulet sheds light on their stories and honors the forgotten heroes of Puerto Rico’s 65th.

Latinos: A Legacy of American War Heroes focuses on the contributions and sacrifices made by Puerto Rico’s 65th Infantry and will draw on the PBS documentary The Borinqueneers, set to air on NJN August 6, 2007 at 8 pm.

Latinos: A Legacy of American War Heroes previews the documentary and examines the history behind the formation of Puerto Rico’s 65th Infantry Regiment. The episode also features reaction to The Borinqueneers which has already garnered praise around the state:

This documentary brings to life the phenomenal contributions of Latinos in general and Puerto Ricans in particular.
– Corey Booker, Mayor of Newark

The story of The Borinqueneers, which we should all learn, is a story like that of the Tuskegee Airman who served so valiantly.
– Mary Sue Sweeny Price, Director of the Newark Museum

I’ve always heard people ask “What are the contributions that Puerto Ricans have made to this country?” This documentary answers this question.
– Johnny Torres, Executive Director of Save Latin America Inc.

Schedule of PBS Screenings:

Thursday, Aug. 2nd at 11am & 8pm &
Sunday, Aug. 12th at 3:30pm - WMFE (Orlando, FL)

Monday, Aug. 6th at 8pm & 9:30pm - WNJN (Trenton, NJ) (LIVE PLEDGE PROGRAM!)

Wednesday, Aug. 8th at 10:30pm - CET (Cincinnati, OH)

Thursday, Aug. 9th at 8pm - WNET (New York, NY) (LIVE PLEDGE PROGRAM!)

Friday, Aug. 10 at 9:30pm - KCET (Los Angeles, CA)

Sunday, Aug. 12th at 7pm &
Saturday, Aug. 18th at 12am - KLRN 9 (San Antonio, TX)

Monday, Aug. 13th at 9pm &
Tuesday, Aug. 14th at 1:30am - WXEL (West Palm Beach, FL)

Wednesday, Aug. 15th at 9:30PM - WPBT (Miami, FL) (LOCAL PLEDGE PROGRAM!)

Wednesday, Aug. 15th at 8pm - WEDU-Ch 3 (Tampa, FL)

week of Aug. 4-11 - WQED (Pittsburgh, PA)
(exact date to be determined)

Monday, August 27th at 9pm - KLRU (Austin, TX)

Thursday, September 13th at 8pm - WGBH-Ch. 2 (Boston, MA)

Sunday, Sept. 16 at 3:30pm - WTTW (Chicago, IL)

Dutch Salsa

It's always interested me why the good folks of the Netherlands (the Dutch) show such interest in American Taino. They visit the weblog at three times the rate of the Germans and the French--and over twice the rate of the Spanish.

Actually, the Dutch have shown more interest in American Taino than have Latin Americans except for those in Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Why?

While I honestly don't know, I suspect it has something to do with the openness and curiosity of the Dutch. As a crossroads of Western Europe, the Netherlands has always been a multi-lingual and multi-cultural society. For example, the Dutch never fail to amaze me with their fluency in English and other world languages. It probably also has something to do with the strong presence of the Dutch in the Caribbean.

Latin Americans and people from the Caribbean have found their way to the Netherlands, settling there in growing numbers. According to the Migration Institute, some 25,000 Latin Americans were living in the Netherlands in 2005. And as one can imagine, there are children whose parents are Latino and Dutch.

Actually, recently I completed an online survey on Taino parentage sent to me by a student studying at a Dutch University. The young woman is a Dutch citizen of Puerto Rican and Dutch heritage.

And then there's this bit of information from the Netherlands: The Dutch love Salsa.

While Salsa is popular across a number of European capitols, the Dutch seem to have made it their own, including holding an national Salsa Festival each year. This year's festival takes place October 26-28 in the Dutch historic city of Haarlem. (And yes, NYC's Harlem was named after the Dutch Haarlem. After all, NYC was originally a Dutch City.)

Of course, we can't forget that the Netherland Antilles of Sint Maartens, Bonaire, Saba, Curacao and Sint Eustatius are Caribbean neighbors of Puerto Rico. This may explain actor Jimmy Smits' Puerto Rican and Dutch heritage. And Puerto Rico itself was captured by the Dutch in 1625 and held for a period of time.

Here are just a few Dutch Salsa websites:

SalsaFestival.nl
Salsa.nl
Salsa - Amsterdam.nl
Salsanet.nl - The Dutch Resource for Salsa and Samba
Salsaforum.nl
UnionSalsa.nl

And the Dutch in Puerto Rico website:

The Dutch Club of Puerto Rico

Salsa Spins Beyond Its Roots

Salsa Spins Beyond Its Roots (by Julie Bloom, NYTimes/Dance - 7.29.07)

SOON after Héctor Lavoe, the great salsa singer, arrives in New York in the new biopic, “El Cantante,” he finds himself immersed in a vibrant scene in the Bronx: a nightclub crammed with bodies drenched in sweat moving to the pounding beat of congas. As the film, which is to open nationwide Aug. 3 and stars Marc Anthony as Mr. Lavoe, shows, it could have been any night in New York in the late 1960s, when dancing was a genuine physical manifestation of the energy of the streets.

Besides the studios, salsa dancing is also thriving at salsa congresses, several days of workshops and performances that attract thousands of dancers from around the world. The original Salsa Congresso started in Puerto Rico in 1997; there are now congresses held in places as diverse as Los Angeles, Chicago, Britain, Romania, Dubai, Israel and Japan. New York’s annual congress is set for Aug. 30 to Sept. 2 at the Hilton New York.

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U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez: Congress should restart immigration reform process

Congress should restart immigration reform process (by Rep. Luis Gutierrez, The Hill - 7.26.07) In recent weeks, we have heard a lot of tough talk from those who worked to stop immigration reform in the Senate. What we haven’t heard are any solutions. What do they propose we do now?

As most people who are familiar with the legislative process understand, being against something is easy. Embracing heated political rhetoric is easy.

Pandering to conservative radio hosts and playing into people’s fears is easy.

You know what is not easy, and what was often overlooked during the debate, is the struggle and sacrifice of the immigrant who gets up at the crack of dawn each morning to go take care of someone else’s kids, or the young father working the midnight shift on a cleaning crew, or the woman picking vegetables in oppressive heat for 12 hours a day. You know what is not easy is worrying each day that your husband will not come home from work or that you will be swept up in a raid and your U.S. citizen children will be left helpless and alone.

At the end of the day, that is what the immigration debate is all about, and why I believe it so is important that we keep fighting.

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