Vision Circle

Black people are garbage men. How is that not worse than doing field work?

If you've been behind a garbage truck, in the heat of summer, can you imagine doing that all day long?

A friend of mine went to the spot were Latino day laborers waited to be selected to do work. He tried for 2 weeks before giving up. He was never selected. Only the Latino men.

In the D.C. area, an INS raid wiped out the restaraunt help in the Arlington area and the Rockville Pike area. The workers were replaced by Black and white people willing to do the work.

On Maryland's Eastern Shore, Sen. Mulkulski is helping crab picking companies expand the immigrant pool. The companies can't find help because of the low pay. Whites and Blacks in the area either want more money, or the companies are cheating people.

Meanwhile, I see Black men working as garbage collectors. That's a rank job, but yet I see Black men doing it. I see Black women working in hotels as maids. I see Black people working as janitors.

Mexico is trying to hurt this country, and the President wants to help.

I don't see black men working picking grapes. Part of this is because of the dynamic you mentioned. But part of it is that black people neither have to NOR WANT TO do. People talk about how Koreans are taking over black industries--Korean nail techs run Detroit nail salons for example. I don't know very many Americans who are willing to work in nail salons inhale the fumes, and make less than minimum wages without benefits.

This isn't to say that black people don't have a work ethic. To the extent that Fox is juxtaposing Mexican workers against black workers by emphasizing the mexican work ethic, he's off his rocker. I prefer to think that black people are in a better economic position to stoop to this position.
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You mentioned that Mexico is hurting this country or trying to. Your comments remind me of my aunt's in the last LA mayoral election. "The Mexicans are trying to take over!" She told me.

"From WHO?"

The Mexicans should be trying to take over whatever they can take over. They are pursuing their national interest. Mexicans certainly do not view themselves the way Americans do. Mexicans see themselves in several lights - two of them are as worthy competitors to the United States. In the first instance, the legacy of Spain led to the expansion of the Meixcan colony into what is now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. This was not very long ago. In the second instance, Mexicans also see themselves as heir to the indigenous legacy of the Aztecs.

Sure Latin American governments treat the Indians about the way Indians and Africans are treated here, but that's beside the point. Mexicans, especially the collective that gives voice to Vicente Fox, see themselves as a proud people with a legacy and a future.

Mexico, not unlike Venezuela, Cuba and Brazil are locked in a serious struggle with the US over trade, jobs, and survival. I believe that LKS is correct...these are not jobs that most Black folks are willing to take - nor should they have to take those jobs...as a people, we have been here longer than all other groups, save the indigenous Americans. Most whites immigrated to America after the core of Black America was already established (damn near 80 years later). Our economic condition may require the capital of a Marshall Plan far more than it requires the comments of a Mexican President.

The Mexicans should be trying to take over whatever they can take over. They are pursuing their national interest. Mexicans certainly do not view themselves the way Americans do. Mexicans see themselves in several lights - two of them are as worthy competitors to the United States. In the first instance, the legacy of Spain led to the expansion of the Meixcan colony into what is now Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. This was not very long ago. In the second instance, Mexicans also see themselves as heir to the indigenous legacy of the Aztecs.

Sure Latin American governments treat the Indians about the way Indians and Africans are treated here, but that's beside the point. Mexicans, especially the collective that gives voice to Vicente Fox, see themselves as a proud people with a legacy and a future.

Mexico, not unlike Venezuela, Cuba and Brazil are locked in a serious struggle with the US over trade, jobs, and survival. I believe that LKS is correct...these are not jobs that most Black folks are willing to take - nor should they have to take those jobs...as a people, we have been here longer than all other groups, save the indigenous Americans. Most whites immigrated to America after the core of Black America was already established (damn near 80 years later). Our economic condition may require the capital of a Marshall Plan far more than it requires the comments of a Mexican President.

The point being internationally Blacks(Americans) are not even considered;hence the statement.

The thing that I find most striking about President Vicente Fox's comments is that he articulates so very well the view that has been reinforced for many years by white supremacy in America. It should not be surprising that he, like others in this nation and abroad, agree with this notion of the shiftless and lazy black. Rather, we should be surprised when national leaders fail to agree with this racist notion.

With respect to the comments of Mexicans "taking over" in the US. Well, America has encouraged immigrants of all kind to come to this land in order to facilitate a better way of life for themselves and their families. The caveat has always been that they must first become part of America's underclass and work the menial jobs that those with "white privilege" choose not to do. However, Mexicans, just like the Irish, Italians, etc who have come before them, they too will be "whitened" in the process. The way they can accomplish this is to always distinguish themselves from Blacks who are the permanent underclass. White is a politicized term that goes much deeper than skin color. It is the idea that explains one's difference from Black. Consequently, all immigrants, in order to garner the success that America offers, relinquishes much of its cultural identity in order to take part in the privilege that goes hand in hand with being White. Many Mexican families in the US not only encourage their children to learn English, but in some instances refuse to allow them to speak Spanish. When you lose your language, that is only the first step in becoming part of the amalgamation that is White.