Tiffany Warren shared this article with me.
It is an essential conversation that is long overdue.
I am Latino. And Black.
Leave a reply
Category Archives: Politics
Black & White
Monday started like any other.
The only difference was that I wore one of my favorite tee-shirts.
One that I normally only wear in the house.
In fact, as I made my way through the day, I honestly forgot that I had the shirt on.
From my neighborhood coffee stop to the drug store to the Post Office to the dry cleaner to the barber shop to the supermarket – my path was riddled with looks, both approving and disapproving.
I found the reactions mostly curious until one woman approached me and said, “I think the President went too far with his remarks about Trayvon Martin.”
My first thought was to ask this older White woman what she knew about being Black in America, but that would only encourage a conversation that I was neither in the mood or had the energy for.
True, in his recent remarks about the Martin/Zimmerman case, President Obama shared some little known Black History Facts.
Little known to people who are not Black…
A story from NPR, Polls Show Wide Racial Gap on Trayvon Martin Case highlights the simple fact that Black and White people in America just see things differently.
Inner City Blues – “Food Insecurity”
My colleague, Tony Martinez, shared this GALLUP article, “In U.S., Single-Parent Households Struggle More to Buy Food” with me.
Sobering statistics that underscore the fact that what was once mainly prevalent in only African-American households, is now a far-reaching urban reality.
The Only Black Person In The Room
Because I have been there.
And because I have done that.
I applaud Adrienne Simpson’s courage to not only speak up – (click here to see) – but to point out something that is prevalent not only in publishing, but also in practically every industry – outside of professional sports and entertainment –
“…hiring practices have made it abundantly clear that black people and their opinions have no place in its discussions.”
This is not just about Race, Philadelphia or Philadelphia Magazine.
If the two fastest growing minorities in this country are not allowed to have a voice, an opinion, and a seat at the table guiding and adding to the conversation, we will still be the lone voice in the corner of the room.
To acknowledge a problem is the first step. No diversity representation.
To do something about it is going the distance. Change.
E Pluribus Unum*
I spotted this billboard while driving in the Pocono mountains over the holiday weekend.
America, we have a lot of work to do…
*(Out of many, one.)