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Commentary Series: Latino-Black Relations

Focus series from The Hutchinson Report, Pacific News Service, and IMDiversity Hispanic American Village

Editor's Note: With the posting of the first three provocative columns by Earl Ofari Hutchinson, the Hispanic-American Village opens an exploration and discussion of relations between Blacks and Latinos in the U.S.  Through edgy, insightful commentary and features, our own and syndicated writers, we and soon you will be tackling such questions as:

• Do the two groups too often see each other through the muddled prism of the mainstream media?
• Are there significant societal and political divides?
• Are there commonalities of experience and aspirations that have to be strengthened?
• Do immigrants from the Latin countries come with a whole set of stereotypes based on both myth and experience that complicate relations between the two groups here?

So, keep an open, discerning mind while you sink your teeth into these morsels.  And stay tuned...

Mexican President Fox Blew it with NAACP Snub
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, The Hutchinson Report
What are the implications of Mexican President Vicente Fox’s blowing off of the NAACP’s annual convention, and does this bode ill for touchy Black-Latino relations here?  Earl Ofari Hutchinson discusses the dis.

Stamp Controversy: Mexican Officials Must Come Clean on Racism
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, The Hutchinson Report
Hutchinson weighs in on a stand-off between Mexican government officials and Black leaders from the U.S. on the implications of celebrating a Sambo-like cartoon character.

Suzie Peña Killing Should Unite, Not Divide, Blacks and Latinos
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson, The Hutchinson Report
Hutchinson calls for Blacks and Latinos to put aside their differences and join in opposing the roughshod tactics of the LAPD.

Ethnic Media Try to Defuse Ethnic Tensions in L.A.
By Elena Shore and Donal Brown, Pacific News Service
The ethnic media is trying to downplay the mainstream media’s polarizing coverage of recent tensions in L.A.

L.A.’s Black-Brown Divisions Deepen
By Carol Amoruso, HAV Editor
Commentary examines several smoldering issues and asks: Is there hope for change?

Store Shooting Brings More Calls for Black-Brown Unity
By Gene Johnson, Jr., Wave Newspapers
In an effort to quell more brown-on-black violence — most recently a 16-year-old girl wounded allegedly by a Latino gang member — some South L.A. activists have called for an immediate cease-fire and neighborhood unity. Can opportunity come of tragedy?