Divine Righteous 

Racial tensions & exploitation alive & well in the Big Easy

Rebuilding the Big Easy
Latinos confront strained resources and tense race relations as they help clean up New Orleans and other hurricane-ravaged cities.
By Roberto Lovato


Article can be found at the Ethnic Media link on the right hand side of page.

My thoughts:

These Latino workers are working 14-hour days, paid below min wage sometimes getting no pay at all and of course no benefits. There goes good ole capitalist exploitation for ya. To me this is one of the most dehumanizing acts of modern times. Esp for a "civilized" and wealthy country such as ours. Why is it too much to ask for a descent living wage and for these jobs to be filled by Hurrican Katrina survivors/NOLA locals? Isnt this the right thing to do?

The bottom line is Bush and these contractors are conducting exploitative operations on American soil. But, more importantly they are participating in illegal activities and once again people of color are the ones that end up suffering the most.

Who is a terrorist?

Killing of Puerto Rican Nationalist Adds 'State Terror' to Terrorism's Crimes
Source: New America Media
by Roberto Lovato

"What happened in Puerto Rico is nothing less than state terrorism!" yells Nuyorican activist Frank Vergara during a large protest of the recent FBI killing of 72-year-old Puerto Rican nationalist leader Filiberto Ojeda Rios on the Caribbean island.

Vergara isn't alone in his outrage: U.S. Representatives Jose E. Serrano (D-NY), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) sent a letter to FBI chief Robert Mueller demanding an investigation into the agency's actions, which they said "used unwarranted excessive force" in a manner "that can only be described as colonialist."

Rios was killed in a shootout with the FBI after the agency surrounded a farmhouse where he was staying in southwestern Puerto Rico.

On the island, where many paid tribute to Ojeda Rios as he lay in state at the historic Ateneo cultural center, thousands joined such notables as Puerto Rico's governor, Anibal Acevedo,
officials of most political parties and San Juan's Archbishop Roberto Gonzalez Nieves, who expressed "consternation, indignation and sadness because of way and the day" on which Ojeda Rios was killed.

Many in Puerto Rico and here in New York believe that the decision to pursue Ojeda Rios on the 137th anniversary of the "Grito de Lares," Puerto Rican independence from Spain, was made for its symbolic effect. Though most Puerto Ricans have solidly rejected independence in non-binding referendums over the years, even those who differed with the goals and tactics of the founder of the militant Macheteros ("Cane Cutters") have been vociferous in their criticism of the U.S. government's violent actions on Sept. 23 near the town of Hormigueros.

The FBI calls Rios the leader of a group "that has been linked to a nearly 30-year pattern of terrorist" activities. Rather than list him among Puerto Rican nationalists like Lolita Lebron and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos, who also died under questionable circumstances in federal custody, the U.S. government wants to add Ojeda Rios to the increasing numbers of Latinos in the "terrorist" files at the J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building in Washington, D.C.

In the face of such differing opinions between Puerto Ricans and the Bush administration over Rios, one thing is clear: applying the cookie-cutter, post-9/11 terrorism template to this situation will not work. The life and death of Ojeda Rios goes to the heart of a problem plaguing Latinos and all Americans in this time of perpetual war, the problem of defining who is and isn't a "terrorist."

An August meeting of the United Nations failed to define the term "terrorist" -- one study found more than 109 definitions in the international legal community. In fact, Rios' killing by the Bush administration reflects the word's flexibility when used by the FBI and other U.S. government agencies. Beyond the Nuyorican community and the residents of Puerto Rico, it's critical that Latinos and other across the Americas question, for example, why "terrorist" has not been officially applied to another septuagenarian Caribeno, anti-Castro Cuban bomber Luis Posada Carriles. Carriles was convicted in Panama for a bomb plot against Fidel Castro, and Venezuela seeks to bring him to justice for a 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner that killed 73 people.

The elderly Ojeda Rios was, according to the FBI, designated a terrorist because of his alleged involvement in a robbery of a Wells Fargo depot in the United States and because of his involvement in the Macheteros, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group because of its bombings and armed robberies. How Rios became the object of helicopter and machine gun-filled military operations and how Posada Carriles did not has everything to do with the shell-game politics of anti-terrorism.

A federal judge ruled recently that Carriles, who is currently in U.S. custody for entering the country illegally, could not be deported to Cuba or Venezuela to stand trial. But according to Human Rights Watch and other rights groups, hundreds of others responsible for untold crimes against humanity -- most of them military and paramilitary leaders from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America -- are living comfortably on farms, beaches and rural hideouts as U.S. residents. With full knowledge of their presence the Bush administration does nothing. Though they have killed enough people to fill several World Trade Centers, none of these men, many of whom were trained at the School of the Americas and other U.S. military installations, some of whom have even received medals of honor from U.S. officials such as former President Ronald Reagan, none has been designated a "terrorist" by this government. None has been pursued as a fugitive like Ojeda Rios. None has been killed in the newly re-branded global "struggle against violent extremism."

As members of the Pentagon, the Justice Department, Homeland Security and other U.S. agencies continue their attempts to link gang members, immigrants and other Latinos to the terrorist threat, more of us must speak out and denounce the questionable uses of the word "terrorist" and the dangerous actions it engenders in places like Puerto Rico and here on the mainland. The controversy surrounding the life and death of Ojeda Rios should remind us that one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter; that, for activist Frank Vergara, thousands of Puerto Ricans and countless others throughout the hemisphere, "terrorism" is also something that governments practice -- even those governments that remind us daily that they're defending us against it.

PNS contributor Roberto Lovato (robvato63@yahoo.com) is a New York-based writer.

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I would like to add that we now know the reason the USG is protecting Luis Posada Carriles is because he is a former CIA agent. He has admitted working against Fidel Castro and to a role in the 1961 U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion to overthrow the Cuban leader.

This article also brings to mind the case of Jose Padilla. He is of Puerto Rican descent born in NY raised in Chicago. He was a gangbanger in his youth but was not one at the time of his arrest. The USG claims Padilla planned to attack the US with a "dirty bomb." He has been in prison for 3 and a half years and as of 09/10/05 he will be detained indefinately. The Court ruled in favor of the Bush administration which claimed that it had the right to indefinitely imprison an American citizen without charging him with a crime. The govt has no evidence against him!! But, Bush claims he is an "ememy combatant." There is no "Due Proecess" for this "American." If the govt is going to claim someone is a terrorist shouldn't they at least have some type of proof?!?!

!!Free Jose Padilla!!

Same Ship, Different Trip

Same Ship, Different Trip
Source: BlackPlanet.com found on migente.com
by Adam Caleb
10.12.05

It's important because we are all brothers and sisters in the same struggle," states the 21-year old Florida resident. "Just because Afro-Latinos speak Spanish doesn't mean that they are a different race from the rest of the Diaspora."

In recent years, more Latinos of African descent are beginning to take a stand and speak out on their impact on Latino culture as well as discuss the hardships of being Spanish-speaking Black people.

Mirabel, who is of Puerto Rican heritage and hails from the same town as another Afro-Puerto Rican, baseball great Roberto Clemente, uses the expression "same ship, different trip" in regards to reason why blacks are in many different parts of the world and not exclusive to the United States and the English and French-speaking Caribbean islands. What many American blacks fail to realize is how closely linked they are with Afro-Latinos or that Afro-Latinos even exist. In fact, the Global Afro Latino and Caribbean Initiative estimates that Afro-Latino Americans total around 150 million with the Portuguese-speaking nation of Brazil having the highest amount of Blacks followed by Colombia.

So, is there a difference between Latinos and Afro-Latinos? It should be understood by all that according to the U.S. Census Bereau, the Latinos/Hispanics are grouped together based solely on the language they speak, mainly Spanish and Portugese. However, Latinos can be of any race including white, Mestizo (AmerIndian/White), black, AmerIndian, Asian, as well as people who have ancestry to more than racial group.

Many people make the common assumption that Latinos are of a darker hue tend to be from the Dominican Republic or that they aren't Latino at all. Mirabal has experienced this many times. While attending Hispanic Heritage Month events in the past he states, "sometimes people will assume that I am African American coming to the festivities. Other times, I have had people say to me 'tu eres Dominicano, verdad?' or 'you're Dominican, right?' as if only Dominicans are dark Spanish-speakers."

The African impact on Latino culture is felt in many forms. For example, Santeria, which is based off many Yoruba religious traditions, is heavily practiced in Cuba and Puerto Rico, while its counterpart Vodun (Voodoo) is practiced the Dominican Republic. In music arena, Salsa incorporates many African instruments and rhythms and is popular in the aforementioned Cuba, Puerto Rico, as well Colombia, Venezuela, and Panama. Another African based musical genre formed in Latin America is Cumbia, which is performed mainly in South America. If Africa made its impact in music then it surely made one in dance, correct? Yes. In fact, the national dance of Argentina, the tango, gets its roots from the Afro-Argentines who are descendants of African slaves brought to the South American nation. An additional kind of music that has African ties to it is the ever-popular Merengue, which was developed in the Dominican Republic.

There are also quite a few Latinos of African descent that are well-received in their native lands as well as abroad. Names that comes to mind are baseball players David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox and Alfonso Soriano of the Texas Rangers, both from the Dominican Republic; the "Queen of Salsa" Celia Cruz and actress Gina Torres from Cuba; Salsa singer Ismael Rivera and boxer Felix "Tito" Trinidad from Puerto Rico; legendary Salsa group Grupo Niche from Colombia; soccer icon Edson Arantes do Nascimento but better known as "Pele" and senator Benedita de Silva from Brazil; and many others.

Striking similarities can be found between Black History Month and Latino Heritage Month such as origin. Harvard scholar Carter G. Woodson decided to celebrate the contributions of Blacks to American society and created Black History Month, now commonly known as African-American History month. It now observes the history of blacks in the English and French-speaking Caribbean nations as well as the African continent. Originally called Negro History Week, Woodson formed it as a weeklong observance because Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln have birthdays that fall during the second week of February. According to an article featured on MiGente.com, Hispanic Heritage Month started as a weeklong celebration as well. In 1968, Congress announced that Hispanic heritage would be honored in the first week of September. In 1988, former President Ronald Reagan extended it to a month. The festivities begin on September 15 and end on October 15. This is due to the fact five Latin countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) celebrate their independence from Spain on the start date.

Another point of similarity can be found in the methods of celebration. Both cultures place an empashis on educating the masses on specific minority achievemnts. The time is jam-packed with different forms of celebration such as festivals, seminars, and concerts. Both African Americans and Latinos take great pride in celebrating their respective months, and possess strong feelings about the time and duration of the celebrations. For instance, since the inception of Black History Month, African-Americans have had an issue with the fact that black achievements are acknowledged during the shortest month on the calendar. Latinos, on the other hand have expressed their displeasures on why their month to celebrate takes place during a span of four weeks and not dedicated solely to a single month.

So, should Black Americans be interested in Latino Heritage Month? Ronnie Brown from Inglewood, CA, believes so.

"I think the accomplishments of Afro-Latinos should be incorporated within Black History Month because we are a global people, we are a part of a Diaspora," he states. He also added that, "It's also important that African-Americans and other non-Spanish speaking blacks celebrate Afro-Latino Heritage Month for the same reason, since we are of African descent. Our Africanness is expressed through whatever language we happen to speak. Our very presence Africanizes the culture."

For Mirabal, again, he feels that black Americans should embrace Afro-Latinos and their culture. "Afro-Latinos get thrown into the closet during Hispanic Heritage Month (excluding token blacks like Celia Cruz) and then aren't really recognized during Black History Month. While Black History month is a time to recognize the history of American blacks, I think Afro-Latinos who have made an impact stateside should get some recognition as well."

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At this time I would like to honor Afro-Boricuas:

Pedro Albizu Campos 'El Maestro': Leader and President of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party. He was an avid advocate of Puerto Rican independence from the United States by what ever means necessary. Campos earned many degrees from Harvard.

Miguel Piñero: Playwright, Poet, Actor, Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Piñero also produced the first Broadway hit play by a Latino 'Short Eyes' in 1974. The play was nominated for six Tony Awards. It won the New York Critics Circle Award and an Obie Award for the "best play of the year." A Hollywood movie was made titled 'Piñero' in 2001. The movie was about the troubled life of Nuyorican poet and Playwright Miguel Piñero. It was directed and written by Leon Ichaso. Co-Produced by John Leguizamo.

Piri Thomas: Writer, Poet also Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. Author of "Down These Mean Streets."

Pedro Pietri: Poet, Playwright, Co-founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. His most renown poem "Puerto Rican Obituary". The poem which was published in 1973. He was also apart of the Puerto Rican Civil Rights activist group called the Young Lords Party. He is author of "The Masses Are Asses" published in 2003. It was performed in 1974 at Miriam Colon's Puerto Rican Travelling Theatre in Manhattan.

Afro-Cubanos:

Antonio Maceo: Maceo was the second-in-command of the Cuban army of independence. Known as "the Titan of Bronze", Maceo was one of the outstanding guerrilla leaders in nineteenth century Latin America. Maceo fought for Cuban liberation against spain and for the abolition of slavery.

Ibrahim Ferrer: Popular Afro-Cuban Musician in Cuba and world wide. His group 'The Buena Vista Social Club' won a Grammy Award in 1999.

My demands!

By: Divine Righteous

I DEMAND:

1. A living wage for all low paid workers!

I am not suggesting that a janitor should be paid the same as a doctor. What I am saying is that if we want to get people out of poverty we need to increase peoples wages! Prices are going up and wages are stagnant. That is why the poverty level in this country is on the rise.

2. Poor public schools should have the same budget/cirriculum as wealthy suburban schools!

We also need poc and womens history/literature to be taught in all schools. We need proud dedicated and educated conscious POC working for the empowerment of all POC. We have enough money for war. We have enough money to fund public education.

3. Universal Health Care for all!

This also includes dental and vision. Cuz, contrary to what they tell you our teeth and eyes are also apart of our health. Universal Health Care would be less on all Americans. Many Americans are paying an arm and a leg for health care and are being robbed of a large part of their income. Universal health care would take the burden off employers and they can pay their employees more. Many Americans are in debt due to medical bills and lack of insurance. This is sickening as we are supposed to be civilized and the wealthiest country in the world. Some corps have more wealth than some third world countries. We have enough money for war. We have enough money to insure the publics health.

4. More People of Color in the media in positive roles!

People of Color in media roles are scarce and mostly cast in steretypical roles. This generates racist attitudes and the furthers the oppression of poc.

5. POC issues need to be shown in mainstream media!

The current case of the 64 yr old innocent Black New Orleans resident that was beat by cops recently has poc and non poc pissed. Most people in this country are not aware of what POC go through on a daily basis. This needs to be changed.

6. Only withdraw Income tax from the rich cuz they are the only ones that can afford it!

Dont worry the poor will still be paying Sales tax. In Chicago, the Sales tax is 8.75% which is the highest sales tax in the nation. Not to mention the poor will still be paying various other taxes.

7. Rent control!

Either have rents adjusted to cost of living/workers wages or a flat rate for rental units depending on number of rooms etc.

8. End Police brutality and an unfair justice system.

Justice is not blind. Many POC are sentanced to longer prison terms for the same crimes that whites commit.

I know numbers 6 and 7 will not be well liked but that is my honest opinion.

All of the above will help the majority of the poor get a piece of the pie. Yes, I want people to rise up for all of the above. I think that as a wealthy nation that prides itself on equality and justice should try to help as many people get out of poverty as we can. This is a capitalist system so I recognize that there will always be haves and have nots. I just dont want to see as many have nots as we have in this country. Contrary to what you may believe the American Dream is just that; a Dream. Not, everybody can achieve it no matter how hard they work cuz the way the current system is set up.

If I were president...LOL

I just found this site for Universal Health Care in Illinois. Even if you dont live in Illinois please find it in your heart to support this. If Universal Health Care law is passed in Illinois I am sure this will urge other states to push for Universal Health Care in their states as well. If anybody knows about other sites/groups for universal health care in other states or for the entire US please let me know. Thanks.

http://illinoishealthcarenow.org/.