If you have not heard by now, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is pulling its convention out of Arizona and taking it to Las Vegas. They are doing this to protest the illegal immigration reform bill that was just passed in that state. Never mind the fact that Gov. Jan Brewer (Governor of Arizona) has just signed a revised bill making it clear that racial profiling is illegal in her state.
No matter how they try to color this protest, this does more harm to the people in that state (including the LEGAL Latino population) who are currently being scared up to believe that the color of their skin automatically makes them a target for deportation. Thanks to the Alphas, they will now be both scared and broke. While the Alphas were quick to issue a press release on their decision to pull out of Arizona, nothing was mentioned on how they plan on helping the Latino population who will be hurt by this the most. Instead, most of the press release was used to tell people about the rich history of the organization.
Years ago, the NAACP was pulling a boycott of its own on the state of South Carolina of the usage of Confederate flag as a state symbol. Former NAACP chairman Julian Bond was asked about the many Black businesses that were also being affected by the boycott. His response?
“In any movement for social change people suffer and we’re sorry about that and try as much as we can to minimize that suffering but that’s just a consequence of change,”
I wonder how many Latino families whose livelihood depends greatly on the hospitality industry in that state have the Alphas consulted with PERSONALLY in this decision? Or did they just take it upon themselves to assume that these families could do without the extra money?
Opinions are going to vary on this issue of illegal immigration. But when one has to step on the heads of those they claim they are trying to help to make a point, that cause isn’t about the people but has more to do with self promotion.
Alphas Continue Julian Bond’s Strange Logic
by Duane on May 4th, 2010 at 9:54 amIf you have not heard by now, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is pulling its convention out of Arizona and taking it to Las Vegas. They are doing this to protest the illegal immigration reform bill that was just passed in that state. Never mind the fact that Gov. Jan Brewer (Governor of Arizona) has just signed a revised bill making it clear that racial profiling is illegal in her state.
No matter how they try to color this protest, this does more harm to the people in that state (including the LEGAL Latino population) who are currently being scared up to believe that the color of their skin automatically makes them a target for deportation. Thanks to the Alphas, they will now be both scared and broke. While the Alphas were quick to issue a press release on their decision to pull out of Arizona, nothing was mentioned on how they plan on helping the Latino population who will be hurt by this the most. Instead, most of the press release was used to tell people about the rich history of the organization.
Years ago, the NAACP was pulling a boycott of its own on the state of South Carolina of the usage of Confederate flag as a state symbol. Former NAACP chairman Julian Bond was asked about the many Black businesses that were also being affected by the boycott. His response?
I wonder how many Latino families whose livelihood depends greatly on the hospitality industry in that state have the Alphas consulted with PERSONALLY in this decision? Or did they just take it upon themselves to assume that these families could do without the extra money?
Opinions are going to vary on this issue of illegal immigration. But when one has to step on the heads of those they claim they are trying to help to make a point, that cause isn’t about the people but has more to do with self promotion.