The state of Arizona is in the middle of a
heated battle over the rights of immigrants, and the battle is about more than just immigration. In an even bolder move that has shocked the nation, the Arizona governor has
stated in adjustments to education policy that schools will lose state funding by teaching courses that promote solidarity among a given group of people. The policy bans courses that "are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals." Many interpret this new law as a swipe at courses designed to teach cultural and ethnic lessons to minority students, especially Mexican Americans.
Additionally,
the Wall Street Journal recently pointed out that the policy further pushes school systems to get rid of teachers who have accents that are arbitrarily judged as being too thick. The law is clearly dangerous, because there are no specific criteria to determine when an accent is too thick to be in the front of a classroom.
Arizona's war against immigrants is one that it is not going to win. Despite the fact that there are polls stating that most Arizonans support recent legislation that broadens the search for illegal immigrants, the truth is that the new laws have only made the state look that much more racist to the rest of the country. Hispanic Americans represent at least 30 percent of the Arizona population, and their numbers are going to continue to grow.
Not to mention, many groups around the nation are engaging in an economic boycott of the state, which will further cripple the state's economy. At last count, Arizona had the largest budget deficit in the nation, when measured as a percentage of state tax revenues. Racism can be powerful, but it is almost never more powerful than money. Arizona will not be able to stick to its guns on this one.
What is most important about this outrage in Arizona (on both sides) is that it pushes the
Obama administration to embrace the sticky issue of comprehensive immigration reform. While the recent laws in Arizona are certainly worthy of being criticized (
I've done so myself on multiple occasions), some can logically define this abysmal law as a cry for help from a state that is growing tired of seeing the federal government drag its feet. There may be more to this law than racism.
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Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
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Comments: (49)
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By: susan on 5/03/2010 2:52AM
I dont blame her. She has a right to do what she needs to do to look after the legal citizens of her state. This is America not Mexico.
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By: whoa! on 5/03/2010 7:54AM
If you are a black person, you should be ashamed of yourself. This is the same mentality that allowed African Americans in this country to be treated unfairly by Jim Crow laws and other racially motivated injustices. What is happening in Arizona is no different than modern day Jim Crow. This is NOT ok just b/c it's not happening to us (Blacks).
Sure, illegal immigrants are an issue. But RACIAL PROFILING and blatant discrimination against people w/ accents is shameful, especially in 2010. The obivious solution to this is clearly more effective BORDER CONTROL. Hello! Do a better job of keeping illegial immigrants OUT instead of treating them like garbage. This is an issue for the Arizona government to consider rather than legal racism.
Perhaps the only good point you made was that this is AMERICA. Everyone should be welcome and given a fair opportunity to make a living. Of course, it should be done legally. But it's not entirely Mexican immigrants fault. By inserting this crazy legislation, they are removing blame from themselves and placing it where it does not entirely belong.
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By: susan on 5/03/2010 8:26AM
If you read the bill you will see that it is not racial profiling, that is something the media made up to get people incited. If someone is engaged with a law officer for a legitimate reason the person can be asked for their papers. If I get pulled over here in America I have to show my I.D. If I get pulled over in a foreign country I have to show a passport. The only people who should be worried about having to show that they are here legally is the people who are here illegally. It is not fair to the people who have gone through the process of becoming a legal citizen for people to barge in line like that. The thing that really infuriates me is that for decades the federal govenment has turned a blind eye and let smuggling go on increasing the violence. What is even worse is some of the smuggling is human trafficing. Talk about something that should boil your blood if youre black! People being bought and sold right here in modern day America. I saw a special on tv once where some of those poor people told their stories, those were the lucky ones that got rescued. They even sell children! This is a cruel world that is for sure. I am not too happy with President Obama I am sad to say but I will look at him with much more favor if he helps to strenghthen our borders. Illegals take jobs from the legals, Mexican and American. They can afford to work for less because they do not pay taxes or SSI like your and I do. Is that fair with so many people especially black people out of work? I do not think that the schools should have to cater to foreign language based studies either. Schools are having a recession too. I know it is a nice thing to do but we just cant afford to be everything to everybody even for our own countrymen including legal immigrants. I am all for people coming here legally. Most of the people, I think they said 70% who come in illegally are convicted felons. The border towns are getting very dangerous. Sometimes one lawman has a lot of ground to patrol. I am glad that the President is stepping up, I just hope it doesnt get hung up in procedure too long. I dont see where Arizona has much choice.
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By: Judy on 5/03/2010 10:49AM
We agree with you. Its time to stand up for America. Not some deadbeat liberal extremisist socicialist mumbo jumbo crackpot nonsense. Get these illegals in jail or sent back where they came from. This is America. Inforce the laws on these illegal people and stop the political correct crap. Now. God Bless America. Kick the varmit illegals OUT.
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By: Judy on 5/03/2010 10:59AM
Clearly you are a liberal extremisist racist propaganda artist wannabe. We are NOT buying your racist propaganda against the good citizins of America. GOD bless America.
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By: charles on 5/04/2010 1:40PM
Thats it I'm moving to Arizona
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By: gcompany82 on 5/09/2010 9:35PM
I agree with you susan and as for whoa...go to hell, this is in no way the same as the treatment of Blacks in America because blacks were citizens and the Mexicans are not,they are intruders therefore this country has the right to send them away , if this hurts their families well its not our fault because theirs is an act of lawlessness in case you forgot,they broked the law in comming here so why should we be held accountable for any discomfort they may encounter as a result of our law enforcement actions? if we are to make special accomodations for this group of criminals why not make one for the murderer who broked his leg while running away from the cops,or the thief who becomes paralyzed from the policeman's bullet that was intented to stop him while in the act of stealing. People have this immigration issue very very twisted.Mexicans run over here because they face the same issues in their country with the white man that blacks face here but you dont see Blacks running to Canada or anywhere else,they have chosen to roll up their sleeves and fight:The Civil Rights Movement is a prime example of this.Unlike Blacks Mexicans have no vision no hope no desire to improve their lives in their own country which is by the way a wealthy one that has the capability of being 5 times wealthier than it already is if they would use their resources to its fullest capacity.This is fact,the Mexican presence here is a detriment to the already 19% unemployment rate in the Black Community and the 10% unemployment amoung other Americans.Whoa..please try better at making analogies cause the one you just made is waaaaay off centered
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By: bob on 5/03/2010 8:15AM
No business is going to boycott Arizona certainly not in this economy. Boyce knows this as a money man. Why does Arizona have such a large deficit as far as tax reveneus? Becaues the illegals do not pay taxes! It does not take a Dr to figure that out. Whoa! why should black americans be ashamed of themselves for not wanted foreign invaders in their country. You should be ashamed of yourself for wanting them in this country just because they are not white.
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By: charles on 5/04/2010 1:52PM
You got it right Bob, Blacks need to examine the whole picture. The presense of illegal aliens does not benefit us in no way. They will not hire us,they would rather not work along side us ,they don't buy from black buisinesses, they compete for community charities and low income housing. Yet I have seen latinos cooking in a soul food restaurant.
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By: josie on 5/26/2010 11:28PM
Sorry to burst your bubble bob but businesses are already boycotting arizona amongst many cities. Haven't you heard Arizona already lost $10,000,000 in revenue. This hate towards latinos has gone to far. Banning ethnic studies, firing teachers with strong accents this is truly screaming racism. Whos said this treatment of Mexicans doesn't compare to the blacks treatment in this country. Blacks weren't Americans they were brought here by white men as slaves they were treated like garbage. History is repeating itself. Pay attention.. look around everything is going bad in this country... I say God is watchin and HE isn't happy.
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