Third Annual Afrotina African American Latino Community Gathering a Success
Afrotina participants listen intently to one another as they share
some historical differences in cultures. Photo by Johnnie Grant.
By Cathy Holt
Over 70 people attended this event, held at the Calvary Baptist Church, on Saturday, Sept. 29, including Mayor Terry Bellamy, who gave the welcome and stayed awhile with her young daughter. The entire conference was bilingual, thanks to headsets and hard-working translators.
The major focus of the gathering was the “Immigration Timeline” led by Andrea Arias and Tyrone Greenlee. Small groups pondered the question: “When have you or your people had to move from a different country, city or region? Why and where?” After drawing and discussing this theme, we posted our pictures on a large timeline in front of the room. Next, everyone was given a prepared photograph and caption concerning immigration or human rights, with dates which ranged from the 1400’s to present time, and each one was read aloud, these also were arranged on the timeline. For example:
Immigration through the Years
• 1832: Native Americans were relocated to reservations; on the Trail of Tears, hundreds died.
• 1842: Congress banned the importation of slaves, but most southern states ignored it.
• 1831-1860: 100,000 slaves escaped to northern states via the underground railway.
• 1870-80: Chinese workers were imported to the west to build railways, but no citizenship was granted to them until 1943.
• 1915-1925: The Ku Klux Klan grew in strength to 5 million members in 1925.
• 1942: Thousands of Japanese were interred in concentration camps here.
• 1943: Mexican agricultural laborers were imported to help harvest (due to labor shortage during war)
• 1954: 3.8 million workers were deported back to Mexico
• 1966: Boat people from Cuba were welcomed, while Haitian boat people were not.
• 1980’s: Immigration Reform & Control Act made it illegal to hire undocumented immigrant workers
• 1996: The Illegal Immigration Reform and Discrimination Act allowed deportation of immigrants for minor crimes.
Here are some of the heartfelt comments of participants about the timeline:
“It was painful to realize how little I know of my own family’s history. It wasn’t spoken about.”
“My parents were from Cuba and it was much easier for us to get benefits than it was for people from Ecuador.”
“I learned how many came here not by choice, but by financial necessity, or slavery.”
“We had people from Europe, Mexico, Africa, and Russia, all at one table.”
“My grandfather had Native American heritage, but he was ashamed of it
and wore his hair very short. The older folks didn’t tell us much about
where we came from, but I knew my grandmother’s mother was a slave. It
always matters, where we came from.”
“We must never put other groups down to build ourselves up-that’s a Hitler mentality.”
“When there was a need for labor, the borders were opened, but those same workers were deported when there was no further need.”
Andrea Arias stated, “Oppressed groups have always struggled to get
ahead. There is a strong history of resistance, a consistent thread.”
Living While Black
Racial profiling was described by P.J. Roth, a lawyer with the ACLU.
Every participant received a “Racial Profiling Survival Kit” from the
ACLU containing a bill of rights, a Racial Profiling Complaint Form,
and “What to do if you’re stopped by the police.” Roth urged people to
contact ACLU for a free lawyer if they experience or witness this type
of discrimination. “Collective action leads to change,” he said.
Ali Khan, a participant, spoke of how after September 11, 2001, he
experienced profiling of Middle Easterners. He was asked at a
convenience store, “Are you a terrorist?” Larry James spoke of tasering
of African Americans.
Thank You!
The Brothers of Faith created soul-stirring music in 3-part harmony,
demonstrating how the spiritual songs had soothed the pain of slavery.
A Brazilian martial arts demonstration was performed by Capoeira
Angola. Capoeira was a form of martial arts disguised as a dance,
brought to Brazil by African slaves; it was illegal until the 1930’s.
Delicious meals were served up courtesy of the Ritz and Nuevo Atlacatl.
Conference organizers and presenters included Althea Gonzalez, Isaac
Coleman, Pastor Buddy Corbin, Sharon Lewis, Ada Volkmer, Tyrone
Greenlee, Andrea Arias, Rodney Lytle, and Bob Smith. In addition to
these, the planning committee included Kathey Avery-Hoover, Linda
Block, Barbara Brownsmith, Michelle Calhoun, Sophie Dixon, Abiola
Fapetu, Pat Griffin, Joe Howard, Lorrie Jayne, Calvin Kelly, Sharon
Lewis, Gary Rivers, Robert Simmons, Geri Solomon, and Carolyn
Stanberry.
