Thread: African-American groups join immigration debate

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pb ... 40319/1001


News Monday, July 24, 2006






African-American groups join immigration debate

Some argue that illegal immigrants steal opportunities

THELMA GUERRERO
Statesman Journal


July 24, 2006

The nation's oldest civil-rights group is joining Hispanic groups in support of earned legalization for undocumented immigrants in the United States.

Bruce Gordon, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, made the announcement during the recent League of United Latin American Citizens convention.

The decision has split the African-American community.

"Mass illegal immigration has been a major impediment to black advancement in this country over the past 25 years," said Frank Morris, the chairman of Choose Black America. The group is a national coalition of business professionals who support enforcement of U.S. immigration laws.

"An illegal-alien amnesty program would not only reward tens of millions of lawbreakers, but would set black Americans back a hundred years," Morris said. "Mass illegal immigration is not a victimless crime. There are real people who lose their jobs or the chance to earn a better living."

Critics also contend that illegal immigrants accept jobs at substandard wages with few or no benefits, thus suppressing the wage base for all Americans.

Sheryl Dash, the president of the Salem-Keizer NAACP, disagreed.

"Latinos do not drive down the wages for black Americans," she said. Rather, she blamed employers "that would rather beat the system for financial gain by exploiting farmworkers and refugees for cheap labor in order to send their already-well-to-do children to the best schools and to Ivy League colleges."

Unity between the two minority groups is desirable because of the NAACP's dwindling membership and influence, political strategists say.

In the 2000 Census, Hispanics surpassed African-Americans as the nation's largest minority group. Since then, there has been a perceived disconnect between the two groups.

However, that perception is a fallacy, PCUN President Ramon Ramirez said. PCUN is a Spanish acronym for Woodburn-based Northwest Treeplanters and Farmworkers United.

"We've been able to build strong alliances with the African-American community, especially the local NAACP chapter," Ramirez said. "That's helped build a common agenda to ensure that the rights of all people of color are respected."

tguerrero@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6815






Copyright 2006 Statesman Journal, Salem, Oregon

The NAACP has always be funded by communist backed groups from it's inception.

They're a dirty group from the beginning and well meaning folks support them. Now these well meaning folks are being sold down the river once again and don't even realize it!!!

Interesting post. Thinking back to the other day about illogical or improperly used debate techniques, I couldn't help but notice one minor problem in the below:

Frank Morris: "Mass illegal immigration has been a major impediment to black advancement in this country over the past 25 years," said Frank Morris.

Sheryl Dash: "Latinos do not drive down the wages for black Americans," she said. Rather, she blamed employers "that would rather beat the system for financial gain by exploiting farmworkers and refugees for cheap labor in order to send their already-well-to-do children to the best schools and to Ivy League colleges."

Here's the question - do you see the problem?
Frank Morris is talking about 'Mass illegal immigration', Ms. Dash says "Latinos do not drive down the wages...."

'Mass illegal immigration' is not one and the same as 'Latinos'

Rather, she blamed employers "that would rather beat the system for financial gain by exploiting farmworkers and refugees for cheap labor in order to send their already-well-to-do c

I just wonder how she is so disconnected from the fact that the employers couldn't be 'exploiting' them if they were not here.

Bruce Gordon, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, made the announcement during the recent League of United Latin American Citizens convention.

Hmmm? Is it a coincidence that after 5 years of rejecting invitations to speak at the annual NAACP conventions, President Bush chose this year to finally accept.

Originally Posted by greyparrot

Bruce Gordon, the president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, made the announcement during the recent League of United Latin American Citizens convention.

Hmmm? Is it a coincidence that after 5 years of rejecting invitations to speak at the annual NAACP conventions, President Bush chose this year to finally accept.

GP
guess that deal was struck recently, eh?
They'll all sell their souls for a greenback and another slice of power.

It might be that both the NAACP and the President are a little concerned.

Both are loosing their popularity.