Thread: An interview: Raúl Yzaguirre

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepubli ... e0116.html

Raúl Yzaguirre
ASU professor of practice in community development and civil rights

Jan. 16, 2007 12:00 AM

Editor's note: Raúl Yzaguirre is considered the Hispanic community's most influential and respected national advocate of the last-quarter century.Yzaguirre served as president of the National Council of La Raza for three decades. Two years ago, he joined Arizona State University as presidential professor of practice in community development and civil rights. Yzaguirre is based at ASU's downtown Phoenix campus. While he has been active locally, Yzaguirre has largely stepped out of the national limelight for the past two years.

Yzaguirre spoke with Hispanic Link News Service editors on Latino political empowerment and its rapidly growing national role. This is the first of a two-part interview, edited for length.

1. You have seen seven presidents in your tenure. How much did those presidents know about Hispanics, how much did they need to be educated, and how much did they learn?

At some level, every president that I have met has needed an education on Latino issues.

Lyndon Baines Johnson knew our community and we made significant progress in his administration, principally through the Great Society programs, but the Vietnam War and the huge media focus on civil rights violations against African-Americans, coupled with the riots, consumed most of LBJ's attention.

In terms of responsiveness, the one that surprised me was Richard Nixon. I expected little from him, but in retrospect he accomplished some important gains for Hispanics. He was the first president to appoint Latinos to sub-Cabinet posts and as heads of important independent agencies such as the Small Business Administration.

Gerald Ford came from a Michigan district without many Latinos and he was not particularly well attuned to us. We enjoyed access, but access doesn't mean influence. Jimmy Carter had very little personal interaction with Latinos.

The Bill Clinton-era represents the high watermark for Latino influence in the White House and in the federal government. Clinton does not have the personal visceral affinity for Hispanics as he has for African-Americans, but he gets it.

George W. Bush had a wealth of personal knowledge of our community. A significant number of Hispanics, including our attorney general, have had long and deep friendships with the president. Unfortunately he turned out to be more "conservative" than "compassionate."

2. Do you see a Hispanic finally being nominated as president or vice president?

I think New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has an excellent chance of being nominated for the presidency and certainly for the vice presidency in 2008.

3. What do you think of the Democratic strategy, with its "first 100 hours" priorities for the 110th Congress, which do not include comprehensive immigration reform?

The Democratic Congressional Leadership strategy for the first 100 hours includes items such as an increase in the minimum wage, which is very much a Latino issue as well as a national priority. Immigration reform in very different forms is on everybody's agenda. Comprehensive reform will happen because President Bush is more aligned with the Democrats than with members of his own party on this issue.

4. Do you feel Congress will address comprehensive immigration reform in a timely fashion?

Not as timely as some of us would like. Immigration legislation, as emotional and complicated as it may be, will happen because the political dynamics have changed. Before the November elections, we had a situation where the Democrats had the luxury of blaming the Republicans both for passing draconian measures, such as criminalizing acts of charity to undocumented aliens, and alternatively, of doing nothing.

5. How satisfied are you now with the progress Hispanics have made?

Until we achieve parity, until our ethnicity is not a barrier to opportunity, we cannot be satisfied. Our biggest enemy is not Anglo racism; it is our own willingness to be satisfied with small gains. Our biggest challenge is to overcome apathy.

6. How much impact would you say the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, or any Hispanics, now have in Congress?

Twenty years ago, the few Hispanics that we had in Congress were marginal in terms of influence. Now we have three U.S. senators, we will have committee and subcommittee chairs in both chambers. We are on an upward trajectory. The only thing that can hurt us is internal bickering, and we seem to be having some of that now. But I see that as part of the maturation process. We will get it together.

7. How well do you feel Hispanic organizations are partnering with mainstream or other ethnic community groups in dealing with mutual, sometimes conflicting, interests?

In general, we are having a modicum of success. The mainstream Jewish groups have been the most open and indeed persistent entities seeking to coalesce with Latinos. Some unusual coalitions have emerged. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO and the National Council of La Raza formed an ad hoc coalition on immigration reform. Two important organizational "alliances" seem to be emerging: one between the League of United Latin American Citizens - LULAC - and the NAACP and the other between the National Urban League and the La Raza.

Comprehensive reform will happen because President Bush is more aligned with the Democrats than with members of his own party on this issue.

lets pray this does not happen

Some unusual coalitions have emerged. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO and the National Council of La Raza formed an ad hoc coalition on immigration reform.

how is that unusual?

"4. Do you feel Congress will address comprehensive immigration reform in a timely fashion?
Not as timely as some of us would like. "

US?
How about some interest in Americanization.
I noticed that not one word was spoken in support of Hispanics becoming assimilated or anything other than remaining a separate unified and Nationalistic ethnic group.
This just sounds like the same old efforts being made to create networks and unions to force change in their favor whether it's right or wrong makes no difference, just so long as Hispanics get the special preferences they're looking for.