PROBLEMS OF OUR OWN

  Recently I was engaged in a conversation with several people

who strongly suggested that as people of color living in these United States of

America, African Americans should be more supportive and understanding of the

plight of illegal immigrants and their struggle.

  Well, let me say this about that. As an African American I can understand unfair

treatment in a sometimes unfair system. I can understand the need to be recognized

and treated with respect. I can understand the need to find a better life for yourself and

your family.

  As a person of color I can understand and to some degree sympathize with the plight of

other people of color.

  How supportive should African American people be while understanding the plight of

illegal immigrants?

  Again, let me say this about that.

 Before we as a people start speaking out on behalf of illegal immigrants (or any body

else for that matter) we need to consider the fact that there is still much we need to speak

out on behalf of ourselves.

If you don’t believe me, consider some of the following facts presented in the

book, The Covenant with Black America with an introduction by Tavis Smiley.

• Nearly 20 percent of African Americans do not have health insurance
• African Americans are 13 percent of the nation’s population and account for 56

      percent annually of new HIV infection

• African American women are diagnosed with AIDS at a rate of 25 times that of

      white women

• One in every three black males born today can expect to go to prison

in his life time.

     1.4 million African American men, or 13 percent, have currently or

            permanently lost their right to vote as a result to felony conviction

• Just 12 percent of African American 4^th graders have reached proficient or

advanced reading levels, while 61 percent have yet to reach the basic level.

• Many black 17 year old students graduating high school have the math skills

           of white 8^th graders.

• While 9 percent of white students have repeated a grade, twice as many or 18

      percent of black students have been held back at least once.

• African Americans have the lowest homeownership rate in the nation at 49
• percent compared to 76 percent of whites.
• Forty nine percent of the nation’s homeless is African American
• The unemployment rate for black people nationwide is twice that of whites.
• Although African Americans are more than 13 percent of the nation’s population,

our total net worth is only 1.2 percent of the total net worth of the nation.

And the list goes on and on.

So it’s not that many African Americans are not aware of or care about the immigrants

cause, it’s just that when we stop and think about it, we still have a lot of unresolved

issues and problems of our own that requires much of our time and energy