Today's post is by Paul Ortiz. Ortiz is an associate professor of history at the University of Florida. He is writing a book titled Our Separate Struggles Are Really One: African American and Latino Histories, which will be published by Beacon Press.
"In the debate surrounding Arizona's laws targeting immigrants and ethnic studies, we've heard very little mention of capitalism and its place in American politics. Senate Bill 1070 is an insurance policy for capitalism, a way to ensure that the cheap labor that serves the foundation of the new economy remains cheap forever. House Bill 2281 is part of a package deal. The erasure of ethnic studies courses that show how poor people have changed history - when they have organized - will allow the invention of a historical narrative as one sided as the old myths of the European Conquest. These bills are a gift from a steadily shrinking, white, ruling class to its own posterity and to any white workers and ethnic minorities willing to accept second-class citizenship in order to avoid something far worse. Unless we mobilize to defeat these measures, worse things are on the horizon. Our history proves it."
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I must take issue with your points. As a longtime resident of Arizona who has also worked in law enforcement, I see a reality in the illegal immigrant issue that is sadly overlooked or ignored by too many knee jerk, sanctimonious persons who presume to know better.
In particular, the ethnic studies matter is not about erasing the influence of poor people upon history, but about precluding such studies from being a cover for blanket accusations against persons of European descent. The common thread in many such studies is tied through an ideology that white people are inherently oppressive to non-white people. This is what the AZ legislature has labeled "Ethnic Chauvinism". It is essentially a state sanctioned form of racism that helps no one.
The lives and influence of non-white persons can be presented in a way that does not necessarily indict all persons of European descent. That is the driving force behind the ethnic studies measure. Stop teaching about which race did what - it's not a score card; stop teaching racism. Simply teach about how history has been influenced to the good and the bad by persons irrespective of their race.
Is that such a draconian concept?
Posted by: Ms February | August 26, 2010 at 12:00 AM