Attention Latinos: Get involved
a philosophical discourse around who is to be considered a person deserving of moral and political will in our country. Public shaming for speaking Spanish, people being killed for raising their voice against racism, and the general rhetoric against our community have created a hostile environment leaving many of us to question our place in our own home.
Yet, we must engage in civic discourse and actions, otherwise we normalize violence against underrepresented people and enable the practitioners of intolerance, hatred and abuse of power. All is not lost: We must become involved in the political processes in our community. Everything around us — our schools, our jobs and our neighborhoods — is governed by political forces, and there are opportunities, even in spaces where we think we may not belong, to engage in the political processes governing our lives.
For instance, people in our community can run for office; apply for municipal boards and commissions, as well as boards of nonprofits; volunteer for organizations that align with one’s personal beliefs; and speak in forums, online and in person, at every opportunity. Ultimately, political parity for Latinos and other underrepresented groups will come only by disrupting the beliefs of the current administration, which values the lives of one group over others, and we must pursue such change every single day.
Immigrants, women and underrepresented groups bring value to our country, and this must be a narrative we use regularly to chip away at the xenophobic dialogue that has spread across our country, and the rest of the world. And we must now use our presence to project our voices into larger conversations of policy at the national level. Doing so begins with the most important action we can take: the cast of a vote.
It is up to us to make our leaders at all levels responsible for their promises made via campaign rhetoric. Remember, they work for us. Choose leaders who support your community, and for those who are already in charge, demand them to stand for justice in word and deed. Register to vote, join organizations that help you elevate your civic participation. Stay informed about elections and about who represents you. Remember their actions when voting.
Let’s take action and create a community with dignity for all.