CASTELLANOS

Stereotypes just aren’t accurate

law.

Moreover, and unfortunately, Latin America is a notoriously racist and class-based society. Deeply entrenched discriminatory systems have ruled all facets of life there for hundreds of years. When it comes to race, a common not-so-secret dirty secret is that parents frequently want their children to find and marry a lighter skinned partner. When it comes to class, a common saying is that money “whitens.”

So with those social dynamics in mind, let’s again take a look at the Latino voter. They’re mostly recent immigrants, and immigrants are by definition risk takers, self-reliant and driven to find opportunity.

Sound familiar? It sounds like part of the Republican platform. It’s no surprise then that when the Pew Research Center polled Latinos in September, they overwhelmingly said that the economy is their number one concern. And contrary to what many think (stereotype), neither immigration nor racial and ethnic inequality were even in the top three!

The lack of priority for racial inequality is particularly interesting. How can any self-respecting Latino who has been on the wrong end of Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric and policies not consider racism a major political issue?

The answer is that Latino communities are brutally aware of the misery and shame caused by the sticks and stones of poverty, but as a practical matter, racist words will never hurt them. We’re used to racism as the status quo. And, right or wrong, regardless of the cost to our pride, we can rationalize away, tolerate and ignore racist leaders so long as we can reliably support our families and avoid the indignity of Third World poverty.

My advice to anyone in politics is that you take the sleeping giant for granted at your own peril. You must have an inspirational message that prioritizes economic opportunity in a way that immigrant communities can meaningfully relate to.

And Democrats, don’t demonize business. Latinos support business.

And Republicans, don’t demonize labor. Latinos support workers.