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We are currently witnessing the slow-paced aid to Puerto Rico, many are comparing it to the days of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The federal government led by George W. Bush was cast with allegations of being racist, Rapper Kanye West at the time stated: "George Bush don't Care about Black People". Kanye's statement caused an uproar, but he undoubtedly stated what many African Americans were feeling at that time.
Now in 2017, the silence of Black leaders nationally and locally in regards the devastation in Puerto Rico is loud and is starting to formulate an answer. Whether it's correct or not that can solely be answered by the actions or inactions of citizens.
While visiting the main HUB for the Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief effort in Jersey City I met an African American Activist, she has been active for decades, she stated: "Alston, you and Councilman Robinson were the only Blacks to visit or offer assistance today". I was shocked by her words, she went on to say there were African American community activists trying to shut down the relief efforts, citing a violation of zoning laws. This is not the time to argue over emergent occupancy of space which is rumored to have been in the past operating as an illegal social club.
Last night I had a candid conversation with someone I consider a politico and connected to statewide politics.
The person explained this tragedy shows the disconnect between black and brown people.
Many Blacks feel that over years that the Latino Communities have distanced themselves from the Black & Brown Agenda. A feeling among many blacks privately is the government is displaying to Latinos that they are just a lighter shade N***er.
So how can you expect Black people to rally to the frontlines when Black people are not even united politically, socially and economically.
In fairness, I went on to say is it possible that the Latino communities have felt there is too much infighting from within the Black Community, that trying to form an alliance would prove to be waste of time with a divided partner. That is not to say there isn't existing infighting amongst Latinos, however, there is no reason for us not be more aligned. If Black people feel that Latinos are the lighter shade N***er, do we just sit back and say "I told you so", or do we help our brothers and sisters
The local Puerto Rican Community lost a great leader yesterday, Dr. Eliu Rivera, best known as the Former Executive Director of PACO. He came up during the Camp Can Do era; he was a community activist, Deputy Mayor, County Freeholder, and well known and respected throughout all of Hudson County in all communities. I can recall in early 2000 there was the protest against bombing in Vieques, Puerto Rico, where Dr. Rivera and Al Sharpton were arrested for standing up for the people of Puerto Rico. We need to take a lesson from this book and stand united. Puerto Rico is going through a humanitarian crisis, in Katrina, less than half a million people were affected, in Puerto Rico, there are 3.5 million people being affected; this will be a long recovery process for Puerto Rico.
In my opinion, Black & Brown people need to realize that it is important to represent our respective cultures, but it's time for us to realize together, Trump don't care about Black nor Brown People. So, we better get back together and reestablish a commitment to a Black and Brown Agenda which unites us on social economic issues to form partnerships that can solve our ills together.
