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April 26, 2006
Hola, Buenas Tardes – Que Pasa
Posted at April 26, 2006 06:38 PM in Authors , News , Terry Lynn Howcott .
by Terry Howcott
April 22, 2006
I wish I spoke respectable Spanish, but being the class clown in Middle School Spanish class, I never got around to learning a dang thing. My apologies to Ms. Gonzales from then Hampton Jr. High School in Detroit whose life I made miserable. Perhaps, I get to make a little of that up to her now.
I have read and listened with some trepidation writings and talking heads around the country missing many a point about those who are our immigrant brethren and sistren. I am particularly concerned to see people who have settled in this country being referred to as “illegal” by Black people who in many parts of the Diaspora are considered “illegal gays and lesbians.” Overtures I have heard now from two rather reasonable Black writers ring of the sounds of what could be an old, yet new Negro spiritual “Oh Lord, feed me because I was here first.”
Any correlation drawn between human rights and attractional orientation and relaxed immigrant status is absolutely non-existent. Dynamics situated in issues of attractional orientation have much to do with internalized sexual bigotries that bring out the worse in people in ways that bigotry against people of color from foreign lands may never. We are remiss not to mention our immigrant brothers and sisters flung their closet doors open, rushed into the streets across this country and essentially risked it all to say, “no more.” They, showed their wares, stated their collective case and fought for their right to step up to the batter’s box – like it or not.
If that isn’t enough, all this rancor and demonstrative abrasiveness with respect to immigrant status never looms large when Canadians, Scandinavians and light, bright complexioned folk sneak across the border right here in Detroit – and rest assured they do.
Further still, our immigrant brotha’s and sistah’s are confronted with an incredible task it seems to me. First, pay no mind to your oblivious loved ones of color, who may suffer from temporary MSNBC tom-foolery messaging syndrome, and beware - as my Mother has often implored – of “False Prophets Bearing Gifts.” Those who pose as our friends are often only strategizing to return later to claim our allegiance to a mere flag. My urging would be to not fall for it. Take wooden nickels only – as another important person in my life has said – because they are valuable, and not because you have been tricked.
I am astonished with how a White establishment will oppress all people of color, while oppressive hetero-Black folk will oppress Black Same Gender Loving folk who will then repress others for what amounts to cold, stale crumbs of relief.
I urge those of us who write to develop beyond mere writing to reading, critical thinking and then scribing so as to practice avoidance of the exact same oppressive behaviors we rush to - and are obligated to oppose. I remind readers that I, too, fall short on occasion and expect to again real soon. But, I will at least get myself up, brush myself off and make amends to those – and especially a population of folk I have spoken erroneously of. The ability to backtrack after all is not a commonplace every day talent - making it a gift and a jewel of a skill to take ownership of. We only need reach, practice, train ourselves and acquire it for the sake and well being of the beloved body politick.
Nombre’ Victoria!
Terry Howcott is a Master of Social Work, Lecturer, Activist, Thinker, and Writer. She resides in Detroit, MI and can be reached at . Coming Soon: www.terryhowcott.com
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