In the Black: Should There Be a Latino Version of the Empowerment Experiment?

We often measure a group's cultural power by that most base of indicators, the theoretical root of all evil itself: Money.

By that gauge, Hispanics lag far behind the majority culture. However, as befits the largest ethnic-minority group (and the fastest-growing demographic) in America, Latinos are a growing economic powerhouse. In terms of consumer spending, we actually have more clout than African Americans do.

Still, as I've written before, black Americans are more likely than Hispanics are to have their shit together (politically speaking). That's why movements such as the Empowerment Experiment get going.

This project is the brainchild of African Americans who aim to help black-owned businesses thrive. People who join the Empowerment Experiment agree that for a year, and to the best of their ability, they will patronize only African American merchants.

As you can imagine, it's not easy to bypass white-owned businesses. There are also legitimate questions about the ultimate motivation behind this idea.

Is it a display of cultural pride, and a helping hand to struggling entrepreneurs who are often overlooked, especially in these economically dismal times? Or is this, as some critics put it, "ethnic cheerleading" and possibly even reverse racism?

A slew of angry conservatives say, "There would be outrage if a movement developed to make sure that people shopped only at white-owned businesses."

No, that would just be the verbalization of a normal business day. Sticking to white-owned businesses would be the easiest principled stance of all time, like declaring that from now on, I will breath only air that has oxygen in it.

So let's say that the Empowerment Experiment is a well-meaning project that leaves an icky aftertaste, dependent as it is upon picking companies based on the owners' ethnicity.

From a Latino perspective, the issue becomes: "Should we copy this strategy?" Is it a good idea for Latinos to patronize only Hispanic-owned businesses?

Well, adopting this plan creates a few logistical problems. For starters, although it may be easy to find a great place to eat (Mexican restaurants, El Salvadoran pupuserias, etc), buying goods and services beyond that would quickly become a challenge for even the most dedicated Latino.

This fact relates to deeper issues. I've written before about the insecurity complex, or outright jealousy, that Hispanics often feel with regards to our African American brethren. The Empowerment Experiment is another reminder of how we're not quite up to their level of influence. In most of the country, we don't have as many entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, and so on to propel such a movement -- hence the envy.

But the flip side is that Latinos are less likely to push for such a development in the first place. Despite the prevalence of ethnic barrios (which I've written about before), many Hispanics want nothing more than to fit into the majority culture and to be accepted. This can sometimes take the form of self-loathing or ingratiating behavior.

But for the most part, we simply want others to know that we are part of U.S. culture. Any Latino who has ever been told, "You look American" knows what I'm talking about. Even illegal immigrants want their contributions to the American story to be told.

We do not have the security of pointing out that many of us are new to the country. We don't want to offer an opening to those who claim we don't belong here, and saying that we're only going to shop at certain establishments does exactly that.

African Americans have four hundred years of residency in the United States -- most of it, of course, spent as second-class citizens or much worse. But after generations of setting down roots, building families, and influencing the culture, even the most virulent racist would have a hard time saying that blacks are not authentic Americans.

Latinos do not have that sense of hard-won security, not yet at least.

Comments

[TargetLatino]

Dear Daniel,
I really enjoyed your article and your ideas. But what got me was the first logistical problem you enumerated. I did some research and I wanted to share it with you. We have a pretty similar percentage of people on varied occupations to that of the African-American community.
This document is from the U.S. Department of Labor: http://www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf
It was quite interesting read and comparison.
Looking forward to more of your articles.
Warmest regards,
Claudia Goffan
www.hispanic-marketing.com

[DenverJim]

I believe it's a good idea. Of course, you can't approach it with so much drive that you become over-identified. It's a balancing act. If possible, try to patronize Latino businesses. In the long run, it's good for everybody, all races and creeds. The more every group succeeds, the better for society as a whole. I've had this issue before too. I'm white, but I'm gay, so even though the majority of times that I'm shopping for something, I don't give that fact any consideration, at times I do. One example would be if I was shopping for a house. I don't want to be given the royal "sales" treatment, and then have the derogatory comments made behind my back. That's actually a common situation faced by gays. Anyway, good luck with your plan.

[dubster]

For the inevitable detractors that think they're sociologists, don't think you're a erudite scholar on what is "American" or as if you know what it is to be a minority in this country because I can assure you, if you're not a minority you don't have the slightest clue, unless you study this stuff then please refrain from an ingornant comment about race. For example how can you complain or feel discriminated against? Well, have you ever walked into a department store and gone in with the intent to shop, but yet in lieu of receiving greetings or assistance, you're greeted with suspicious stares from a far as if you're going to steal? But yet people have the gall to pretend that this type of stuff doesn't happen anymore
With respect to the people that will say imagine if a white person suggested white people only shop white owned business's - it already happens by de facto. There's more white owned business's and guess who runs corporate American, white elites! So don't give me that "if a white man said..." nonsense, because it doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Nevertheless, you always here about the dearth of minority owned business. Well I think that Latinos should help their fellow American-Latinos succeed in Business. The white person will more times than none shop at the white person's business in lieu of the minority, period. However, i don't think Latinos should just shop exclusively at Latino owned shops.

[FloresdelaHoz]

Register to vote if you want equality. There is no excuse why Texas should remain a Red state in 2012.

Don't forget that the boold of Visigoth - Celtic Iberains runs in our veins.

[euripedes923]

Respect American law.
Complete at least a public school education through 12th grade.
Don't start a family until you're gainfully employed and married.
These are good ideas for anyone--or any group--to abide by in order to empower themselves, let alone gain political power.

[WestCoastBuckeye]

Good read, and I'm torn. I'm a Southern California native and current L.A. resident, so I can see how some Latinos may feel like they are not treated equally (just look at the first comment here: Latino = illegal, in broad strokes).

"From a Latino perspective, the issue becomes: 'Should we copy this strategy?' Is it a good idea for Latinos to patronize only Hispanic-owned businesses?" is the author's most relevant statement, I believe.

I'm a little off-put by the idea of any culture/race being exclusive to themselves. Goes against what I understand America to be. I shop whoever has the best merchandise, meal or deal, regardless of what the proprietor looks like, what language they speak, or what music is playing in the background.

Black-only, or Latino-only, or redhead-only, or Christian-only, or Geminis-only ... I think when you segregate yourself and limit your interactions, you risk being counterproductive. Even if America has treated you horribly, I think things like the Empowerment Experiment risk extending racial (hair-color, religious, astrological) discomforts, and make our differences that much harder to overcome.

On the other hand, I'm a white male, and can't speak with any authority on discrimination. If I felt the only way to embolden my community was to exclusively, fiscally support it, I'd have to consider it. There are societal realities in many parts of our country that might require actions such as this.

Like I said, I'm torn.

[e4phil]

I dont understand the purpose of this article.. Hispanics can do whatever the hell they want in this country, soon to have a supreme court justice, and they are a BIG voting bloc.. what is there to complain about? people have so much opportunity in the US and they still complain.. gets old.. 50 million Hispanic citizens plus at least 20 million illegals soon to be legal and you feel like outsiders?

[Daniel Cubias - Huffpost Blogger]

Well, I guess there’s nothing to complain about. Racial and ethnic nirvana has been achieved.

But if I may, let me point out that accusing someone of “complaining” or “whining” is often code for “Don’t bother me by pointing out issues. It’s not only disturbing, but threatens my privileged position.”

[JEP57]

"......man­y Hispanics want nothing more than to fit into the majority culture and to be accepted."


It seems to me that a lot of Hispanics want to hold on to their latin culture and aren't trying to assimilate. If you go out into a public place, more often than not you see Hispanic groups and families speaking Spanish, even young people who were born here. And a lot of Americans see the illegal alien onslaught as a threat to the established American culture, especially since illegals don't have any loyalty to this country. They just want a job to send money back to their people.

[WestCoastBuckeye]

"Established American culture." Jeez, whose culture is that? Quaker? British? Italian? Scottish? German? Chinese? Iranian? Polish? Irish? Mexican? French? African-American? Japanese? Russian? Or are you speaking of our oppressed culture, the young- to middle-aged, mutt white male?

America = Melting Pot. Learn in, buddy. Learn it, accept it, love it, and stop having a fit when another language is spoken, You should admire someone who loves their heritage, honors it, and flies his native flag here.

As long as it's flying under the Stars and Stripes.

[bowthai]

I would hardly say that 'illegals' don't have loyalty to this country. Why do you think people illegally come here in the first place? How can they go through the effort of making a living that enables them to send money back to 'their people' without feeling some sense of loyalty and gratitude for the place and people that gave them that work and opportunity?

Of course immigrants will often, though not always, feel some sense of loyalty to their home country, but I think many people make the mistake of thinking of national loyalty as something exclusive, that it can only be given to one place at one time. We need to change that belief and be more accepting of the fact that people can love both the country of their birth and the one that gave them their livelihood. If we really believed in the power of our own beliefs (of freedom, opportunity, equality, etc), then what do we fear?

[GrainOSand]

Thoughtful and honest treatment

The answer to your question is simple. Yes, Latinos should engage in anything that helps the group self-determine. Like unity with the African American community. Such a coalition would prove an unstoppable force. I still cannot understand the reported rift between the two groups when many of the issues plaguing the two groups have a source in common. Actually I do understand but the mechanisms by which the rift occurred are not easily explained in the space given. It suffices to say that the Latino people (my brothers and sisters whether they embrace me or not -- I will forever see Latinos this way) are being used as a political football and a method whereby the ruling elites can put yet another wedge in the populace to maintain control. The surge of so-called illegal immigrants was assisted (I believe) by the very power structure that now decries it. As long as a person was doing the crap work for cheap -- no problem. Then regular citizens started to be affected and complain so the power structure sought to the demonize the very people they were courting and using in a previous election cycle. The devil is indeed tricky.

As Richard Pryor once quipped concerning the power structure replacing its black underclass that it had grown weary of in terms of their usefulness -- “We got some new n*ggers now!”

[noudidnt]

I say Go For It. Most ethnic groups do it. Plus when you keep a dollar circulating in your neighborho­od/communi­ty, you keep jobs and businesses in your community.