Different Shades of Brown
Will We Divide and Cower or Will There be Black and Brown Power?
Story by Young Rebel

“America! The land of the free, home of the brave, Indigenous holocaust and the home of African slaves.” To some this is just a lyric from rapper Immortal Technique, to others, this is a constant reminder of the past that still lingers into present day. Two of the biggest political issues right now involve these two long brutalized and marginalized groups. Namely, Black African descendants in dealing with Jena 6, and indigenous descended Latinos with “immigration.” As M-1 of revolutionary hip-hop group Dead Prez stated, “two legacies, one enemy, one destiny.” This concept of coming together is appearing in very different locations and contexts.

The phrase “Black and Brown Power” graces the back of hoodies worn by members and supporters of the Brown Berets in Watsonville. African/Indigenous/European President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez is meeting with Danny Glover regarding making a movie about Haitian independence leader Toussaint L'Ouverture.

Still, while acknowledging all of these progressive stances, is this really attainable in a capitalistic, race and class-based society that puts so much energy into dividing our communities? Dark brown and light brown are often forced into the same areas of employment, same or similar poor housing and equally poor educational system/brainwash camp. Aside from that, racism against each other, while perhaps not necessarily reported, runs rampant in certain parts of the country. In fact, the Mexican Mafia is aligned with the Aryan Brotherhood, naturally leading to conflict with Black/African gangs and sometimes resulting in innocent people being killed. On the flip side, recent migrants from Mexico are sometimes preyed on for what little money they have by Black/Africans and other poor ethnic groups, exacerbating the situation. From the Bay to L.A., these two shades of brown have fought over turf (that neither of them own), resources (that neither of them control) and respect. But it wasn't always like this.

To fully comprehend the condition that these two nations face, we must go back to Spain in 1492. Of course we are all familiar with this year when Columbus “sailed the ocean blue,” but the reasons for this conquest is traced to another one, specifically the “Reconquista.” For centuries the Moors, or dark-skinned people of African and mixed Arab/African descent, ruled the Iberian peninsula, spreading Islam and building great monuments such as the Alhambra palace in modern day Granada. European Christians battled to regain the territory and, with the Spanish Inquisition, many were forced into exile, forced to convert, or executed. After consolidating power in the newly united empire and with increasing confidence as a result of the Reconquista, Ferdinand and Isabella decided they needed more resources to stabilize and expand their nation. Enter Columbus, decimation of the Indigenous population and, at the humanitarian urgings of Bartholomew de las Casas, in order to save the remaining indigenous population from harsh slave labor, the importation of Africans to take over. And so the caste system and centuries long rebellion that still persists today started.

Gaspar Yanga, an early African resistance leader who made alliances with neighboring Indigenous clans and enslaved Africans, established a maroon colony similar to those in Jamaica and Brazil. This is just one example of this long, shared rebellion. Today in the town honored in his name, Yanga, the “Carnival en Negritude” is celebrated as the first free town in the Americas, as the Spanish Viceroy recognized the settlement/colony until Mexican Independence. In speaking of that Independence, the general for the last three years of the war was the African/Indigenous “Zambo” Vicente Guerrero. This Moreno‚ became the first non-white president of Mexico, abolished slavery and took steps in unifying the country along all racial lines before his assassination.

Knowing this makes one wonder, where did it all go wrong. In examining both groups, it seems to be the internalization of the belief that if you're white, you're alright and the subsequent self- destructive adherence to white supremacy. Lighter skin is valued in society so on both sides there is a retreat from self in search for upward mobility through European values and appearance.

Here in San Jose and other parts of the country, however, there are common grounds in African culture: music, appearance and language. Sadly I see, just like in the past in relation with Europeans, acceptance of culture but rejection of people. In a night downtown you can hear hyphy music, Tupac bumping out of the   cars and people rocking Jordan's, Girbaud jeans and other aspects of “urban” black culture. Still, I am not exempt from dirty or confused stares by lighter brown people. This raises some very serious contradictions. You can't take from the culture, call me a “mayete” under your breath and then pop in your Kanye West cd. This leads to a lot of resentment in the Black/African community as many view this as exploitation. Furthermore, Latinos calling each other “niggas” makes one wonder, were your people burned alive, castrated, thrown over ships and lynched, among other things?

For anyone reading this, hopefully you are not viewing this as a divisive tactic to be used in the community. I, more then a lot of people I see who claim to be activists or organizers, am working to bring unity between human beings. However, there can't be genuine unity with appeasement of one group and at the expense of another groups dignity. We can't just unite because we get beat up by the police, live in poverty and are marginalized by the larger society. Our unity needs to be based on respect! Respect in peoples root culture, not just a distorted American version of it.

There needs to be a re-examining of who we are as people by learning about where we come from, so we can better analyze where we're at and plan for the future. I believe that we can make things better, but it won't be accomplished through hip-hop movies and catchy phrases.

Stay Real, Stay Hungry, Stay Young and Rebel!