Chai's Analysis

I'm frustrated. When you think about diversity, do you think solely of the African-American and Latino/a groups? Why is it that Asian groups, leaders, individuals, issues are not included when we discuss diversity?

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Rev. Al Sharpton announced Monday he was forming a coalition to promote racial unity between blacks and Hispanics in the city, hoping to ease a long-running rivalry over jobs, housing and schools.

I understand that Asian Americans, (stereo) typically, are viewed as having jobs, going to successful public or private school (sans le voucher), and own houses in nice parts of Los Angeles. Yet, these are all stereotypes we hold against Asian American. During the Rodney King riots, who were the most affected groups? Korean Americans. I don't understand why these stereotypes persist in other minority communities. Is it because the Asian American community fails to reach out with other groups of color? Is it because Asian Americans are still considered "others" or "foreigners" or "less American" and therefore other groups of color have no desire to make a connections?

Isn't it interesting that if we continue to believe in fighting for the small piece of the pie, we will go no where? Or was this new coalition a political move by both communities to buy each other's votes?

Franklin D. Gilliam Jr., a political scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, said the formation of the group was another sign of growing alliances between blacks and Latinos. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the son of a Mexican immigrant, was elected in May after stripping significant black support from incumbent James Hahn.

posted by Chai at 4:41 PM