http://disqus.com/by/pancho1947/enFri, 26 Sep 2008 13:01:26 -0000http://newmexicoindependent.com/2238/racial-tensions-between-hispanos-and-blacks-real-or-imagined#comment-2643624<p>I'm a 60-year-old chicano who is strongly supporting Barak Obama in November. I disagree with my colleague Juan Jose Pena in his comments about the Chicano Movement generation feeling resentment against Afro-Americans as a result of the War on Poverty or the Civil Rights Movement of the 60s and 70s.</p><p>As an activist during the 60s and 70s, I saw many examples of Chicano-Black collaboration that had not existed before in New Mexico. For example, at the University of New Mexico, the chicano, black and native-american student groups banded togehter to fight for the creation of ethnic studies centers. The university administration tried to divide us by offering only chicanos an ethnic studies program, but we all held togehter and succeeded in forcing the uniuversity to create all three ethnic centers at the same time. I predict that chicanos over 60 will strongly support Obama because he most clearly represents and articulates the dreams and hopes we have for this country. Ancedotal recollections by my colleague Juan Jose aside, older chicanos are supportting Obama and November's election results will show that, I believe.</p><p>As to Cde Baca, let's call what he said by its real name: bigotry. My generation of chicanos struggled to eliminate bigotry in all its forms, and we'll continue to do that at the polls in November. </p>pancho1947Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:01:26 -0000