The Veil of Equality

The morning after Senator Barack Hussein Obama’s historical victory over Senator John Sidney McCain the New York Times’ headline declared, “Racial barrier falls in heavy turnout.” I wonder what the person that wrote that headline would think of the broadcast posted above? Racial barrier falls? Did they bother to look at the racial demographics of Congress, Universities, or Prisons? As Obama stated in his speech to the NAACP on Thursday, “There’s probably never been less discrimination in America than there is today.” Racial barriers, as well as barriers drawn along gender lines or sexual orientation, are still strong. This headline, along with every other statement alluding to the “end of racism and discrimination” are nothing more than manifestations of the veil of equality we must work to tear town.

This veil has a long history in the United States and around the world. Its purpose is to give the notion of equality, and in doing so protect the oppressive status quo. The truth is that we are far from reaching an era of equality and if we ever wish to achieve it we must take on a new methodology. We have been fooled into accepting the veil as reality. Instead of working to bring true long lasting change, many of us have fallen into the trap of decorating the veil.

Our strategy, like that of the oppressor, has worked to make our peoples content with their condition instead of inspiring them to question it and rise against the unjust society we operate within. Many movement leaders have fought for statues to be built in public spaces, scraps to be given to our starving neighbors, and annual celebrations in honor of heroes such as César Chávez, Martin Luther King Jr., José Martí, and Malcolm X. These “accomplishments” amount to nothing more than distractions, decorations on the veil of equality that covers the realities of our unjust society.

If we truly want to celebrate the lives of our heroes we must do it with daily action to liberate our peoples. We must introduce ourselves to our neighbors; support those in our community who are in need; educate each other in the realities of human history; and empower each other with love, commitment, and knowledge. Instead, we build statues of our leaders in the centers of our communities and wait silently for the day that they will rise again to lead us into salvation. We allow ourselves to be paralyzed by an unending reflection on past accomplishments. They are dead and will never rise again. We must rise to lead our communities. We must act to liberate ourselves and our neighbors.

One example of this is the national movement to establish a federal holiday in honor of César Chávez. I truly respect César and the work he did for his community but i must ask myself, “Would César want us to commit ourselves to such a trivial matter with minority teen pregnancies and drop out rates where they stand?” Looking to the life of action he lived the answer seems to be no.

Let us imagine for a second that a national holiday is declared in honor of César. A day off of school accomplishes nothing. Instead of bringing about change, such an action only gives the perception of change. The struggles of the Latina/o community lie in teen pregnancy rates, unequal education, high dropout rates, high level of representation in the prison system, discriminatory policy, and unjust immigration policy. A national holiday does nothing to solve any of these problems while its pursuit is distracting individuals and their money from working to truly advance our community.

It is of the utmost importance that we consider whether our actions are bringing about change or only giving the perception of change, since such perceptions strengthen the chains we bear. By decorating the instruments of our oppression with flowers, we fail to challenge the injustice that they are the manifestations of, make oppression more bearable, and consequently make it less likely for our people to consider the actions necessary to achieve liberation desirable. We must take on a new methodology. Equality will not be achieved until we rip down the veil of equality and show our peoples the true state of our condition.

Para la liberación,

Mateo