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I do not understand. How could a person do something like this? How can those who use their rhetoric to dehumanize minorities continue to claim no part in these atrocities?
Words construct our realities! German Arians did not go from accepting their Jewish neighbors to systematically killing them over night. It took months upon months of dehumanization, via rhetoric, before they could justify such an appalling crime against humans. The same was true in Rwanda. It took day, after day of radio broadcasts disrespecting the humanity of the Tutsis before the Hutu mobs could justify chopping them down with machete’s. Hate crimes begin with words.
The FBI has reported a 40% rise in hate crimes against Latina/os since 2003. The FBI also reports that 62% of all hate crimes are targeted at Latina/os. This should be no surprise. As our economy is steadily declining it is becoming more and more acceptable to proclaim hate against Latina/os under the guise of critiquing immigration policy.
Just like in Germany a failing economy is what is being used to justify the verbal dehumanization of Latina/o migrants. In both these images you see these groups depicted unjustly taking the money of the nation for themselves in a time of economic crises. It is also important to note that much Nazi propaganda also depicted Jews as dirty, disease-infected rats.
Posters declaring the United States under “invasion” of Latina/os in effect declare all those who act against these “invaders” patriots. Why then are we surprised when we see that all over the country individuals are committing hate crimes targeting those who share the physical characteristics of the “invaders?”
Dehumanization of Latina/os in not just occurring on the Internet, on T.V., and at protests but also in one on one conversation. Every time a person laughs at a “beaner” joke they are encouraging that the person that made the joke, as well as everyone that heard it, continue to dehumanize Latina/os in their rhetoric. And though some may think that the act of staying silent when such jokes are said shoes disagreement with the joke, they are grossly mistaken. Silence, i.e., neutrality, ensures that the status quo of dehumanization continues. Only speaking out against such words works to end their power to oppress.
We must not just speak out against racial slurs; we must also become more vocal of our beliefs surrounding the topic of immigration and U.S. policy. This is where the deepest held racist beliefs are often allowed to fester unchallenged and so it is hear that we must be the most willing to speak up. Immigration policy is not about numbers and charts, it is about families and human lives. In re-humanizing the conversation, we act directly against those that have used the topic to justify them spewing their hate through bullhorns since the founding of this nation.
Para la liberación,
Mateo
