Race & Identity in Latin American Revolutions and Today

Race and identity were factors in the Mexican Revolution and continue to be factors in the United States today.

The Mexican Revolution began with the famous speech delivered by Father Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic Priest. The speech, known as the “Grito de Delores” or “Cry of Delores”, which called for the end of the three hundred years of Spanish rule in Mexico, redistribution of land, and racial equality. Hidalgo was eventually defeated, captured and executed. His attempt at revolution sparked many more peasant uprisings, such as José María Morelos. In 1820 liberals took power in Spain, promising to appease the Mexican Revolutionaries. In 1821 Agustín de Iturbide, the leader of the loyalist forces, negotiated the Plan of Iguala. Under the plan, Mexicans of Spanish descent would be seen as equal to pure Spaniards, but Mexicans of mixed or pure Indian blood would have lesser rights. Another racial divide was created by only certain ethnic groups supporting leaders. Hidalgo was supported by Indians and Mestizos, but not by the Creoles. If Hidalgo was successful in his revolution the Creoles would have equal rights with Indians and Mestizos, and the Creoles did not want that.

The current event I chose to find an article on is racial profiling. The article, by Robert King, “Racial Profiling Reaches Up Social Ladder, too”, discusses personal stories from people of color and their encounters with law enforcement. Reverend Theron Williams recalls taking his Corvette out for a drive in Indianapolis and being stopped three times by separate officers. The officers checked whether the car was stolen, cautioned him on his speed and asked him if he had taken part in any afternoon drinking. He drove home without a ticket, believing that his only crime was being a black man driving an expensive car. Williams tells Robert King, “It is just part of the black experience, it just happens when you are African-American.” It is unfair and unacceptable that people of color have to experience any racial profiling. Amp Harris, a promoter handling events for celebrities such as Jay Z and 50 Cent, was pulled over on suspicion of driving a stolen car. He was not driving a stolen car. Harris said that he “wouldn’t dare” be on a dark street to let a cop pull him over. He would have them follow him onto a main street because, “You just don’t know nowadays.” No human being should have to feel in danger near a police officer, someone who is meant to protect them.

I believe that race does continue to affect politics. Someone’s attitude towards a certain race can affect how they vote. For example: A person of color is running for mayor, or governor, and that person has good ideas on how to help the economy, the environment, and the town or state as a whole. But, this person will lose voters based solely on the fact that he or she does not have white skin.

Race continues to be an influence even hundreds of years after the Mexican Revolution.

http://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2014/11/22/racial-profiling-reaches-social-ladder/19428725/