The Third Root: African Blood in Mexico

My work involves theorizing how Euro-centered hegemony has shaped Western society and what it means for race relations and joint efforts to build solidarity within social justice movements. My interest in this area was inspired by a recent visit to the art exhibit, "The African Presence in Mexico: From Yanga to the Present" at the Mexican Fine Arts Center in Chicago, Illinois. This art exhibit, commonly referred to as the "The Third Root," led me to think differently about the historic conflicts between Latinos and African Americans in the United States. Careful sociological study of The Third Root has untold potential in deepening an alliance between America's Blacks and Latinos. For Mexico to recognize Africa as its "Third Root" could open many diplomatic doors. The possibility of millions of Mexicans with African blood has the potential to increase Black support over the current immigration debate. A legitimate concern of many poor Black communities has been the economic competition posed by the influx of undocumented immigrants. Is this a case of being misinformed or fooled by the status quo? Is this simply a "divide and conquer" strategy being used by the rich and powerful? Is the true cause of the economic condition of poor minorities a lack of employment opportunities, quality education, and resource allocation by our government and corporate America? Can the common struggle of being criminalized and incarcerated finally ignite joint efforts? These are all very important questions that must be addressed.