There are No Such People as Illegals” and No Such Things as “Illegal Aliens”
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A Black Agenda Radio Commentary by BAR managing editor Bruce A. Dixon
Language is the tool we use to frame our thoughts and thought processes. Every time we use, or tolerate the use around us of the terms “illegal” and “illegal alien” we are allowing white American nationalists, white racists, to speak from our mouths. That can't lead to anyplace good.
There are No Such People as Illegals” and No Such Things as “Illegal Aliens”
by BAR managing editor Bruce A. Dixon
It's been said before, but some things are worth saying again and again until we get them right. So everybody repeat after me: There are no such people as “illegals” and there are no such things as “illegal aliens.” The terms “illegals” and “illegal aliens” are nothing but good old fashioned hundred percent white American hate speech, and any time we allow a friend, enemy, family member or co-worker to utter either in our presence without rebuke or reproach, gentle or otherwise, we are co-signing American white nationalism and white racism, pure and simple. And as black people, when has that ever been in our interest?
Language is a lot more than thinking out loud. Language sets the boundaries for which thoughts are permissible and which thoughts are, well, unthinkable. People can't be stripped of their human rights unless we invent the language that makes them subhumans, or non humans. Aliens. That's why white American nationalists insist on calling brown people “aliens,” and “illegals,” and insist that everybody follow their lead. It's a lead to a place we must not, we dare not go.
No sane or moral person in the 21st century can fix her mouth to say “illegal humans,” “illegal people,” or “illegal persons.” They all sound ridiculous to our ears because we recognize universal and “unalienable” human rights to be the foundation of all just laws. It is only after we allow white American nationalists to twist our language, and with it our thinking to turn brown people into “aliens” that we can make them “illegal.” When white American nationalists, and some of the black and brown people whose minds they have contaminated ask “what part of illegal don't you understand,” they are endorsing the claim that white racist American law trumps, supersedes and takes precedence over the rights of humanity itself.
Given our history, black people would be bigger fools than anybody to sign on to this nonsense. Once upon a time, the language of America deemed our very persons property, subject to the whims of the global market and local slavemasters. We really should know better. “Illegals” and “aliens” are the perverted and mind-twisting racist terminology of our oppressors. They are hate speech, every bit as unacceptable as unauthorized use of the n-word. So spread the word. There are no such humans as “illegals” and there no such things as “illegal aliens.” and the next time or two or twenty that you hear somebody use those words, correct them, gently or otherwise.
Our people and our allies fought for the extension of citizenship rights and human rights to everyone without exception, or else we would not have what fraction of these rights we possess today. If we co-sign the creation of a class of subhumans, of “aliens” inside the United States with few or none of the rights of citizenship or humanity today, how secure are our rights and our children's rights tomorrow?
For Black Agenda Radio, I'm Bruce Dixon. Find us on the web at www.blackagendareport.com.
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Comments
If they are not Illegal then what are they?
I am confused with this article. I guess I am neither sane nor moral according to your gage. I want to know what are we suppose to call those who enter into this country illegally? Tresspassers? Persons who violate the law? What? For those who call these illegals illegal are they racists? What? It's considered hate speech? What? What is the OTHERWISE measure you intend to use on those who use the term illegal? Are we talking violence? I am a Black Man who on the outside clearly does not look as such. I grew up in the HOOD in a Brooklyn, NY housing project in a Black American and Puerto Rican neighborhood. I dated mostly latina women and am married to one. My wife is from South America and came here through legal means and acquired her papers through legal means. I'm for legal immigration and not illegal immigration no matter where they are from. Giving people a pass who clearly violate the law of the land says alot about those people? Another issue that needs to addressed is the racism that is prevelant between blacks and latinos. Clearly one can see what is going on in California and the violence of the many latino gangs engaging against the blacks who live in "THEIR" communities. Before you tell me about Whitey's racism please address the latino on black crimes or better yet the black on asian crimes thats happening in California and Philly and the black on black crime in Chicago. Before you condemn whitey and his racism lets discuss why many latinos and others are coming here to America? Is it because the mostly Jewish controlled bankers and multi-national corporation have been engaging in in robbing their countries and pushing them out of their land and forcing them here in America and now using them as a vessel to destroy what's left of this country? I'm sure we will see upon futher investigation that these same contollers who stole, robbed and looted these countries are the same people now funding organizations like SPLC, ADL, La Raza and the ilk through their foundations. They will destroy the tresspassers once they destroy those who live here. Just take a good look at the Bolshevik revolution. Who made up the majority or their ranks and who funded it. Lets stop playing with each other. My friend identify the right WHITE people . The controllers are now engaging in the hostile takeover of this country just as they have done around the world.
Responding To Kiddwee
The only black thing in you, is your vision for you are a blind person, blinded by your own stupidity and hatred. You are nothing but a white racist posing as a black person and claiming to have a puertorrican wife. And if in deed you are a black person, then you are not different from those white racists.I am a puertorrican, and we are a mix race. Brown people are what we call, cafe con leche. You mix black coffee with milk and you get Cafe con Leche. You mix a black person with a white person and you get a Brownie, mostly Latinos.Can you dig it? Mister, your views are very extreme, and in line with the views of racists. The problems among California gangs are nothing but a social issue. They are fighting against each other to survive. In addition, the reason for such behavior by both, Latinos and Black gangs is because for far too long they have been deny the same equality as those in power. Now individuals like you are trying to create friction between African Americans and Hispanics Americans by plotting a war among us base in racism. No, we cannot be racist against each other, Neither Hispanics or African Americans are claiming what White Racist claim at all times, and that is superiority, specially over non-whites.
Moreover,La Raza is an organization seeking the same finality for equality as other organizations in United States, like NAACP, North American Jewish Federation, The Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab-Americans, and others. Have a nice day, Compadre!
Legality is whatever "authorities" say it is
Once upon a time, outright slavery was "legal." In my lifetime, where I grew up on the black south side of Chicago, strict school and racial segregation was "legal." It took nothing less than a black boycott of the public school system in the early 1960s, to break it, a boycott that was, of course "illegal."
Being in power gets you the privilege of saying what is legal and what is not. Do not confuse that with being right. The authorities have made nearly all immigration from Mexico "illegal," at the same time that they still maintain lotteries to admit persons from Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland and the rest of Eastern Europe. So get up off that "they came here illegally" crap.
You probably should lose the rhetoric about "Jewish controlled bankers" too.
Who is in Power?
Mr. Dixon,
Please tell me who are the money and power elite? Who controls the purse strings? Who controls the banks and wall street? Who funds these organizations? Come on Mr. Dixon! Why is that subject Taboo among our people? It doesn't take a blind man to see who is doing what? Why are the Mexican's and other south and central Americans coming into the U.S.? They are being displaced by the same money elite/BANKERS who have ran them off their ancestral lands. If we really cared for these displaced people we would fight with them to keep and regain their lands. Please also tell me why there is a high rate of latino on black violence, black on asian violence and black on black crime raging through our communities? What is the proper solution addressing the immigration issue and violence issue? How is it that my wife retained her papers legally and the others from latin Americas are not? Why should they get the right of a citizen when they did not go through the hassle as she did? Black people are being displaced immediately by this cheaper labor. Please enlighten my darkened mind. I mean no disrespect. I enjoy and learn much from reading your articles and listening to your podcast. On this subject I differ with you.
Right Motivation, Wrong Fight
Any non-citizen inhabitant of a country can correctly be called an "alien". Aliens who inhabit a country illegally can correctly be called "illegal aliens". These terms may sound ugly to some, but to argue over terminology is to miss the point. Consider what would happen if you succeeded in convincing everyone to stop using the term "illegal alien" in favor of something nicer, like "undocumented immigrant". Pretty soon, the term "undocumented immigrant" (or anything else you prefer) would acquire the same hateful overtone as "illegal alien", just like the word "Mexican" to some people connotes a hateful sentiment; just like the word "Jew"; just like the word "homosexual". There is nothing inherently wrong with these terms, nor with the term "illegal alien". What is needed is intelligent debate about the issue of human rights, not a fight over words.
The terminology IS the point
It's the point becaue the terms in which we think set the boundaries for what we CAN think. You cannot make human beings "illegal," period, end of story on the planet which produced us. Any law that places itself above humanity so as to make humanity, or any portion of it "illegal" merely for existing is an unjust law, an immoral law, a law that deserves to be mocked, ridiculed, disobeyed and eventually overthrown.
Or are you one of those people who suppose there are no just things as unjust laws?
Political Correctness is out of Control
Good Lord, A sane person. This soviet style political correctness tactic needs to stop. It's getting to a point that anything said is harmful, hateful, hurtful. What nonsense. Where are the Blackmen at. I know who I am inspite of what people say to me or about me. We need to address with the Latinos especially those on the west coast the attacks they engage against the blacks. I am not pulling guard for them as they march toward their self imposed delusion of reconquering Atzlan. If anyone has right to this land it's the American indian. If the Latinos want my help getting rid of those who pushed them from their ancestral lands I'm there. They need to address the corruption in their own land before they make demands.here. Who pushed them off their lands? Who is bringing in the drugs into their communities?
seize the power to define for self
the article is 100% right n exact. when denise kuciinich during a presidential debate was ask a question about illegal aliens, he was the only conscious candidate with enough intelligence to correct the framing of the question. if he would of answered without first correcting the question, he would of subconsciously validate the term. he should of been the president.
if u are AFRICAN, u know how u got here n which dog have bit u
if u a negro or nikker (made in amerikka) u r conditioned to forget, n talk crap like
"our forefathers" , "law of the land", like an abuse child u start identifying with the abuser.
in some ways, some of these zombies r right. because all whites are aliens n illegals from the prespective of natives whom they labeled indians. they, the natives have the moral n legit authority to decide who is a quest or n invader. a human or a vampire.
any beings that historically have been known to do evils such as enslavement, genocide, dropping the atomic bomb can correctly be called the "devil" and a terrorist. No mystery here.
makes sense....but then it doesn't
I understand the necessity of not referring to a human being as "illegal" but I don't understand tying someones right to life to their right to citizenship. America cannot afford to be a donor state any longer. Euro-liberalism has decimated the economies and social structures of France, UK and Germany bc of their welfare and lax border controls (North African illegal entry). People who cheat to get into a country will cheat once they're here. Instead of working to make their own country better they flee to take advantage of the opportunities America has to offer. This is wrong. Our founding fathers didn't flee west when Britain pushed against them. They stood for their human rights. They had already fled Euro-liberalism once (seperatists 1620) and they finally said enough is enough in 1776. The Latinos need to do the same. Instead they come here and resist assimilation; they establish ghettos and resort to baseline mentalities as the prey on each other and on Black. MS-13, Latin Kings etc are tearing my community apart! And why? Bc they've been trained to maintain their "National pride" (brown pride worldwide) in a nation that is not the nation they want to represent. You speak of racist nationalism like it's a white only problem. I imagine whites and blacks wouldn't have such a problem with Latino immigration, of Latinos were prouder to be American than they were to be Latino.
Sorry to be long winded....
"Our people and our allies fought for the extension of citizenship rights and human rights to everyone without exception, or else we would not have what fraction of these rights we possess today." my mouth hangs agape when I read this. Equating the black civil rights movement to the Latino immigration movement is a disservice and a slap in the face to the black man. African-Americans did not enter this country illegaly. They were captured like cattle by African warlords, brought to the coast and sold to European merchants, and then shipped to the Carribean and America; where they were sold to work like animals. This is NOT the case with Latinos who have connived, snuck, bribed their way Into our country! The African-American man and woman did not ask to be brought to this country, they were forced. They worked to make this country an industrial and agricultural giant. They didn't work for wages which they were going to send backto Africa, they slaved. They deserved and earned a hundred fold their long delayed rights of citizenship. The correlation you seek to forge does not exist. Again I support human rights but not illegal rights. Our taxes support enough crminals in state of the art prisons, we don't need to pay taxes to support criminals walking the streets of LA, Philly, Miami etc...
You can't be serious
The comments you make, NTSocialEquity (does the NT stand for "not"?), are ignorant beyond belief. It's difficult to know where to start, but it's hard to resist your characterization of the U.S. as a "donor" country. I can't stop laughing. What planet are you from? Really.
The U.S. is the greatest thief in the history of humanity. Built on stolen land with the labor of stolen people with resources stolen from future generations. But you knew that much, right? You just forgot? African slavery? Ring a bell?
When slavery was no longer tenable -- a decision that was reached only after the bloodiest war in U.S. history -- it was replaced by... wait for it... slavery! Read Doug Blackmon's "Slavery by Another Name" if you missed that part of U.S. history. Some of your ancestors lived it.
And let's not forget all the labor stolen from women. That's a book in itself. Then, let's see, there was the conquest of the Philippines, WWI (about war profiteering and protecting U.S. bank profits), WWII (about breaking up and acquiring the British Empire, removing Germany and Japan as competitors for world hegemony, and crippling the Soviet Union), fun times in Southeast Asia and Latin America to prevent native peoples from asserting sovereignty over their own nations and resources, economic warfare on a global scale (read John Perkins's "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man"), etc., etc., ad nauseum.
You can't be talking about U.S foreign aid, can you? No, please. You're killing me. You must know that U.S. foreign aid (much of which goes to prop up the Israeli theocracy) is used to provide weapons to dictators so they can repress dissent and aid in the theft of resources from their countries. What's left mostly goes back to U.S. companies (much of it never leaves the States) as a form of corporate welfare. And as for food aid, it is a way to force Third World countries to accept GMO crops and a tool for forcing indigenous farmers off their land and into the cities where they can be exploited for their cheap labor... and a great weapon for extortion.
If you think NAFTA stole jobs from Americans -- and it did -- you should see what it did to Mexico. But your worst, stupidest, most racist, disgusting comment is your comparison of Blacks to Latinos and your nonsense about slavery. Who, exactly, do you think these Mexicans are? I will explain it to you, though I doubt you're capable of understanding so dearly do you cling to your racist security blanket. They are the mestizos and the indios. They are certainly not those of pure Spanish (white) descent. They are the Indians, you fool. They are the survivors of a 500 year genocide. A successful genocide. And it continues to this day. Tens of thousands of Indians have been murdered in Guatemala alone over the past few decades -- more than all the Blacks ever lynched, I'll wager, and that's just Guatemala.
If you're going to pick someone to trash as undeserving the status of victim, you should probably not choose the greatest victims in human history.
Furthermore, those immigrants who are recent enough to be undocumented have extremely low crime rates. They are terrified of the police, for good reason. I don't see you complaining about Russian mafia on the East Coast, or Canadian drug dealers in the Pacific Northwest, far deadlier threats. Just people of color, right? Why is that? The crime you refer to in Latino ghettos, which is greatly exaggerated by the mainstream media just as the crime in Black ghettos is, is largely committed by American citizens who live in slums, and it's committed for the same reasons that Whites or Asians or Blacks who live in slums commit crimes.
It's the white male ruling class that pits black against brown, and you're dumb enough to fall for it.
My recommendation? Get a brain, get an education, and until then, STFU.
It's counterintuitive...
but I feel Dixon's take on the situation.
A Perspective from Diversity Inc.'s
"Ask the White Guy." Interesting slant.
Frederick Douglass, often described as a "classical conservative," believed that immigration should be a human right. Perhaps that sums up Mr. Dixon's perspective? After all did we not evolve as "hunters and gatherers" and who invented boundaries and borders? We see how that experiment works in Af-Pak or here on our borders. I too believe immigration has and (indeed will) have some controls, the complexities and exigencies of "modern" societies will demand it, but if I want to leave America, and lord knows it crosses my mind about every other week, why should some "government" be able to stop me? Who has the right to deny me status to be a world traveler? And for the last time folks, as "Ask the White Guy" states, these people were allowed to come here and they are here to stay. So, suck it up, take one for the team. lol (That's your local "politician" laughing behind your back) As for me? I'm saving up for Rosetta Stone,-- que pasa? Mexicans like to spend money too, and maybe they'll spend more with me if they pissed at Whites. Think strategically folks, strategically. Emotions don't count for shit. Enjoy the "White Guy's perspective, ciao.
http://www.diversityinc.com/article/7625/Ask-the-White-Guy-Is-the-Term-I... http://gmoses.tripod.com/moweb/dougrep.htm
http://gmoses.tripod.com/moweb/dougrep.htm
Language is important, but only a minor issue
While I appreciate the idea that referring to humans as "illegal" is a bit of a misnomer, it may be more appropriate to refer to them as "criminals" since they have broken federal law. It is noble to desire to extend citizenship to all humans who happen to arrive within our borders regardless of whether legal or illegal. But we have to think in realistic terms, as a nation. I don't believe it is in our interest to have "free" borders.
But, yes, language is important. For example, referring to material objects such as a car, as "mine" is incorrect as well, and it serves to strengthen ones identification with the ego, which is a false identification. The truth in this matter is that one cannot own anything built from minerals stolen from the Earth. It is however, difficult to refer to "my car" each time as "the automobile that I am in possession of temporarily".
In the end, I think it is more constructive to argue about what should be done to ease the pressure at the border and solve the humanitarian issues rather than about the language that we use in everyday speech.
What my intuition tells me
..."immigration reform" is just a stepping stone for further consolidation of the movement of people and prerequisite for a "North American Union".
Humanitarian...human unitarian...
The question is, do we love our neighbors as we would love ourselves?
If only.....
We, as a nation, applied the same fervor and passion, "language of the law" in rounding up "Mexican, illegal, alien, FELONS," to our criminal elite. Our Cong., Senators, our "scholars" and "leading intellectuals." Our lawyers, judges, doctors and anthropologists who aide and abet torture and the criminal law on terror. The "felons" who get appointments to prestigious law school posts like Yoo, or Goldsmight, or Kagan for that matter. Or the "felons" who win Noble Peace Prizes while raging more wars of aggression across the planet than GWB, the "felons" who get Presidential Libraries and plumb appointments, and $40-$100K to talk shit and crow about American Exceptionalism... If only we exercised the same vitriol and passion about "these felons" as we exercise about Mexican "felons" world just might be a better place... Food for thought.
Hope some of you get heartburn from your tacos. And stop eating that shit from Taco Bell. It ain't no more real than some of yall's fantasies of uprooting 8 to 10 million people, when 82 cameras and NY's finest, and Ray Kelly with his double secret security clearances and Homeland Security in his pocket, can't stop an amaetur car bomber.
Who, btw, didn't learn shit from the Taliban, because if he did something would have blown up SOMETHING!?, either him or the car or both.
This 'hot button' issue is
This 'hot button' issue is getting a lot of media attention lately ... I'd put it on par with the battle over health and dental insurance plans that continues to rage. What we have hear is a sad, sad example of ethnocintricity and the inability of people to assimilate. Why do people have to be 'citizens' to have rights? THEY ARE PEOPLE.