NEWS
David Escobar: The invisible Indians
of California
By DAVID ESCOBAR |
PUBLISHED: February 6, 2006 at 12:00 am | UPDATED: July 19, 2018 at 10:11 am
WHEN THE controversial issue of day laborers loitering on the streets appears in the
media, the ethnicity is always painted with the same brown brush: Latino. But who are
these brown-skinned men with baseball caps?
What most Californians don’t realize is that many of these men and women who
emigrate to the U.S. from Latin America are not necessarily Hispanic/Latino in the
general sense of the word, but are Indian people. Many of these natives from Central
America are here trying frantically to learn both Spanish and English while trying
simultaneously to acculturate into both U.S. Hispanic and Anglo cultures.
Over the past few years, the Hispanic population in California has grown in
unprecedented numbers, a fact that is being noticed by politicians, media and
businesses.
According to the 2000 census, there are 37.4 million individuals of Hispanic descent in
the U.S.. However, the new unknown immigrants are Meso-American Indians (Native
Americans from Mexico and Central America). They are the largest growing population
in the state.
We have to remember that Hispanic is not a race and that the labels, Hispanic or
Latino, cover up immense racial, cultural and ethnic diversity. There are many Anglo-,
and Afro-Latinos who don’t eat burritos or sing “la cucaracha.” Hispanic is not as
simple as “yo quiero Taco Bell;” it’s much more dynamic and complex.
According to the Frente Indigena Organizaci n Binacional (FIOB), a California nonprofit
for immigrants, the majority of the people who are labeled Mexican are natives from the
Mixtec, Zapotec and Chatino tribes. FIOB estimates there are between 70,000 to
80,000 indigenous workers from Oaxaca throughout California. The Mexican
Consulate in San Francisco indicates there are more than 10,000 Maya Indians from
the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico currently living in Marin County alone and about
18,000 Bay Area-wide.
But why do the mainstream community and Hispanic-based service agencies fail to
recognize the changing demographics of the community? Is it possible that these
individuals don’t fit the romantic view of North American Indians? Could it be that
Hispanics and community programs may not be aware of this trend?
Or do Hispanic service providers replicate the same discriminatory behaviors from their
own countries of origin?
It is not surprising that many Meso-American Indians making new lives in California do
not self-identify with their American Indian heritage. Historically, Latin America has
been tremendously violent and discriminatory against Indian people. Many “mestizos”
(mixed bloods) who may be culturally Indian experienced the discrimination as well.
The inside scoop within the Hispanic community is that it’s generally associated with
being poor and at the bottom of the social and economic scales. Discriminatory
practices against Indians are embodied in almost every institution throughout Latin
America. Today, many governments in Meso-America recognize the presence of
indigenous people yet fail to fulfill international accords and treaties.
Even though Indians are the traditional low-wage workhorse of this county and Third
World countries, they rarely have any political or social status. Consequently, for most
indigenous people, it’s a safer to be identified as Hispanic than an Indian.
The flip side to all of this is that there are new social movements in California that
recognize and respond to this changing trend. Leaders of indigenous organizations
celebrate Meso-American Indian culture and spirituality. As native people from Latin
America begin to feel less fearful, they are becoming more forthcoming about their
culture and identity.
So, the next time you think you see a “Latino,” keep in mind he or she may or may not
even speak Spanish. Many of these people are representatives of a complex and
ancient heritage and are contributing to the economy as they are trying to survive.
As Marin folk, let’s remember our decency, compassion and the tradition of hospitality
the Indians showed the Pilgrims so long ago.
David Escobar is director of Three Nations Indian Circle, board member on the
American Indian Alliance and an aide for Supervisor Steve Kinsey.
David
Escobar
