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Should a Latino be allowed to join the Congressional Black Caucus?
According to an article in last week's <em>Politico</em> entitled <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/congressional-black-caucus-hispanic-adriano-espaillat-234575">“Black Caucus chafes at Latino who wants to join,” </a>that's the million dollar question currently being debated, albeit silently, by Caucus members on the Hill.
The Latino in consideration is no other than (D-NY 13<sup>th</sup> District) Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who last November became the first Dominican-American elected to Congress.
While he has not been formally asked to join the 47-year-old organization, he tells <em>Politico</em> writer Heather Caygle that he is currently in discussion with CBC leaders about the “pros and cons” of his potential membership.
According to Caygle, more than a dozen CBC members and their aides were interviewed for the piece although very few of the CBC current leadership wanted to go on record, citing the “sensitivity” of the issue.
But as Caygle reports, the Espaillat issue is not only causing CBC leadership to review its bylaws (historically, the CBC has limited its membership to African-American statesmen and -women), but it has raised all sorts of debate about who should and should not, be considered African-American.
More specifically, Caygle writes:
<blockquote>“I think it’s reviewing our rules and bylaws and make sure that whatever happens is appropriate. Because it should not only be for him but others,” Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.) said. Meeks served with Espaillat in the New York State Assembly.
Espaillat was chairman of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus in the State Assembly and later led the Puerto Rican and Latino Caucus in the New York state Senate.
“I got elected with Adriano in the State Assembly. I know his heart is in the right place. I just think this is going to be a continuing dialogue to determine what to do,” Meeks said.
“Now [in Congress], we’ve been different in that you were either in the Black Caucus or you were in the Hispanic Caucus,” Meeks added. “And so the question is what happens in this scenario. And I guess he’s the first Dominican to [apply] and we’re just trying to figure it out.”</blockquote>
Of course, race and ethnicity is not the only reason some members of the CBC are leery.
As Caygle reports, some CBC members are still upset with Espaillat for running two “bitter” campaigns (in 2012 and 2014) against former Rep. Charles Rangel for his seat in the House.
Before his retirement, Rangel was the second-longest serving incumbent member in the House of Representatives. He is a founding member of the Black caucus.
Also, several members are suspicious of Espaillat's current membership within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. And as the former chair of the CBC tells Caygle:
<blockquote>“See that complicates matters. Even though our agendas are typically parallel, occasionally they are not. So it may be problematic if someone wants to belong to two ethnic caucuses,” said. Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), a former chairman of the CBC. “If he’s considered an African-American then he’s certainly welcome in the caucus. But I can’t speak for the caucus.”</blockquote>
According to Caygle, while CBC members debated Espaillat’s potential membership during last weeks' meeting, CBC leaders have yet to make a decision.
But if you ask me, bitterness and other hurt feelings over Rangel aside, there really is no legitimate reason on racial or ethnicity grounds why Espaillat is not being asked to join as a member of the Caucus.
For one, Rangel who again is a founding member of the Black Caucus <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/nyregion/rangel-opts-to-keep-his-hispanic-roots-buried.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all">is half-Puerto-Rican.</a>
Espaillat, who eventually earned (through the electoral process) his seat from Rangel, represents a district that includes Harlem and still maintains a large enough Black and Latino population.
After all, if <a href="https://love.house.gov/">Mia Love, </a>who is a Black Mormon Republican with a White husband from Utah, can call herself a member of the CBC, I don't see why Espaillat does not have the same privilege.
Not to mention with so many Hispanics – of all colors -<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/upshot/more-hispanics-declaring-themselves-white.html"> choosing to identify as White in hopes of assimilating faster </a>into the American dream, it is quite refreshing to see someone acknowledge their African heritage.
With that said, I can sort of understand why the CBC would not like him.
Unlike Love who can not (even if she wanted too) deny her blackness, Espaillat had previously downplayed his race, during his third and first successful attempt at Rangel's seat.
As previously<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/new-york-newest-congressman-adriano-espaillat-history-article-1.2932252"> reported by the New York Daily News:</a>
<blockquote>“Espaillat was happy to talk of his immigrant roots - while downplaying the racial tensions that have driven primaries in the district.
He moved from the Dominican Republic to New York at age nine with his parents to live with his grandparents, who worked as a seamstress and in a Ray Ban factory.
“We came on a visitor's visa and overstayed our visa, and we were for a short term of time without a green card, and then we had to go back to get a green card to be able to be admitted to the country legally. For any child or family that's a traumatic experience particularly when you're already united with the rest of your family,” he said.
He wants to talk about his background to other members in hopes of influencing them on immigration.
“I hope my personal story is compelling to other members,” he said. “This is a great nation, one that's offered me a great opportunity. To try to go backwards and be heavy-handed against folks who just want to do better for their families I find contrary to what I have experienced America to be.”</blockquote>
Yeah...
Still, it goes to show that how we identify does have political consequences.
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