If you follow the news at all, you know that Hispanics are dealing with discrimination and other problems to a greater degree than in previous years. Yet despite the heartbreaking stories about families being separated, and the idiots who denigrate our contributions to the American condition (which all will pass someday soon), there has never been a better time to be Hispanic in this country. I truly feel that way. With our population growth, youth, workforce participation, positive nature and experience in overcoming challenges, Hispanics in this nation are poised to drive business, politics and entertainment for decades. Our music is dominating the charts, our food can be found in every city in America and our culture is inspiring the next evolution of American culture. Because of this, I am considering writing a book or a long blog entitled “The Hispanic Advantage” where I will extrapolate on how the advantages of being Hispanic — especially to our younger generation, far outweigh the challenges. I will be writing more about this in future blogs.
Next week, I will be speaking at a Hispanic Leadership Summit at the United Nations. I was asked to speak on the topic of Unity. The following is a preview of my speech.
The image of Latinos is not just a nice thought; it affects everything from business opportunities and access to capital to how our children are treated at school. Latinos are among the hardest workers and most entrepreneurial of any group in America. However, negativity has dominated the narrative about Latinos for far too long. This one is on us.
We currently have 11 million unfilled jobs in America. Ending illegal immigration will either dramatically increase that number and have massive disruption to our economy, or we will have to...