There is a strong quote from the early 20th Century that illustrates how economics and politics are inseparable. It goes something like this: “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate. He (the political illiterate) doesn’t hear, speak, or participate in political events. He doesn’t know that the cost of life, the price of food, rent, shoes, and medicine all depends on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he brags about how much he hates politics. He doesn’t know that from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thief of all, the bad (corrupt) politician…”
While I believe people and organizations that are locked into partisan politics do themselves and their members a disservice – avoiding politics altogether is worse. Being non-partisan means that you don’t have an automatic bias or affiliation with one political party over another, which is good, but it is not the same as being apolitical, which means that you don’t participate in political discourse at all. You can be non-partisan and still voice your political preferences. At NAHREP, we value members who are politically active. We need strong representation at the highest levels of both parties. We need influence regardless of who is in power, and you don’t get that by being apolitical. The Jewish community is a great case study. They may disagree amongst each other on many things politically, but when it comes to the things that really matter, such as prosperity, education, and civil rights, they tend to be pretty well-aligned with one another. We need to borrow a chapter from that book.
I tell my kids that playing the victim will get you nowhere. But that mindset should not conflict with our collective effort to create a more level playing field. Does a child born in South Central LA or in the slums of Atlanta have the same access to health care, a good public education, mentorship, and capital as a child from Brentwood or Tuxedo Park? And am I playing the victim if I even asked that question?
A friend recently told me, “If demographics were all that mattered, we would have already won.” Latinos are driving homeownership growth and contributing enormously to the American economy. Yet we are still asking for a seat at the table. I believe the reason comes down to wealth: how much we control and what it allows us to do. In Episode 97 of The Latino Brand, I explain why wealth belongs at the center of our agenda. It gives us the resources to fund the businesses, institutions and political campaigns that shape our future. I hope you’ll watch.
I’ve always believed sports are one of the most powerful stages in American culture. The people we celebrate—and the people who own the teams and institutions behind them—help shape how the country sees leadership, success, and possibility. In Episode 96, I share why José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones’ purchase of the San Diego Padres feels bigger than baseball, and why this moment could mark a tipping point for Black and Latino visibility, wealth, and power.