Anthems
The strains of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” rolled out across my neighborhood Sunday. The black national anthem was being played on the Grace Episcopal Church carillon.
Considering the early 2oth century stance of Grace and other major Plainfield churches that African-Americans should worship separately from whites, it was a pleasing note of harmony. At the same time, it points up the fact that Plainfield’s other “minority” has no national anthem here.
The multiplicity of Latino cultures and voices means that there is no central theme for their needs. Newcomers are quick to display flags of their homelands on their houses and cars, but they have nothing comparable to the unifying red, black and green colors of Kwanzaa.
Why should anybody care? Eventually Latinos here will probably assimilate, as European and Asian immigrants have, starting with learning English. And anyway, Hispanic Heritage Month is already on a lot of calendars, so what’s the problem?
For Latinos, the problem is that they are showing up in droves in small towns and cities and creating a parallel population with its own shops, restaurants, churches and gathering places. Culture shock and misunderstandings are leading to animosity all over the map. And even though Latinos look like a solid bloc to non-Latinos, their community is a pastiche of nationalities that don’t always like each other or get along.
It is a test of Plainfield’s self-proclaimed love of diversity to figure out what to do when a former 7 percent minority swells to one-quarter or perhaps one-third of the population. Schools are mandated to provide information to parents in the language spoken at home. But city government lags far behind in helping Latinos to understand local regulations and how to take part in civic life. Politicians seem to be still seeking that one Latino who can deliver votes from the whole demographic.
Curiously, corporations seem to “get” the change even if individuals and institutions need more time. Sears began using dual-language signage quite a while ago. Purveyors of food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals use Spanish on their labels. And Whirlpool is now selling a stove dubbed “Sabor” that is specially designed for Latino cooking, with a traditional comal, or griddle, for making tortillas and such.
In city neighborhoods, it is more likely to be small interactions over time that will smooth out the unfamiliarity on both sides. A visiting abuelita may admire someone’s garden and get the nietos to stop kicking soccer balls into the flowers. Delicious aromas may entice a person to step into a Latino restaurant and get arroz con camarones instead of the usual fried rice with shrimp from the Chinese take-out place. A Sweet Sixteen party in one yard may be matched by Quinceanos festivities in another.
Somehow it will happen. More Latinos here will register to vote, seek public office, run for the school board, put down roots. And maybe someday a Latino poet as capable as James Weldon Johnson will come up with something better than last year’s controversial Spanish version of the Star-Spangled Banner, “Nuestro Himno.”
The Queen City’s population has shifted dramatically before and most newcomers have become proud Plainfielders. For now, let's just say, "Bienvenidos a la Ciudad de la Reina" to the newcomers and try to get to know each other better.
Considering the early 2oth century stance of Grace and other major Plainfield churches that African-Americans should worship separately from whites, it was a pleasing note of harmony. At the same time, it points up the fact that Plainfield’s other “minority” has no national anthem here.
The multiplicity of Latino cultures and voices means that there is no central theme for their needs. Newcomers are quick to display flags of their homelands on their houses and cars, but they have nothing comparable to the unifying red, black and green colors of Kwanzaa.
Why should anybody care? Eventually Latinos here will probably assimilate, as European and Asian immigrants have, starting with learning English. And anyway, Hispanic Heritage Month is already on a lot of calendars, so what’s the problem?
For Latinos, the problem is that they are showing up in droves in small towns and cities and creating a parallel population with its own shops, restaurants, churches and gathering places. Culture shock and misunderstandings are leading to animosity all over the map. And even though Latinos look like a solid bloc to non-Latinos, their community is a pastiche of nationalities that don’t always like each other or get along.
It is a test of Plainfield’s self-proclaimed love of diversity to figure out what to do when a former 7 percent minority swells to one-quarter or perhaps one-third of the population. Schools are mandated to provide information to parents in the language spoken at home. But city government lags far behind in helping Latinos to understand local regulations and how to take part in civic life. Politicians seem to be still seeking that one Latino who can deliver votes from the whole demographic.
Curiously, corporations seem to “get” the change even if individuals and institutions need more time. Sears began using dual-language signage quite a while ago. Purveyors of food, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals use Spanish on their labels. And Whirlpool is now selling a stove dubbed “Sabor” that is specially designed for Latino cooking, with a traditional comal, or griddle, for making tortillas and such.
In city neighborhoods, it is more likely to be small interactions over time that will smooth out the unfamiliarity on both sides. A visiting abuelita may admire someone’s garden and get the nietos to stop kicking soccer balls into the flowers. Delicious aromas may entice a person to step into a Latino restaurant and get arroz con camarones instead of the usual fried rice with shrimp from the Chinese take-out place. A Sweet Sixteen party in one yard may be matched by Quinceanos festivities in another.
Somehow it will happen. More Latinos here will register to vote, seek public office, run for the school board, put down roots. And maybe someday a Latino poet as capable as James Weldon Johnson will come up with something better than last year’s controversial Spanish version of the Star-Spangled Banner, “Nuestro Himno.”
The Queen City’s population has shifted dramatically before and most newcomers have become proud Plainfielders. For now, let's just say, "Bienvenidos a la Ciudad de la Reina" to the newcomers and try to get to know each other better.
posted by Bernice at 12:58 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home