"We cannot ask of the North, what we are not doing in the South"

Racism is a problem in Mexico as well as in the United States, as anyone who has flipped through the TV channels and come across a Mexican news program knows. (The anchors tend to be lily-white. You're much more likely to see American reporters with brown or black skin.)

Years ago, researchers sent Mexican Indians to ask for rooms in Mexico City hotels. If they were wearing western clothing, they got rooms. If they were wearing Indian clothing (which, ironically, is worth more than the average western outfit, due to the extensive embroidery on the women's huipiles), they were usually denied a room.

Enrique Morones of Border Angels writes that he's "...Teaching tolerance at High Tech and will also continue organizing with USC...Then head to Chiapas "we cannot ask of the North, what we are not doing in the South" will be joined by fellow National Human Rights Winner Olga Sanchez..."

I'm glad to hear it. I've often wondered why Mexican-Americans so rarely take an interest in fixing the elitist system that controls Mexico and its government. It's appropriate to work to change the oppressive system that forces so many individuals to leave home in order to obtain the basic necessities of life.