Tyranny through Fear

Tyranny through Fear

Trump’s second term has been rampant with tyrannical headlines. Internationally, he has built a reputation full of economic and absolute violence. Here at home, we have seen a very similar pattern across the entire administration. One can write multiple articles on the corruption and mishandlement that has enveloped this administration's handling of domestic and foreign affairs. Specifically, I am interested in the recent rise of deterrence through fear. The sole topic of this blog post will be the intersection of first, second, and third generation Hispanics and their involvement in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

History points to this ritualistic assimilation of US culture from immigrants. More commonly, the need from previously oppressed groups to begin oppressing a new wave of immigrants in an effort to fully embrace and be accepted into this concept of whiteness. History points to Italian, Irish, Chinese and now more recently Mexican and central Americans as direct actors of this narrative. However, Mexican and Central Americans are a unique case given that they are native to this land. Their roots can be traced back centuries before the Americas were a concept to European colonizers. Juan Gonzalez, author of Harvest of Empire, writes:

"Mexican Americans, meanwhile, face a frustrating identity problem… They are both native-born and immigrants, pioneers and aliens, patriots and rebels: no matter how far back some may trace their ancestry on our soil, they are still battling to emerge from the obscure margins of official US history, still clamoring to be fully recognized and understood"

The southern border, now a barrier between here and there, was created - Mexicans have always been near El Rio Bravo and the Nueces river. President Polk, following the spirit of western expansionism, engineered the Mexican-American war which settled with the Treaty of Hidalgo signed in 1848. The US had gained the western part of modern day America. American Elites found themselves with an issue, they had wanted Mexican land but wanted nothing to do with the Mexicans that inhabited this part of the world. Thus came, what I like to call, the forgotten years of initial chicano history. Where Mexicans, now on US soil, were persecuted, lynched, and robbed of their land and history through a set of evil practices.

The anglo way has never been fair or equitable. With a new sovereignty in 1848, came a wave of new laws, specifically for land registration, tax, and inheritance. Why is this important? Juan Gonzalez frames it perfectly:

"The new codes were promulgated and administered in English - a language the mexicano majority did not understand - and by lawyers, sheriffs and judges who could always count on the US army to enforce an Anglo’s interpretation whenever a dispute arose.”

We were robbed of our home, our identity, and our history. Never have anglo-americans accepted mexicans in their country because they have always felt threatened by the rise in the hispanic community becoming the majority in a country that has been infused and sustained by racially oppressive practices. It is only through these systems that anglo-americans have been able to cling onto power. In the 19th century, The Gavelston Weekly News wrote:

“The whole race of Mexicans here is becoming a useless commodity, becoming cheap, dog cheap. Eleven Mexicans , it is stated, have been found along the Nueces, in a hung up condition. Better so than to be left on the ground for the howling lobos to tear in pieces, and then howl the more for the red peppers that burn his insides raw.”

That is how our people are described in American history. We help build their country, and then we are kicked out of the land that knows our name, our history, and our kin.

It is why I scream shame to those hispanics that prosecute and kill the new wave of our kin in the name of Anglo-Americans. 30% of ICE officers self-identify as Hispanic, but I would argue that the true percentage of Hispanics in ICE tethers around 50% - for many do not self report as hispanic to feel detached from their role. The inhumane treatment of people in detention centers, the killings of innocents on the streets, and the brown persecution is being sustained by those whose family members were immigrants 1-2 generations ago. How weak are they to feel the need to be accepted into white culture in the name of forsaking your kin. You have no right to our history, our music, our generosity, our hard work, our food, our entertainment, you relinquish all that when you become part of the racially oppressive system that was created to forcefully remove our ancestors from our native land. No matter how much you try to assimilate to white culture - your brown skin, black hair, and short posture will always be reflected in every mirror you look at, as a reminder that they will never accept you.