Some local advocacy groups are holding a series of educational workshops designed to address tensions and stereotypes that exist between some members of the black and latino communities.

Jessica Forres reports…



At D-C’s Foundry Methodist Church, Jorge, who prefers not to give his last name, is standing in a hallway.

“I’M AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT. I’M FROM GUATEMALA”

He along with 40 Latino and African American men and women are attending a workshop focused on building alliances between the two communities. Kristi Matthews… with the Fair Budget Coalition… helped organize the forum... She talks about some of the issues dividing both groups.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO I WORK WITH SPECIFICALLY FEEL, IMMIGRANTS ARE COMING HERE, TAKING OUR JOBS THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN THE WAGES, TAKING OUR JOBS AND WITHIN THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY THEY FEEL BLACK PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE ARE LAZY, THEY DON’T WANT WORK TO HELP, THEY ARE ROBBING ME,

She says it’s the people in power who are creating these divisions.

WHEN YOU’RE FIGHTING OVER THIS 1300 HOUSING VOUCHER AND IT GORES TO IMMIGRANT..ALL YOU SEE IS THE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIRGANT TOOK YOUR VOUCHER, YOU DON’T SEE THAT WAS A POLICY PUT IN PLACE. WHAT YOU DON’T SEE IS THAT THERE WEREN’T ENOUGH VOUCHERS FOR ALL OF YOU..

Jorge, through a translator, says he's never experienced discrimination, but he thinks creating a dialogue between the two communities will help him at his job as a Day Laborer.

I'VE HEARD OF CASES WHERE COMPANIES USE TACTICS TO DIVIDE THE WORKERS. BUT I HAVE LEARNED WHILE BEING HERE THAT WORKERS HAVE SOLVED PROBLEMS OF DIVISION BY COMMUNICATING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS.

Matthews group started hosting hosting the educational workshops in 2007.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

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Some local advocacy groups are trying to bridge the divide between African-Americans and Latinos in the D-C region.

Jessica Forres reports…

African-American and Latino men and women sit on folding chairs inside a large room at D-C’s Foundry Methodist Church. They are listening to Kristi Matthews as she recounts why the history of Latino migration to the area.

[LATINOS BEGIN TO IMMIGRATE FROM MANY PLACES IN CENTRAL AMERICA WAS IN THE 90’S AND 80’S SPECIFICALLY SALVADORIANS, GUATEMALANS, NICARAGUANS TO COME TO DC AND OTHER PARTS OF THE US.]

Matthews is with the Fair Budget Coalition. Her group and DC Jobs with Justice are holding a series of educational workshops. They are designed to address tensions and stereotypes that exist between some members of the black and Latino communities. Jorge who prefers not give his last name, is a day laborer. He talks… through a translator… about some of the issues.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS SAY THAT WE ARE TAKING THE JOBS BECAUSE WE TAKE JOBS AND WE DO THEM FOR LESS MONEY... AND FROM OUR PART THERE’S ALSO DIVISION BECAUSE A LOT OF THE CONTRACTORS WHO PICK UP DAYLABORERS WILL NOT PAY IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, IT BECOMES A NEGATIVE THING.

Matthews, herself, blames politicians for exacerbating these divisions.

WE’RE DEALING SO MUCH WITH DIVISION TOOLS THAT ARE BEING USED VERY INTENTIONALLY BY POWERS THAT BE THAT KEEP US FIGHTING OVER THE CRUMBS, WE’RE NOT ABLE TO LOOK AT THE WHOLE PIE AND ASK FOR MORE.

More than 40 people attended the workshop on Saturday…

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News