Hey, Utahns ... "they" aren't going away

march 04

Every once in while you hear a statistic that really makes you sit up and take notice.

Not that it is outrageous, mind you, or unbelievable, and not that it is "good," reinforcing a personal belief, or that it is "bad" and makes you a little nervous. Just one that you had not considered in quite those terms -- a statistic to which you ought to pay attention.

Here's one I heard earlier this month: By the year 2015 -- let's just say "10 years from now" -- one out of every five Utahns will be of Latino background.

Again, this statistic is best thought of as neither good nor bad, just revealing. Mighty revealing. And the source is credible, coming right from an office with a shiny desk in Salt Lake City, not just from your brother-in-law after shopping at Smtih's one Sunday morning.

My gut feeling is that the average white, my-roots-are-here and I-love-my-fry-sauce Utahn isn't quite ready for the reality of that statistic. I think it is time we got ready.

I bounced some questions off a handful of Hispanic students at USU recently, questions about this influx and what it means for both the Latino and Anglo population. Based on their responses and that darn gut of mine, can I throw out some ideas?

To make this all work right, both Anglos and Latinos have got to throw out the stereotypes. For whites, that means that not all Latinos are Mexicans, not all are “illegals”; not all are gang members; not all get in trouble; not all Hispanics are disrespectful of laws, culture and the prevailing way of life. For Latinos, it means tossing out the idea that all whites hate them, that America is like the movies, that laws are there just to discriminate against Latinos, and education is only for whites. Yea, junk these stereotypes for starters.

This concept of law is new to many Latinos new to our country and often becomes a problem. One student told me that in his hometown in Mexico, if you want to have a party, you grab some rocks and block off the street and have a party. You don't have to tell the city or the police, he said, and it can go as long and loud as you want -- that's just life, the culture of the community. But here, the culture says there are rules to follow. Sometimes when Latinos are told of the rules they feel the restrictions are directed only at them, that they are being discriminated against in some way. And if you throw rules or culture norms about using facilities on Sunday or use of alcohol into the mix, even more misunderstandings can be spawned. Latinos need to overcome these sensitivities and not turn inward and feel like a picked-on clique, but gain an understanding of the laws. And follow them.

It is imperative that both whites and Latinos become more involved in community affairs and politics in order to increase understanding of the two -- sometimes clashing -- cultures. Latinos need to better understand that the laws and whites can use these forums to better educate their new neighbors.

But sometimes it is as simple as saying hello and getting acquainted. Whites might resist getting to know a new Latino neighbor because they don't want to offend or seem pushy. But many Latinos will perceive this as a put-down or a problem with them or “that they are not wanted because of the language barrier," a student told me.

Aaah. That darn language thing. Should both groups be learning the other's language? My response: What are you waiting for?

One Latino student's measured response: If the person is in a position of responsibility, like a vice principal or a city council member, they ought to learn Spanish, as it would go a long way to assisting the Latino population, as well as showing a overt desire to help -- an olive branch, if you will. If the Latino family is planning on staying or having their children stay in the United States, they should learn the language. Latino parents not being willing to learn the language is a major reason Latino students often find themselves in trouble during the teen years. Parents don't go to parent-teacher conferences, for example, because they don't know the language, and then the parents don't find out how the student is doing or if he or she is in trouble and pretty soon the kids are thinking they can get away with things. It’s natural.

Here's my gut speaking again: It should be a requirement to know Spanish in order to graduate from high school in Utah. It is a “suggestion” by most colleges for high school students to have two years of a second language for admission, but Utah’s high school graduation requirements ought to be ratcheted up to reflect this necessity.

The next generation of teachers in the public education system has got to give this population a chance. Here’s another statistic to slap you in the face: Sixty-five percent of all Latino students in Utah do not graduate from high school. And then we wonder where gangs come from.
The blame is not all theirs; the blame is not all the system’s. But it is a problem that has got to be solved. Latinos in Utah have also got to understand that going to college is a good thing, something many openly admit they do not believe. Until Latinos are getting all the way through the educational system, nothing will change.

Get acquainted. Lower the sensitivity level a notch or two on both sides. Learn the other’s language. Find a common demoninator. Enjoy each other’s celebrations. Help each other through the education system.

We are all on the same little corner of the same planet. And that’s a true statistic, too.