By Brenda Emilia Johnson
The African American community has been a powerful voting bloc in the U.S.,
playing a crucial role in electing President Joe Biden and Vice President
Kamala Harris in 2020. However, that election also exposed divisions between
African American and Hispanic voters, rooted in history, culture, and
politics. As a brown-skinned Puerto Rican woman, I’ve witnessed firsthand
how colorism and machismo shape Latino political views, with 60% of Latino
men voting for Trump in 2020, marking a nine-point increase from 2016.
The Cuban Adjustment Act & Political Alignment
In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Cuban Adjustment Act, which
allowed Cuban immigrants to receive benefits like Medicaid and food
assistance, along with a fast track to residency. While Democratic
presidents upheld these policies, many Cuban Americans equated government
assistance with socialism, aligning them with the Republican Party,
including Trump.
Puerto Rico: A Unique Political Identity
Puerto Rico’s colonial history further distinguishes Latino political
identities. As a U.S territory, Puerto Ricans cannot vote for president and
lack congressional representation. Though granted U.S. citizenship in 1917
via the Jones-Shafroth Act, this is statutory-not
constitutional-citizenship, meaning Congress could revoke it at any time.
Despite being U.S. citizens, Puerto Ricans remain politically
disenfranchised, with fears of future mass deportations.
A Shared History of Oppression
Puerto Ricans, like African Americans, have a long history of enslavement
and forced labor. Under Spanish rule, the indigenous Taíno people were
enslaved and forced to work in gold mines and plantations. As their numbers
dwindled due to brutal conditions and disease, the Spanish imported enslaved
Africans to sustain the labor force. Puerto Rico became a hub of the
transatlantic slave trade, and slavery was not abolished on the island until
1873-decades after it ended in most of the United States.
Both African Americans and Puerto Ricans have endured reproductive abuse and
forced sterilization. Between the 1930s and 1970s, one-third of Puerto Rican
women were sterilized-the highest rate in the world. Similarly, in North
Carolina during the 1960s, 65% of all sterilized women were Black, despite
only making up 25% of the population. In 2020, this pattern continued as ICE
detainees, many of them Latina, were subjected to involuntary
hysterectomies.
2024 Election & The Power of Black Voters
In 2024, 92% of Black women and 78% of Black men voted for Kamala Harris,
reaffirming their political influence. Their dedication to civil rights and
social justice mirrors the struggles of many Latinos.
Moving Forward Together
African Americans and Latinos share intertwined histories of oppression and
resilience. To build a stronger coalition, we must acknowledge our
differences while finding common ground. Education, political engagement,
and historical awareness will bridge our gaps. Together, we must stand
strong in the ongoing fight against oppression.
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