Mary Mitchell

"Although immigration laws should be reformed to allow illegal immigrants a path to citizenship, there's no way back in the day that a sister would have been allowed to hole up in a church for four months when the law was looking for her"
"Why should a law breaking person from another land get rewarded for their crime?? And a person in Colubia lets say waiting legally, never gets the call.You want them, and want to support them? Take em in your house then. Its ironic to me this whole Curie thing. White people get ousted from positions all day because they need to make room for a minority. Now that a black is feeling the same oust, there is an up-roar from our lowly disgusting,media?? Where is Daley when a white teacher can never even have a shot at principal ,simply becuase they are white?? Get used to it Mary and all blacks, you want illegals here? This is what happens when millions pour in and produce off spring that are legal. They run the show now, a new stronger minority is born. Family or no family they put themselves in this position (illegals) send them all back a bus at a time. Blacks had their window of time , now the Illegals are demanding the same window....Funny how they can demand things here for the better, but at home they did'nt demand anything of that weak corrupt goverment.

Several of my workers are hispanic and they do talk openly about the differences between the issues facing hispanics and blacks. Bottom line is that they see many more differences than similarities between the two groups. First and foremost, they believe their overall value system and family structure is dramatically different (their words) and everything begins from there.
I think this also comes out at the broader level when you see "leaders" speak out on issues. It is always Rep Guitierrez speaking out on issues facing Hispanics (immigration, etc) and black leaders speaking out on issues facing the black community. Very seldom if ever do you see someone speak out on issues facing both groups even though there are many.

OOps I said "minority" in my blog refering to illegals, I meant majority. They are not the minority in the populice of Chicago, but neither are African americans.

Black and Hispanics fight under the table about who has suffered the worst discrimination. Meanwhile, the Hispanic community rolls up there sleeves and take the personal initiative to better their life. The black community listens to how jesse jackson or al sharpton have plans to better the black community; and then blames everybody else, including hispanics, for a lack of improvement.
As they say, lead by example, the hispanic community is running away with the minority spotlight.

I see nothing wrong with the council at Currie wanting a black principal replaced by a latino principal. The school is majority latino so they should have a latino principal. That same logic is used at black schools when they dump a non black principal. So I guess what goes around comes around. My advice to the school council at Currie and to the parents of Currie students is to stand firm and not back down from the race hustlers who are trying to demonize them.

Avila says that the LSC didn't do anything illegal, so dumping Jones was OK. He's right, but Jones is a good prinicpal, well-liked by her students.

Several members of the LSC did not even understand what Jones said in her statement to them because they don't speak English, and a translator was conveniently missing. Why didn't those council members ask for a translation? Didn't they want to know what this woman had to say about their children and the school? The answer of course is "no" -- they didn't want to know what she said. This may have all been legal, but it certainly wasn't fair, and it certainly isn't setting a very good example for the kids.

Jones will easily be able to find another job. That school will now be served by a board who can't even take the time to learn the English language, or demand to understand the complete picture when making decisions about their kids. The kids lose.

I do think Tom Ramos is getting a bad rap in this respect. There are OTHER board members at Curie, also. So why only focus on him? Besides, if he feels more comfortable wanting a hispanic principal in charge of hispanic students, why does that make him evil? Nobody called black school board members evil who insisted that it had to be a black principal in charge of black children. Even though well-qualified whites were axed as a result. Hey, I got an idea. Why don't the papers write more about the REAL non-sense some school boards have done. Write about the time the Englewood High School board gave awards to the Black Gangstra street-gang and a guy whose sitting in prison for putting eight bullets in a man's head (Larry Hoover). Yet, lo and behold, this same neighborhood would have a couple of innocent children murdered later on by drive-by shootings. Maybe the papers need to ask the city fathers some real curious questions concerning the Chicago system. Like how come they lack alot of opportunities for the children as far as math, science, music, and the art clubs go in alot of areas. Sighting money problems. But they seem to find money to send a basketball team to England (Prosser) to play games and another one to New York City (Simeon) to play. By the way, if African-Americans are angry the principal at Curie was let go, maybe they should ask the hispanic community how they felt when Alderwoman Emma Mitts said, "there's always alot of rats around cans and dumpsters when you have latino's in the area." Or when Alderwoman Dorthey Tillman said, "the Voting Rights Act pertains to African-Americans, not those mexicans." I'm sure they felt a little bitter to say the least. Like I said in another post, what we have is the hispanic community waking up politically. And that's their right.

"...there's no way back in the day that a sister would have been allowed to hole up in a church for four months when the law was looking for her."

Back in the day there wouldn't have been dozens of news agencies, cameras, and reporters waiting in front of that church ready to air at the slightest movement of either the holed up hermana (Latinas are sisters too) or local law enforcement. Back in the day Ms. Arellano would have forcefully been removed from that church like any sister from back in yourday. Cameras negate police action and brutality; as a sister you should know that.

Furthermore, how many Latino's were murdered, incarcerated and/or brutalized at the border during the Arellano saga? She may have been holed up safely within the church walls, but hundreds of my sisters and brothers suffered at the hands of over-zealous vigilantes and crippling foreign policies.

"Unemployed black workers aren't blind. They see who's on the construction sites. They also understand that while they have been written out of Chicago's economic picture, skilled Hispanic laborers are welcome."

Unemployed Latino workers aren't blind either. They see who's in City/County employment. They see the staggering difference between employed blacks and employed Latinos in City and County government. They see that blacks hold a majority (over Latinos) of the assistant, mid-level management and executive levels of management positions within City employment; the widest gap being at the mid and executive levels of Management (ex. Stroger, Jr. takes Stroger, Sr.s’ position then gives well paying Executive position within County to member of family). They see black alderman empowering the black constituents of their ward while doing nothing to empower the Latino constituent. My point: since blacks have an upper hand on these jobs and a Latino’s can’t gain employment through the City without someone claiming it as an HDO hiring, then all we have left is construction.

"And if Jones were white, there likely wouldn't have been such media scrutiny of her firing since a number of white principals were fired by predominantly black councils at the beginning of school reform."

What's good for the Goose must be good for the Gander!

"This is what happens when millions pour in and produce off spring that are legal. They run the show now, a new stronger minority is born. Family or no family they put themselves in this position (illegals) send them all back a bus at a time."

That's right Tim, and we are only getting stronger by taking back what is rightfully ours - the WESTERN HEMISPHERE.

Please be reminded Tim – we had to cross a river to get here while Europeans, Africans, Asians and everyone else had to cross an Ocean.

Mitchell comment:

As a sister, what I know is that news cameras were trained on the civil rights marchers in the South--marchers who were set upon by police dogs and fire hoses. Those images were captured and broadcast around the world. So no, the cameras don't always negate police action.

Notwithstanding the injustice in the firing of the Curie principal, I strongly believe in and stand by the Local School Council's ability to perform its functions in the Chicago Public Schools.

However, there needs to be another governing body to appeal to when the LSC errors in any way; not arbitration.

John,

You're the only who's making any sense here. And let me add along with City and County jobs, the CTA is practically a monopoly also.

this principal who got fired can get a job ANYWHERE she wants - with 25 years experience. i don't see why anyone feels sorry for her. she's in a better position than i am. and i HAVE a job.

This is off topic, but did anyone catch the video on Fox this morning of that off duty cop beating up a female bartender at a bar on the northwest side? That's almost as bad as that guy who robbed and beat up a 101 year old woman in New York.

If she was fired because of her race it probably was illegal and Avila should know that. Both federal and state law prevent a firing based on race.

Mitchell comment:

Firing someone because of their race, or age or gender is illegal. But people don't usually come out and say someone isn't being hired or fired for one of those reasons. That's why what's happening at Curie High School is interesting. Because LSC's don't have to give any reason for not renewing a principal's contract, they are open to allegations that the dismissal was based on race under these kind of circumstances.

If having a Black mayor didn't help Blacks in detroit, how is it going to help Curie students if they have a Spanish-speaking principal. You might get a chuckle and a pat on the shoulder from White people who are happy to see Blacks "finally get theirs" but the truth is that this entire nation is hostile to Spanish-speakers right now. The majority may tolerate the expulsion of a non Spanish-speaking black principal but they will not tolerate Spanish speakers moving in on their "turf".

The majority strictly opposes measures to make accommodations for Spanish speakers; they do not want public documents or signs printed in Spanish, nor will they tolerate their public officials speaking in Spanish. In the end, the majority knows that measures like these will serve only to handicap both Blacks and Hispanics. The replacement of non Spanish-speaking Blacks will be tolerated. Infiltration of the Spanish language into the greater society will not be allowed. This will result in further isolation for both groups.

I find it so interesting, "RACIAL INEQUITIES" how ironic about your 2 groups. Demanding this and that, crying foul when it suits
you. Its to bad, so sad, boo hoo. Speaking as a REAL American, my ancestors were slaughtered, had there land stolen, many many Govt.
lies. Put in concentration camps called reservations, had their religion and culture decimated, nearly wiping us off the planet.
This is RACISM, not the firing of some principal. Now can we move on to something more important, like, reparations for Native American Indians. Yeah like that will happen?!!!

In his book, The Devaluing of America (1994), Dr Bennet speaks of Education Heroes, pp. 79-81. One of these three heroes is John Murphy, superintendant at Prince Georges District, the fifteen largest district in the nation, Washignton D.C., who by all accounts had done remarkable educational accomplishments. Dr. Bennet is obviously furious that Mr. Murphy had to be let go in order to make room for a black superintendant. In 1983 Blacks and Hispanics came together to hand Harold Washignton a victory. That was good. Such is the art of politics. The 1988 school reform act established the LSC, giving parents, community members and teachers the power to hire and fire principals and approve discretionary budgets, among other things. LSC was also sought after by activists as an alternative tool to disegregation. School age children need leaders in the schools that they can relate to; although, it is not a necessary condition. Because the education system in CPS is majority minority, these political issues tend to "pit a group" against the other. I agree with Mr. Avila that we, Blacks and Hispanics tend to do best when we come together. The inuendos, insults, and other race related issues tend to take an unncessary ugly turn; thereby, not needed. We have more in common than we have differences. Consider this: only 9 percent of all African slave cargo came to what is now known as the USA. The other 91 percent went to the Caribean, South, and Central America. Regardless of where they found themselves in the end, they suffered.

Mary, I know that you spend most of your column talking about life in this big city, and I must congratulate you on the things you write about. I know where you come from and I too was born in that era. I come from 51st and Prairie Ave, where I lived most of my life, with my 7 brothers and sisters, and being raised by a single mother, who worked at the Avenue Hotel on 50th Street. This intro is let you know what you already know about us kids who were raised in that era. I too used to catch the jidneys down King Drive to Dunbar High School, and played up under the "L" tracks for fun. How I had friends that lived in the Projects and how much fun it was to go and visit and ride the elevators to the 16th floor, and watch the garbage as it went down the incinerator, and you wondered where it went. How much fun your neighborhood was even though there were winos and prostitutes, and pimps. But you just took that as a sign of everyday life in your neighborhood and you knew that was not what you wanted. I am writing to you to tell you something that I did not realize but was a part of for so many years. I am waiting to go see the movie "Pride". It is, I know a very good and true story. I have not seen this movie yet and you wonder how I know this will be a great movie? It is because me and other kids who went to the Y.M.C.A. on 50th and Indiana back in the late 60's and early 70's experienced every bit of the movie. You see, we were the only Black Swim team on the inner south side. We had a coach "Herbert Cobbs", who took the time to teach us , train us, and instill the will to win at something that we were not supposed to win at. I remember being the only black swim team and going to compete against the white suburban YMCA's swimmers. We competed in places like Downers Grove, Il and Countryside YMCA's. We went to swim meets in most of the white suburbs to compete against other teams. Now mind you, we were inner city Ghetto kids, so that is to say we were not very nice and mannerly when you turned your head. We got into some mischief as this movie will portray. The experience was what was rewarding. Also you got to go to places that in that era, black people were far and few. It was away from the hood, and that in itself was exciting. the movie wil show some racial parts of prejudice, as well as some of the stranges looks from white people, you will ever see. We were only 12 and 13 or maybe even 14 years old at that time, but we knew we were special. I will be seeing this movie tomorrow, and I believe it will give me my sense of Pride, again. I suggest to you to see it and know that there is a movie that really tells the truth, of how a experience in one era can stay with you the rest of your life. Just ask The Bertrands, the Langdon Neals, and some of the most prominent african american families in Chicago whose kids were part of out swim team. They will tell you that just as in Philadelphia, we had Pride in Chicago too. I just really wanted to say Thank you Coach Cobbs, a black man who took kids who were supposed to be "bad" and instilled something good and Prideful in us. That is really who this letter is for. He was the father for some of us who was not raised by one. I grew up to be a Lifeguard all the way to Lifeguard Instructor with the Chicago Park District for many years. I now live in another city, but I just had to tell somebody this story, and Mary, I figured it might as well be you "home girl"

Respectfully, Marshall

Mitchell comment:

I'm planning on taking my grandson to see the movie this weekend.

What is the voting percentage of Hispanics ( in particular Mexicans) in Chicago?

Mexicans can complain all day everyday about what they aren't getting but most don't vote.
If they do it is rarely for Black candidates.

Can ANYONE recall a Mexican leader even suggest a coalition with the Black community, for any reason, under any circumstance?

It never happens.

Yes once upon a time, Guiterrez (a Puerto Rican)voiced a need to coalesce with Blacks but in recent years he has abandoned that stance and is most noteably consistently vocal in favor of rights for illegal (mostly Mexican)immigrants.

Mexicans in particular have benefitted from the civil rights struggle waged by Blacks(and for that I have no problem) but they continuously tell Blacks (by their non acknowledgement or embrace) "you ain't got nothing coming...from us"

I think Blacks should just reconize the reality of what they have been trying to convey.

Mexicans are all about themselves.

Spend any time during work hours in the same setting with two Mexicans ( with yourself being the third person)
They will most always speak exclusively in Spanish.

Let me conclude by saying ultimately they most likely did her a favor by her dismissal.

Marshall,

Speaking as a Mexican born, naturalized U.S. citizen, I completely agree with your assessment of the narrow-minded view of most of the Mexican community in Chicago. However, not all Mexicans are like that. There are some of us that do acknowledge and are thankful for the struggles of Blacks during the civil rights era and would love it if there were a true and equal coalition that can kick out the Daley mafia (Hispanic Democratic Organization) out of office for good.

One question I have for you and everybody is, what's this hangup about people wanting to speak Spanish or about Mexicans not wanting to fully assimilate? What's wrong with wanting to retain our culture? We are not the same as Europeans that came to this country in the early 1900's. We are not white and are reminded of this by everybody every day.

Irish, Italian, Polish and all other Eureopean immigrants came to this country and could easily hide their native origins (willingly) because of the color of their skin. Most even changed their names to sound more American. Even if Mexicans try to change their names, there's no mistaking their Mexican-ness.

I'm sure it's the same for Blacks who fall for the American dream as well. Go to the wrong neighborhood, and you are reminded that white Americans are more equal than non-white Americans.

BTW, I too cannot stand Luis Gutierrez or any Hispanic/Latino politician from Chicago because most are Daley's puppets.

I believe the Curie incident highlights the sentiment that African Americans have done the difficult work, and Hispanics have not paid their "dues", but are reaping the benefits.

I read an article about African Americans working in the farm raised catfish industry somewhere in the South. African Americans felt that they have worked hard to obtain proper respect and wages that allowed them to live on and raise their family. In some cases Hispanics were taking these low wage positions at an even lower wage and African Americans felt that all of the hard work that they had accomplished in the past was slowly eroding.

To my knowledge the Hispanic culture is a very diverse community where in some cases there are just as many differences between different ethnic Hispanic groups as there are between African Americans and Mexicans for example. Even in some Hispanic cultures dark skinned Hispanics are treated differently in the USA than the way they would have been be treated in their country, and this by other Hispanics. That treatment usually is not positive. I assume that a dark skinned Hispanic or a Hispanic who was born and raised in the USA, but speaks little Spanish would also be an acceptable replacement? How about a mixed raced Hispanic who is 1/2 Hispanic and 1/2 English, or is that person English?

I personally don’t buy the Hispanic can serve the school better angle for the termination, and in my opinion Mr. Ramos does not have the schools best intentions in mind. Look at how this has divided the school, and it will probably only get worse during the appeal. From what I have read in the papers Mr. Ramos and his attachment to the school sounds a little out of whack to me, but maybe I am a little too cynical.

Does this mean that teachers of Native American, German, Haitian, Irish or of a decent other than Black, White and Hispanic have very little or no chance of becoming a principal in Chicago? What happened to a diverse workforce and equality for all? It seems to me that Chicago should be taking the time to retain the great leaders at all cost regardless of the make up of the student body, and the staff at the school.

Why would anyone want a change if the person has provided positive results for the school? I don’t know the background of the previous cases, but usually if it “ain’t broke” you don’t try to fix it. It is very sad that it has come to African Americans vs. Hispanics. I think what upsets me the most is the thought that because we are both "minorities" we should have more in common than differences. Comments like that sound very arrogant and narrow minded to me. I don't have any whites that work for me so I can't ask their opinion on this subject

No one understands why prosperity seems to elude many African Americans, but all ethnic groups have some type of issue that they just can not seem to get past. I personally don’t blame anyone for our “lack of improvement” and I never want to be in the “minority spotlight”, but I would like to be able to get a taxi after midnight in your great city of Chicago, Washington DC, or other metro areas without blaming others for my lack of success.

You people are all a mess. Immigrants coming here for handouts these days, not a "chance at a dream"...its different. Sure, mexicans work hard, but, having so many kids overburdens and offsets what you actually pay into the tax system.

MAybe you can stop sending so much money home, and start paying taxes like good citizens.

both latinos and african americans need to get their acts together. productive citizens know that simply handing more of their tax dollars over to social welfare programs and schools is not going to counter the bad cultural practices of both groups. ITs to the point in cook county that it is not worth living here. Too many lazy people not paying their child support, taxes, and overbudening the schools. If you make $40,000 or less, than you have no business living in this area and sticking others with your costs.

And, then filing multiple bankruptcies. Most individual bankruptcies are filed by african americans. most of the violent street crimes are caused by mexican-latino gangs, and of course, african americans.

It is cleary a cultural problem, not a socio-economic one. You people ahve little- to no work ethic.

Mexicans need to make social change at home, and remove gang affiliation from their list of cultural values.

Balcks, well, you need a politician who will tell you get a work ethic, and stop tolerating violence as a cultural value. It amazes me how so-called black leaders defend this kid who beat that poor white kid for his cell phone in the park, how these black teens kill each other over a basketball game...what gives? This isnt about poverty. Its cultural. Plenty of poor people arent violent.

But, in cook county, the perpetrator becomes the victim.\

Single parents may be "bone-tired" at the end of their day, but, they need to energy-up and motivate, find that work ethic, and turn off American Idol, and make your kids do homework all evening. No excuses, its about work ethic.

thats what white people in wilmette do.

To John Jenkins, I am just curious as to how you know how the "majority" thinks. It sounds like you are lumping all white people into one group and saying we all think alike, which is racist. As for a black principal being dumped by a latino school council, deal with it. Welcome to the world of "diversity" that us white people have to deal with all the time. BTW, Micha Eatman, one of the three criminals who beat that kid in Beverly Park last summer was found guilty of all counts except for attempted murder. He can receive up to 7 years in prison. Also, I read about this verdict in the March 23rd edition of the Daily Southtown and I would like to commend the people who came to the victim's aid and probably saved his life. I would also like to commend the people, as the article says, who surveyed and followed these three criminals when they entered the park, before they committed this violent crime. The article says an off duty cop saw them from his frontyard and got into his car and followed them, as well as two high school kids who followed them in their car as well. The prosecutor in the case even commended the Beverly community for being vigilant and watchful and for saving the victim's life and for chasing down the suspects after this happened. This makes me proud to have grown up in the Beverly-Mt. Greenwood area. And if anyone on this blog is from that area you should be proud as well of the way your community rallied to this innocent victim's defense.

To John Jenkins, I am just curious as to how you know how the "majority" thinks. It sounds like you are lumping all white people into one group and saying we all think alike, which is racist. As for a black principal being dumped by a latino school council, deal with it. Welcome to the world of "diversity" that us white people have to deal with all the time. BTW, Micha Eatman, one of the three criminals who beat that kid in Beverly Park last summer was found guilty of all counts except for attempted murder. He can receive up to 7 years in prison. Also, I read about this verdict in the March 23rd edition of the Daily Southtown and I would like to commend the people who came to the victim's aid and probably saved his life. I would also like to commend the people, as the article says, who surveyed and followed these three criminals when they entered the park, before they committed this violent crime. The article says an off duty cop saw them from his frontyard and got into his car and followed them, as well as two high school kids who followed them in their car as well. The prosecutor in the case even commended the Beverly community for being vigilant and watchful and for saving the victim's life and for chasing down the suspects after this happened. This makes me proud to have grown up in the Beverly-Mt. Greenwood area. And if anyone on this blog is from that area you should be proud as well of the way your community rallied to this innocent victim's defense.

So far the only objective indication I've seen that there's racism involved is the fact that the removed principle is black and, those that fired her are not black. That's just not enough to make a case of racism in my opinion and until something more concrete is presented to make the case, it's nothing more than a personality clash or a bad decision by otherwise well meaning people.

If the booted principle is as good as her supporters claim she is, she'll find another position to continue her work. I just can't see the problem at this point with a LSC exercising it's prerogative. If there was a pattern of racial dismissals there might be something more to be said but I haven't seen it reported any place that I've looked.

Until then, I just don't know why local people can't be allowed to do what they're elected to do. In other words, if there's racism involved, prove it. It hasn't been proved yet that I can see.

First off lets just put it out there that the majority of Latinos oppose illegal immigration just as any other citizen does. People who sacrificed and came here legally are more likely to resent those that do not. The whole Arellano thing is a joke. She should have been deported immediately. She put herself in that situation by being a criminal and disregarding the law. I sympathize but she understood the risk she was taking and knew she was breaking the law.

2. Blacks are not the only people that waged the civil rights movement. We have pretty short memories don't we? Jewish people in particular helped and in some cases, paid the ultimate price. Yet, they are often the target of Black anger.

3. Why does the Latino Community have to offer a coalition of any kind? The recipe to a decent life is really pretty simple. Life is sometimes very unfair. Sometimes you have to work twice as hard as the next guy to get ahead. Unfair? Yes but it is a reality. No one in this world is going to tell me what I can and cannot accomplish. I will accomplish it. I do not need a combination of Jesse Jackson and Luis Guiterrez to do it. If you can't live on the wages from one job, get a second job. My Father did, I did and still have a second job. In short, if you want your life to be better, take responsibility for it. Don't leave it to some Pastor or Politici