El Nacional de Oklahoma

A6 | EL NACIONAL DE OKLAHOMA JUEVES 29 DE OCTUBRE, 2020 WWW.ELNACIONALDEOKLAHOMA.COM www.facebook.com/elnacionaldeok Fajitas de pollo, camarones, chimichanga, chiles rellenos, y quesadillas. Reserva nuestro salón especial de banquetes hecho para ti y tus invitados. ¡Cocina de Mino, con la calidad y el servicio que usted merece! Sigue nuestro menú en: www.cocinademino.com 405-632-0600 SUR OKC, 6022 S. Western Ave. !e Hispanic population of Oklahoma is now the lar- gest ethnic political "swing vote" in Oklahoma. It is now the largest ethnic popula- tion in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa urban areas; and in numerous regional areas and cities across the State. !e economic impact of the Hispanic buying power exceeds 9 billion dollars annually. !e projected population will reach an approximate 500,000 with the 2020 Census count. An estimated 10,000 Hispanic owned small businesses ope- rate across Oklahoma. His- panic business owners and entrepreneurs create jobs and add to the tax base inco- me of cities, counties and Oklahoma state government operations and services. !is Hispanic popula- tion of Oklahoma is now a vital, in"uential and power- ful voice in Oklahoma busi- ness and politics. !e Hispa- nic consumer injects and sti- mulates millions of dollars in tax revenues which fuel and support Oklahoma's school districts, city municipal ser- vices, higher education, streets and highways, county government, business deve- lopment, police protection and more. Yes, every aspect of Oklahoma government, business, education, politics and progress is impacted by the huge Hispanic popula- tion of Oklahoma. Political engagement, volunteerism, #nancial sup- port for Candidates and becoming a political candida- te; these are a few of the cri- tical and essential Hispanic Community initiatives requi- red for full participation in the great American political process. !e Hispanic population of Oklahoma is not mono- lithic, unilateral or demogra- phically isolated or segrega- ted. Social, economic and cultural growth has evol- ved through the decades. As early as the late 1950's into early 1960's, the immedia- te South side of Oklahoma City was "the Mexican Com- munity". Surrounding Litt- le Flower Church, just south of downtown and near the huge meat packing, slaughter house and cattle industries, was the "packingtown" labor force of largely Mexican Ame- ricans numbering around 10,000 residents. Many of these had been in Oklaho- ma for decades and were #rst and second generation Ame- ricans. !e Mexican Ameri- can community during this era was also an available and traditional source of "farm workers/farm labor" fami- lies who traveled seasonally following the crop harvests outside of Oklahoma and in limited areas of Oklahoma. Additionally, large numbers of Hispanic families migra- ted to Oklahoma during the early 19th Century to build, maintain the major expan- ding Railroad Corporations, rail maintenance and opera- tions; as Oklahoma was the rail and commerce hub for related cattle and processing industries located at the geo- graphic center of rail com- merce and movements. Sig- ni#cant in the migration and immigration history came a steady immigration and population explosion over the ensuing decades of the 1970's and forward. !is exponential in"ux, projec- ted in current 2020 Census projections, came from Mexi- co, Central America, South America, Cuba, Puerto Rico and large demographic shifts from other parts of the Uni- ted States Southwestern sta- tes migrating into the esta- blished Hispanic communi- ties throughout Oklahoma. !e Hispanic Communi- ties of Oklahoma are mul- ticultural by history, immi- gration demographics and have evolved through deca- des of presence in Oklaho- ma. All the while, adapting to varying degrees of assimi- lation of language and cultu- ral traditions. While predo- minantly Mexican American, huge populations of Central American immigrants and citizens with roots in Gua- temala, Honduras, El Salva- dor, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Belize, have for decades, migrated to Oklahoma. Also sizeable communities from South American countries of Argentina, Columbia, Vene- zuela, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay; and communities from Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico are also prominent in the social fabric and history of the Oklahoma Hispanic presence. !ere is a great diversity in faith groups and religious denominations within the greater Hispanic Communi- ties of Oklahoma. !e gene- rational and current myth that the majority of Hispa- nics are Roman Catholic is no longer true. For at least the last three decades there has been a surge in identi#cation with and membership in the growing Evangelical move- ment and Protestant Church a$liations within all seg- ments of the Hispanic Com- munities. Today in Oklaho- ma, the churches on Satur- days, Sundays, Wednesdays, at the very least, equal the memberships of the traditio- nal Catholic Churches. And, as such, the political inter- ests and in"uences are beco- ming more apparent and assertive at the ballot box. !e "Hispanic family" adhe- res to the traditional values of faith, family, security, education, jobs, education, #nancial independence, and general conservative lifes- tyle. !e Hispanic Commu- nities are very mainstream in their diversity; their lifestyles and ambitions mirror mains- tream Oklahomans regard- less of their demographics. !e greatest myths which continue to be debunked are that all Hispanics are Demo- crats and that all Hispanics consider immigration to be their single most political priority and call to action. Hispanics are Republicans. Hispanics are Democrats. Hispanics are Independents. !e Hispanic voter is a%ected and in"uenced by all socioe- conomic and political issues. We are not monolithic or uni- lateral in our identity or our political interests or allegian- ces. We are equally a%ected by safe streets, family secu- rity, job security, education for our children, law enforce- ment issues, prochoice, abor- tion, immigration, taxation, faith and religion choices. All local, county, state, and national issues and concerns are our concerns. We have traditiona- lly embraced the unique- ness of our political process in understanding that: "We are a Nation of Laws rather than men." We seek, expect, and demand fairness in law enforcement; respect in the work place; respects for our choice of religion; respect for our history of contributions to the state; respect for poli- tical di%erences and our poli- tical participation; respect in the judiciary; and a mutual respect from our very di%e- ring and distinctive Hispa- nic cultures of EuroHispanic, Central and South American Hispanic, Caribbean Hispa- nic, Puerto Rican, Cuban and Mexican Hispanic. We are an active, educa- ted, motivated and genera- tionally patriotic segment of the great State of Oklahoma. We are the descendants and relatives of war heroes (Con- gressional Medal of Honor recipient Manuel Perez, Jr), war dead (the largest per capita number of deaths in the Viet Nam War were Mexican Americans), sports legends, education and busi- ness leaders, government and political leaders. We are the descendants of Euro- pean Royalties; of the Roman Empire; of the Renaissan- ce and post Renaissance a&uence and in"uence; of modern Arts and Sciences; of the Romance languages of Latin, Spanish, French, Ita- lian; of explorers and adven- turers who discovered and mapped the lands and rivers of the North American con- tinent; of Hispanic Euro- pean conquerors who beca- me slave traders and owners; of the scienti#cally advanced Civilizations of the Mayans and Aztecs of Mexico, Cen- tral and South America. We are the socioeconomic and political disciples of Pre- sident John Kennedy, Vice President Joe Biden, Presi- dent Ronald Reagan and Pre- sident Donald Trump; of Dr. Martin Luther King and Nobel Prize Nominee Cesar Chavez. We are recognized Gover- nor Stitt appointees: Estela Hernandez, State Board of Education; Dr. Raul Font, Board of Regents, Oklaho- ma City Community College; Deanna Cardenas, Oklahoma Arts Council. We are elec- ted legislators: Representa- tive Charles Ortega, Sena- tor Michael Brooks Jime- nez, Representative Jose Cruz. We are the teachers in classrooms across Oklaho- ma who shape the visions, dreams, and ambitions of our children. We have taken our place in the Colleges, Universities and Communi- ty Colleges across Oklaho- ma preparing to be the cor- porate managers, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, engi- neers, educators, scientists, political and community lea- ders of tomorrow. We are the carpenters, electricians, welders, plumbers, trade skills contractors, home buil- ders. And yes, we are the wai- ters, kitchen workers, jani- tors, hotel workers, construc- tion crews. You see us in the freezing cold of winter and the scorching heat of the summer outside, on the job, doing the work that we all know full well, that no one else will do! We are parents at all economic and education levels just trying to make a better life for our children. We are Oklahoma Hispa- nic media pioneers: El Nacio- nal Media, since 1988 has become the prominent and largest statewide Hispanic publication, with distribu- tion reaching into most parts of the State. Additionally, El Nacional Media provides a vibrant commercial Hispa- nic news website with strong readership numbers. While a signi#cant num- ber of Hispanics in Oklaho- ma may be undocumented; clearly, the larger population of Hispanics are #rst, second generation and naturalized citizens. !e demographics are massive. !e early 1900's "Little Flower/Packingtown" south Oklahoma City com- munity of "Mexicans" has mushroomed into the major Hispanic suburban centers of I-40 South of downtown Oklahoma City to I-240 and West from I-35 to I- 44 on the West. !en extending East into Del City, Midwest City, Choctaw and Harrah. Growing numbers of His- panics reach into Warr Acres, Bethany and into Yukon; also into West and Northwest Oklahoma City and Edmond. Similarly, the massive His- panic populations of Tulsa continue to grow throughout the metroplex area. !roug- hout Southwest Oklahoma, Southeast Oklahoma, Nor- thwest Oklahoma, Northeast Oklahoma; from Lawton, Altus, Frederick to Miami, Muskogee, Tahlequah, McA- lester, Durant, Mangum, Elk City, Clinton, Stillwater, Bartlesville and Sayre; !e Hispanic populations conti- nue to increase. Whether Urban or rural, Republican, Democrat, or Independent, the Hispa- nic populations of Oklaho- ma continue to grow in their rich and diverse cultures. We continue to grow in our local and statewide impor- tance and signi#cance. We continue to prioritize family values, a better education for our children, job security, freedom to practice our cho- sen faith, freedom to conti- nue to be a positive force in the growth and success of Oklahoma. Ultimately, the proud and productive Hispanic population of Oklahoma will continue to exponentially expand its economic impact on the State of Oklahoma. We as a population will con- tinue to grow the economy of Oklahoma. Our economic impact of billions of dollars will continue to grow and add to the tax base and tax contributions to city, coun- ty, state and national gover- nment. Our philanthropic presence and support for community organizations, political campaigns and poli- tical initiatives will continue to in"uence civic, business, and political leaders of both major parties. We are a proud part of the historic and contempo- rary fabric of Oklahoma. We are proud of our history in Oklahoma. We have now assumed a position of eco- nomic and political strength and prominence in Oklaho- ma. We are now the largest and most in"uential voting and political swing voter block in Oklahoma. We are now mainstream change agents. We are Republican. We are Democrat. We are Conservative. We are liberal. We will vote on November 3. The Oklahoma Hispanic Vote FRED MENDOZA CONTRIBUTING POLITICAL WRITER EDITORIAL

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