by: John Rodriguez
A well-known Baptist minister and a predominantly civil rights activist, Reverend Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr. or simply Al Sharpton is a well-known figure within Black communities and amongst the political world and news media. Whenever there has been a violation of rights committed against anyone within the Black community, any one of a racial background other than white, within this city or this country, Al Sharpton presents himself as a voice in order to increase the volume of those who have been wronged.
His supporters praise him and see him as a man willing to face any persons in power despite being one man. His critics find him to be the ready cause of race relations crumbling. In response to these claims, Sharpton finds he is doing “an activist’s job is to make public civil rights issues until there can be a climate for change.” But who within New York City can make the public civil rights of the Latino community heard? Who is the presence within the Latino community to gain the media’s attention in order to better the lives or voice the tribulations some Latinos face living with New York City?
While there appears to be little representation regarding some elected and non-elected members who represent and provide the Latino community of New York a voice, one name does come to mind: César Perales who is the current Secretary of State of New York and the Senior Advisor for Policy to the Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.
Prior to his promotion to his current position within the Governor’s cabinet, Perales was a dedicated public servant for a good 50 years. Prior to his career the Hispanic Community, back in 1972 Perales was one of three attorneys who raised money to open an organization similar to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) entitled the Latino Justice Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. Perales served as the organization’s first Executive Director.
In 2008, the organization changed its name to LatinoJustice PRLDEF to include all Latinos living within New York City. The name changed when Perales served as the organization’s President and General Counsel as his career furthered in politics. Perales thought the name change was necessary since the Latino community was embracing a shared identity due to the recent attacks they were undergoing with the issue of immigration. “Latinos are beginning to see themselves as a group, as a community,” said Perales, “There is a coming together of identification in common rights.”
According to Governor Cuomo, César Perales has “devoted his life to public service. He is one of our most distinguished New Yorkers,” and while he received praiseful recognition by Governor Cuomo for becoming his Secretary of State, many Latino Activist decades younger than Perales see him as a role model and other figures within politics view the impact his has had in the Latino Community.
Chairman of the Assembly Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force was commented stating that the appointment of Perales as Secretary of State was beneficial to Latinos in New York City since the Hispanic community has a “representative in such a prestigious position working on their behalf. Mr. Perales is a legend in our community, who truly understands the struggles and issues affecting our Hispanic families. I am confident that he will work hard and advocate for the Hispanic community.”
“From his work with low-income communities, to his steadfast advocacy for minority groups, Mr. Perales has demonstrated his outstanding commitment to serving others,” said Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez on Perales past accomplishments amongst the Hispanic community and the future good he will do as Secretary of State.
Under former New York City Mayor David N. Dinkins, Perales was Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services for New York City and Dinkins himself noted that, “his record of service speaks for itself, as the programs he created and implemented in a very short time were the centerpiece of my administration’s efforts and success in helping the homeless population in New York.”
So, who is the Al Sharpton of the Latino Community? That’s the thing there are figures within the Latino community who represent the Latino citizens but they generally go unnoticed by the media. The Latino community is represented. Perales is an example of this. The only reason why there appears to be a lack of representation is the lack of media coverage, the lack of attention geared to covering all that is being done for the Latino community.
Media outlets are attracted to stories viewers would want to see, and stories that stir them. Sharpton utilizes the media as a platform to address the issues within Black communities. His is a public figure who attracts attention, and while it doesn’t overshadow the work he has done there appears to be a focus on the more vocally present representative than ones who prefer to do their jobs rather than stand before cameras. In the end, which would be better a representative who prefers the limelight or one who wants to do their job and know they’ve done all they could. They are just the media’s unsung.
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