New York's Illegal Immigrants-Drivers' License Plan Angers African-Americans

Political Analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson Discusses Illegal Immigration's Impact on African-Americans in his new book, The Latino Challenge to Black America: Towards a Conversation between African-Americans and Hispanics.

Political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson details the anger and hostility that many African-American community activists and rank and file workers express toward illegal immigrants on the issue of driving licenses for illegal immigrants in his new book The Latino Challenge to Black America: Towards a Conversation Between African-Americans and Hispanics (middlepassagepress.com).

Hutchinson tells how the driving license controversy is part of the bigger concern of many African-Americans over jobs, health care, education, public services and gang violence in relation to illegal immigration. They vehemently contend that illegal immigrants do take jobs from blacks, especially poor, unskilled young blacks.

Hutchinson assesses the impact of illegal immigration on jobs and the economy in black communities. "Illegal immigration has touched a raw nerve among many blacks, "says Hutchinson, "they are absolutely convinced that they contribute to crime, violence and chronic unemployment in black communities. The great fear of many blacks is that issuing drivers license to illegal immigrants sends the message that illegal immigrants have the same rights and privileges as blacks and other Americans. This could create even more tensions and divisions between blacks and Latinos.