WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Conference Aims to Unite Blacks and Hispanics

Conference Aims to Unite Blacks and Hispanics

"People say 'you have an accent' or 'I don't understand you very well.' Some people don't like us to speak two languages," said Socorrow Leos.

Leos described the type of discrimination she has experienced in the workplace being an immigrant worker from Mexico.

She came to the United States on a resident visa seven years ago.

On Thursday, she became a citizen and is now dedicated to uniting the majority African American population with the growing Hispanic population here in Mississippi.

"I think we have to re-educate ourselves, whites have to educate on black history and black history has to educate on white and Latino history," Leos said.

That's the goal of a two-day conference in Canton this weekend. Around 30 people gathered at the United Auto Workers Justice Center for the 'Black-Brown Unity Conference.'

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference teamed up with the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance to discuss ways to unite both races on issues like labor, immigration reform, and education.

"There are stories and issues being told like we don't want Latinos here or the Latinos come and take our jobs," Leos said.

A spokesperson for the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance says the conference is important because it will help achieve equality for people of all ethnic backgrounds.

"People can share experiences and share history and make plans to gather to continue the struggle for human rights," Bill Chandler said.