Source: Salon.com
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2010/05/12/minority_solidarity_arizona_immigration_law/index.html
Who counts as "us" and who counts as "them" has shifted throughout modern American history. For decades, African-Americans were "them," judged to be members of an inferior race and denied basic rights. In the aftermath of 9/11, "us" and "them" were reshuffled as Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim were targeted and labeled "the other." Now, with the passage of Arizona's new immigration law, which enables police to demand papers of anyone "reasonably suspected" to be an illegal immigrant, Hispanics face significant ostracism.
Members belonging to "them" groups are profiled, harassed and subjected to discrimination, all on account of their appearance. Despite these common experiences, meaningful solidarity among the groups has not always followed. For example, while black organizations have criticized the Arizona law, it appears that African-Americans on the ground approve of or are ambivalentabout the law. These attitudes not only compound Hispanics' isolation, they also undermine social justice more generally.