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Tulane’s Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry took over the hosting duties for Rachel Maddow on Wednesday, November 23rd 2011 and covered the immigration craziness that’s occurred in Alabama. During her coverage she quoted my recent Colorlines article on the subject. I was honored and pleased to have it on national television. (Read: I giggled then blushed then giggled some more.) Check out the clip below.

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This Article was first Published on Colorlines.com

Recently I was invited to be a part of a delegation of labor leaders heading down to Alabama to speak out against one of the worst immigration laws in the country. I found it interesting, because the trip was billed as a “black” labor leader delegation. I’ve heard a lot about the black-brown discussion over immigrant rights, so I was ecstatic that this delegation of specifically black folks was going down to witness this law’s impact first hand. As a commentator on race and blackness, I felt it important that I join. Although there are those within the community who aren’t supportive, there are many who are absolutely against the prejudice that we’ve seen popping up across the country this past year, under the guise of “saving American jobs.”

When it comes to HB56 a lot of people have asked “So what?” Why should people care about what happens to some “illegals.” They’re only hurting the state of Alabama so why should we care-I mean forgetting the actual humans that are being targeted and treated horrendously–why should folks care?

But the economic effects of the law have begun to pile up as many immigrants have left the state, fearing deportation – and have taken their purchasing power with them. Prof. Samuel Addy at the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama recently predicted that HB 56 will reduce the Alabama economy by $40 million* as income and spending by both illegal and legal Hispanic immigrants will decline. (source)

“Think of this as self preservation–stop Alabama before it spreads.” 

- Scott Douglas
Greater Birmingham Ministries

Sometimes people need stories to be brought to their door steps. Watching something like HB56 unfold in Alabama feels like a bad TV show. But imagine if this came your state? Bills have been drafted in multiple states trying to pass the same type of law as what we’re seeing in Alabama. This isn’t something that you can just ignore or say “We’ll I’m just not going to Alabama.” It has to be fought and stopped.

Think about it. If one state had a highly contagious situation like perhaps a Zombie infestition would you think “Eh, I just won’t go there. I’ll just stay here and chill out.”

Visiting Alabama was something I already had in my mind. In fact, I have this whole elaborate plan on how I will teach my children about the history of being Black in America with trips across the country to cities that are historically linked to our experience. Birmingham, AL is one of them.

I don’t believe I can effectively convey the impact of the civil rights experience without bringing them to the place where Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth organized, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. penned “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, where four little girls lost their lives with an act of domestic terrorism or the amazing leadership of women like Diane Nash and Lola Hendricks was displayed.

“It’s a bad law. The idea that we have children afraid to go to school, because they feel afraid that their immigration status will lead to being detained…It’s wrong…. This makes the law, not just anti-immigrant, but I believe it doesn’t match our essential values as a country.”

- President Obama, America’s Voice Online

So if you haven’t heard–Alabama has enacted the toughest immigration law in the country. Tougher than Arizona’s SB 70. It’s known has HB 56.

Folks living in Alabama who might be a tad beige (i.e reasonably suspicious of being undocumented)  now can be questioned at any traffic or police stop. If you want power and/or water you need to show your papers. The state has seen a drop in workers (because apparently documented workers won’t work for the wages offered) and a drop in school attendees out of fear of being deported.

If you still have a  job while undocumented and you dare try to organize for better wages you can be reported and arrested.  Everyone from local activist to the President of the United states have condemned this new law and even more are coming on to the fight to have humans treated as if they were IN FACT humans.

In a show of solidarity the AFL-CIO is sending down a delegation of top Black labor leaders to speak out against this decidedly un-American law.

This Week in Blackness will be covering the delegations visit.

The hosts of Blacking It up will be flying down on Tuesday, November 15th and blogging the delegations events and and speak with them on this very important issue. There will be a live broadcast of the show and running commentary on Twitter and Google plus.

Please follow this story here at #TWIB at http://crisisAL.TWiB.me