MY BLACK, MY BROWN: Two Journeys, One America” — a four-part documentary — tells a story that is long overdue, yet also perfectly timed for the era in which we live. It’s the story of the 21st Century.
America is changing, in real time and right before our eyes, from a majority-White country to one in which people of color will be the new majority.
According to the Brookings Institute, in 1980, White residents accounted for nearly 80% of the U.S. population while Black residents made up 11.5% and Latino residents made up 6.5%. By 2020, the White population made up just 60.1%, while the Black population accounted for 12.5%, and the Latino population had grown to 18.5%. Sometime between 2040 and 2045, White residents will become the statistical minority in the United States.
Black Americans and Latino Americans will comprise — together — more than 40% of the U.S. population. The Black-Brown relationship will define America. If you don’t understand the interplay between these two groups, you won’t be able to understand America in the 21st Century.
Of course, there are significant differences between the groups. They come from different places, have different experiences, and conduct themselves differently. African Americans know that one has to speak out against mistreatment, while Latinos are more passive and accepting of authority.
But, there are many more similarities. Both groups have suffered oppression, discrimination, “othering,” violence, “the imposter syndrome,” pay disparity, financial inequality and more. The groups share a devotion to family, religion and community. They’ve used hard work, ambition and perseverance to succeed against what have often been long odds.