Pitzer in the News 2006-2007 Academic Year

Professor Jose Calderon in Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

Hope is left after Webb
Worry about race tension remains
Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 07/02/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT [excerpt]

The not-guilty verdict handed down last week in the case against a former San Bernardino County sheriff's deputy could provide local blacks and Latinos with a mutually beneficial opportunity to work together.

On Thursday, Ivory J. Webb Jr. was acquitted in the shooting of an off-duty airman, Elio Carrion, after a high-speed chase on Jan. 29, 2006.

Webb is black and Carrion is Latino.

Jose Calderon, professor of sociology and Chicano studies at Pitzer College, said he hopes blacks and Latinos can use the opportunity to air out some differences and come together.

Calderon said he thinks there are divisions between blacks and Latinos, specifically concerning the immigration issue.

"There's a feeling among some African- Americans that their jobs are being taken by immigrants and that has resulted in some tensions," Calderon said.

He said that rather than use the verdict as a reason to fight, it is more important for blacks and Latinos to address issues such as the lack of affordable housing, employment and high incarceration rates.

"There are injustices that happen, and injustices that will continue to happen, but let's not blame each other," he said.