Can Latinos Save Aurora, Illinois? Cashing in on The Conquistador’s Medallion

by Jerry Campagna
September 11, 2012

On the second day of my new position as the Interim Executive Director of the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, I received this call… “Hello, my name is Bill Law from BBC News in London, and we’re coming to America to record a radio documentary…”

At first, I thought it was one of my friends pulling a prank; after all, why would the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the largest broadcaster in the world with over 23,000 staff, be calling the Aurora Hispanic Chamber?  I soon found out… Bill explained that the thesis of the documentary was premised on exploring “the potential of America’s fastest growing minority – did Latinos hold the key to a ‘reborn’ USA.”*

The BBC chose two U.S. cities to visit and conduct a series of interviews: Miami, Florida and Aurora, Illinois; Miami representing a more mature Latino community—where English is often the second language, and Aurora because of the dramatic Latino population increase according to the U.S. 2010 Census count (46,557 to 81,809) in the second largest Illinois city with the second largest Latino population.

Bill asked if we could assist in setting up a series of interviews with local community members.  We agreed, and over the course of three days in late July I escorted the two BBC correspondents through over a dozen wide ranging  interviews; from social workers to a retired police commander; owner of a Mexican restaurant to the president of a manufacturing plant; undocumented students to a Catholic priest.

Personally, it was a pivot shifting experience… never had I listened to so many varied perspectives on the Latino community in such a short period of time, with the big question always looming in the background—with such a large and growing demographic—why weren’t more Latinos in positions of social, corporate and governmental leadership?

Before leaving, the BBC interviewed me for my perspective, and in an “Ah-Ha” moment it came to me: Latinos have not realized the value and claimed both sides of what I now call the “Conquistador’s Medallion” that we have been carrying for over 500 years.

On one side of the Conquistador’s Medallion is the Spanish word “¡Mande!” which literally translates as “Command Me!”  On the other side of the Medallion is the Spanish word “¡Ganas!” which translates as a “Desire To Win!”

On the “¡Mande!” side of the Medallion… for over 500 years, most of our Latino ancestors (with the exception of a small privileged oligarchy) have accepted their perceived place as the obedient servant of the conquerors.  And those who either invaded or rose from the masses to claim the Conquistador’s throne often in turn demanded of the masses that they be addressed with the word “¡Mande!”  And although centuries have passed, we in the United States, as the descendants of our Latin American ancestors, act from a deeply ingrained ‘us versus them’ mentality: all too often laying claim to the Conquistador’s throne when elected to positions of power, devolving into the oppressor from the place of the oppressed.

And on the “¡Ganas!” side of the Medallion… for over 500 years, most of our Latino ancestors with the exception of that small privileged oligarchy, have accepted that they must work harder, longer, and with more fortitude; having bought into their perceived place as the obedient servant of the conquerors.

¡Basta/Enough!

It is time for Latinos to own both sides of the Conquistador’s Medallion and claim our place as Stewards, not Conquistadors, of our people.   Stewardship entails a responsibility to further the best interests of those whom we represent; it involves a sacred trust, given by the represented, to a leader they believe will make decisions which benefit the entire community, not a chosen few.  Stewards also require a healthy dose of fortitude – ganas – to overcome any and all obstacles they will encounter, among ourselves and with the greater community in which we live.

We can look to many examples of others who have claimed their Medallion.   Martin Luther King walked African Americans, from all stations of life, to the promised land.  Mahatma Gandhi shed the woven suits of colonialism in India, weaving Indians from all religious sects, to a united and free country.  And there are many other examples in history of oppressed people who came to the realization that the only way for them to truly be free was to unite ALL sectors of their community under the banner of Stewardship and Fortitude.

And like many before me, I have a dream that as a people, we can get to the Promised Land.  We are already here in Aurora, Illinois.   We just need to claim our place as Stewards for our greater community—so that we can affirmatively answer the question: Can Latinos Save America?  ¡SI…

Si Se Puede!

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Copyright © 2012 Jerry Campagna,
All rights reserved.

No portion of this editorial may be reproduced mechanically, electronically, or by other means, without the expressed written permission of the author at jcampagnathemostinccom  (jcampagnathemostinccom)  .