Polls, leaders say many blacks support illegal immigrants

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

Influential African Americans across the country back up recent polls showing strong black support for illegal immigrants and for Senate proposals to offer them work permits and a path to citizenship.

Although polls show frustration in black communities over a perceived loss of low-wage jobs to illegal immigrants, they also indicate the issue is not dampening African Americans' sympathy with the struggles of Latinos, who make up the vast majority of recent immigrants to the United States.

Jobs and immigration are separate issues for blacks, although some analysts have seized on findings such as Pew Hispanic Center's in March that one-third of African Americans it polled feel immigrants take jobs away from Americans.

"The debate is being used to divide," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said in a telephone interview Wednesday.

This is an interesting article,with the Chronicle down playing the potential conflict between illegals and African-Americans.It's as if the "narrative" of one happy Democratic party coalition of minorities isn't in jeopardy.We've got to question much in this article.Mickey Kaus over at Slate has warned that the immigration debate affects both parties.