Fighting Discrimination

A Priority in New Mexico

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Kid Reporter Jacob Schroeder and Dr. Harold Bailey, Executive Director of the State of New Mexico Office of African American Affairs in January 2007. (Photo: Courtesy Jacob Schroeder)

Dr. Harold Bailey is the Executive Director of the State of New Mexico Office of African-American Affairs. It is one of the few organizations like it in the United States.
The purpose of the office is to keep young black Americans in school and to make sure they have opportunities like all other students have. Bailey makes sure that African-Americans receive recognition for their accomplishments. He also helps veterans and senior citizens, and he helps people find jobs.

Bailey says it’s important for black people to vote. He encourages them to register to vote. The Office of African-American Affairs speaks up for the rights of African-Americans in New Mexico, he explained.

Bailey does a lot for kids. His office started the Creative Minds Art Program.

“Young people are very creative, so we wanted to make sure that kids have the opportunity to express themselves,” he told Scholastic News in January. The program, he says, gives kids an opportunity to learn.

Voices is another program funded by his office. It is a radio program that helps people know more about the Office of African-American Affairs and what it does.

The office was formed in 1999. A group of people got together and decided it was needed. They presented the idea to the New Mexico state legislature. Once a bill forming the office was passed, it was signed into law by the Governor. Bailey was appointed Executive Director by Governor Bill Richardson. He has been director for three years and will keep his job for another four years.

When asked about the significance of Black History Month, Bailey said it is important to him because he experienced discrimination when he was in school. He said he also faced discrimination in the job market. He was turned down for jobs because the hiring was based on the color of his skin instead of how hard he worked. Recognizing the heroes of Black History Month helps remind people that the fight for equality is not over.

“I didn’t get angry,” he said. “It just opened my eyes to what life was all about. I didn’t rebel or revolt against it. I just got a level of understanding about it. That’s why I work so hard to eliminate racial discrimination because it’s not right and it’s not good for anyone.”

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Jacob Schroeder is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps,

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