The Black Latino Divide meme is bullshit. I am getting tired or hearing that Latinos in the US will not vote for a black candidate. While it is true that tensions exist in some urban cities where both groups compete for jobs, resources and influence, the issue is not as simple as black and white.
First of all, to consider Latinos as a monolithic voting block is wrong. Those with Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, Central and South American heritages all have different experiences and concerns. Mexican Americans, for example may be more concerned over immigration issues, while Cuban Americans may be more concerned with the US trade embargo with Cuba. Nevertheless, most Latinos and African Americans are concerned with bread and butter issues.
While racism exists in the Latino community; I don't believe it is as prevalent as it is between any other groups. A lot of attention has been paid to the difference in Latino support between Senators Clinton and Obama in California and the earlier primaries; yet, little attention has been paid to the results in Virginia and Maryland where Senator Obama received a higher percentage of the Latino vote.
As a Puerto Rican growing up in Chicago in the 1980's I did not see this divide. My parents volunteered heavily for the late Mayor Washington, the first African American Mayor of Chicago. Mayor Washington received a great deal of support from the Latino Community.
This is not to say that racism does not exist between Latinos and Blacks. There are racists in my family who would probably have a problem voting for a Black man. This however, is the exception, not the rule. Despite having pale skin my grandmother and aunts referred to me as "negrito" and to my female cousins as "negrita" which literally translates to "black" but is used as a term of endearment and is equivalent to calling someone "love." The word "trigueña" in our family had two meanings; one was "darker skinned" the other was "pretty."
Most Latinos have their own reasons for choosing who to support in the Democratic primary that don't include race. In my humble opinion Senator Clinton received a higher percentage of the Hispanic vote in L.A. due to her endorsement by Mayor Villaraigosa, the popularity of Bill Clinton and because she is an excellent candidate. Her change in positions regarding drivers licenses for illegal immigrants was not well known. Lack of familiarity with Senator Obama was also a key reason for the large gap in support beween the two Senators. As evidenced by the Potomac primaries, the more Latinos learn about Senator Obama, the more Latinos will be willing to vote for him.
Ms. Clinton received a high percentage of the Latino vote in New York and New Jersey because of her popularity as Senator; where she's done a good job despite my strong disagreement with some of her votes. Her husband's pardon of FALN members may also be another reason for this popularity among New York area Puerto Ricans. Despite this, I believe one will see different results in the Puerto Rican primary; where many may relate more to Senator Obama than Senator Clinton.
Just wanted to add my two cents worth to a complex issue. There are many instances of cooperation between Latinos and Blacks that have not received nearly the publicity as this so called Black/Brown divide.