Congressman Adriano Espaillat was elected to represent the New York district formerly represented by tax cheat Charles Rangel. Espaillat describes himself as a “Latino of African descent” but the Congressional Black Caucus isn’t sure he’s black enough to join.

Rep. Adriano Espaillat wants to join the Congressional Black Caucus. The question for the group’s members is whether he qualifies as African-American.

So far, the answer is no.

Espaillat, who in November became the first Dominican-American elected to Congress, identifies himself as a “Latino of African descent.” The CBC has a long-standing policy of limiting its caucus to African-American members, denying membership to white lawmakers in the past who have tried to join, even if they represent majority-minority districts.

The New York Democrat hasn’t formally asked to join but has been in discussions with CBC leadership. Espaillat has already joined the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

It’s often said that the only standards the left has are double standards. It’s often said because it’s true. Racial discrimination on the left is allowed and encouraged.

However, leftists are leftists first and foremost. Petty politics are at work here as well. Some in the CBC are still carrying a torch for the departed, ethically challenged Rangel.

Some CBC members are angry that Espaillat challenged former Rep. Charles Rangel — a founding member of the black caucus and one of the most high-profile African-American members of the House for decades — in 2012 and 2014.

Now they’re not feeling particularly generous toward Espaillat, who won the seat after Rangel retired.

The racial identity calculus at work here is evidence that “racial harmony” is not really something the left desires. Division is a necessary component to leftist aims. To a rational person who sees everyone as equals regardless of their epidermal melanin content it sounds crazy. Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) casually describes the systemic racism on the Democrat sid.

“I got elected with Adriano in the State Assembly. I know his heart is in the right place. I just think this is going to be a continuing dialogue to determine what to do,” Meeks said.

“Now [in Congress], we’ve been different in that you were either in the Black Caucus or you were in the Hispanic Caucus,” Meeks added. “And so the question is what happens in this scenario. And I guess he’s the first Dominican to [apply] and we’re just trying to figure it out.”

Espaillat rankled some CBC members because he tried to join the caucus while simultaneously being a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, something members say has never happened before and could be politically motivated.

It is politically correct to divide people by describing George Zimmerman a “white hispanic” in order to create a bogus white vs black narrative about the shooting of Trayvon Martin. It is apparently politically incorrect to accept a congressman as being a “black latino” though.

Espaillat’s district, while majority Latino, has a sizable African-American population and includes Harlem, long the intellectual and cultural center of black America.

“See that complicates matters. Even though our agendas are typically parallel, occasionally they are not. So it may be problematic if someone wants to belong to two ethnic caucuses,” said. Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.), a former chairman of the CBC. “If he’s considered an African-American then he’s certainly welcome in the caucus. But I can’t speak for the caucus.”

While people on the left are marching and rioting over policies they declare to be racist, the representatives they elected are quietly maintaining their organizations’ racial purity.