Van Jones: 5 lessons on Black Lives Matter

[sufrommich]

1) Black Lives Matter is not a single organization.

Black Lives Matter is not a single organization -- at least not in the conventional sense. It represents the expression of tens of thousands of activists, doing what they think makes sense, in hundreds of different places.


2) It is not just about Bernie Sanders...

It turns out the Seattle activists' actions were aimed less at Sanders himself and more at racist practices and policies being tolerated by local liberals in a supposed progressive bastion like Seattle. The Seattle Police Department has been under investigation for years for racist scandals and problematic use of force. Black children in King County schools are suspended at higher rates than their white peers. And the region is wasting $210 million on a new jail instead of investing in communities.

3) ... but it is fair to hold Sanders to a higher standard.

Some argue that the #BlackLivesMatter movement should focus its fire on Republicans. But the GOP generally does not pretend to be a champion of the economic underdog. And unlike Hillary Clinton or Martin O'Malley, the central conceit of Sanders' campaign is that he represents a voice of moral clarity against skyrocketing inequality.


4) Bernie's supporters have failed to keep pace with Sanders' progress

Unfortunately, the vitriol from many of Sanders' incensed backers is not helping his cause. It pains me to say this. But I continue to observe shocking levels of racial paternalism, arrogance and condescension in my personal and online interactions with Sanders' outraged supporters. They remain tone deaf or worse on issues that specifically or disproportionately hurt African-Americans. And the situation seems to be getting worse, not better.


5) Beyond emotions -- here is the hard math

The challenge for all Democrats now is not raw emotion -- but hard math.

For Democrats to win the White House in 2016, African-Americans must give 90-95% of our votes to that party's nominee.

Not 50+1% of our vote.

Not even 75%.

To put another Democrat in the White House, black folks must be practically UNANIMOUS in our support for a Democrat.




http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/12/opinions/van-jones-bernie-sanders-disrupted/index.html

[cascadiance]

1. You know, if in Seattle, they were more explicit and brought up the points Jones brings up in item 2

... I think they would have had a GOOD response! Because then even some contentious and arguably what some have considered rude behavior would have a focused point that was trying to be made public, instead of just speaking in generalities and focusing on just labeling people "white supremacists".

If they'd said what was in line 2, and then asked a question as follows:

"Bernie and all of your supporters here... You say you speak for us, but what are you doing about what is happening here as we've noted! Until something gets done, we're going to continue to demand to be heard and not step down!"

I and many of us WOULD have supported that and I think you would have seen many days of people speaking more introspectively too, even if such criticism would appear to be directed to those liberals there in Seattle. It then is more of a worthy challenge to us on what to do rather than people calling others names, and in effect saying "I am going to continue to yell at you because I can."

[nc4bo]

2. I thought this too. You must make that message cohesive and easily

Understandable to be as effective as possible.

Bring on your message as if each crowd has never heard your message before each and every time you get out there.

It's all in the delivery. Major talking points and then add ons if so desired. Jmho, and opinions are like aholes in that everyone has one, right?

[RiffRandell]

13. But that wasn't their intention.

It was all FOR attention; I doubt they had any script planned to ask BS about the issues 'that are so important to them' and would be surprised if they had important questions to ask any candidates.

You know what I find ironic? That they didn't get arrested as most disruptors like that do.

Remember the 'Don't tase me bro?' That guy did.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Florida_Taser_incident

I am not a fan of police at all, and back the cause of the police epidemic/reform in this country but not those fools after what I saw.

If they pulled that shit with any candidate I would feel the same way. Troublemakers that don't know shit.

[JI7]

14. Van Jones is a professional man in his 40s

the seattle blm were mostly young 20s women .

[Shankapotomus]

3. Again, not helping

Saying the disagreement arose out of tone-deafness or worse in liberals is just plain wrong. And if it wasn't about Bernie Sanders, why confront and disrupt him at his rally? Sounds like Mr. Jones is trying to spin what happened and is talking out of both sides of his mouth.

First, Jones says it wasn't about Bernie Sanders.

But a few points down Jones says Bernie is making progress.

What progress was required of Bernie if it wasn't about him? And what of these "local liberals"? No further mention of them makes you wonder if they were ever truly the issue and Jones is just using them as a deflection.

Only in his last point does Jones get to the election which is exactly why Bernie supporters were so upset with the BLM activists.

BLM focused their ire on a Democrat during an election campaign. There will be no Democrat in office to do anything about black lives if one isn't elected. The Kennedy and Obama administrations are proof democrats in office can be lobbied to change policies while in office. BLM didn't have to risk a democrat's campaign momentum to get what it wants.

[Supersedeas]

7. you have some valid points -- but the protest remains

[TM99]

4. I will address each of these.

Last edited Thu Aug 13, 2015, 10:53 AM - Edit history (1)

1) If it is not a single organization, then different points of activism by each individual city-wide group or regional group must be judged each on their own merits. That inconsistency will distract from the overall message. It is ridiculously naive to think otherwise.

2) Of course it is not just about Sanders. However, the event in Seattle was not his rally. It was for Social Security. The two young women did not launch into a discussion specific to Seattle's police problem, instead they immediately launched into an attack (both verbal and physical) of Sanders and the crowd.

3) The Democratic platform stands in contradiction to the GOP one as a voice of moral clarity against all inequalities. Only one candidate, who has always caucused with the Democratic Party but is himself an Independent, is being held to a standard that the other Democratic candidates should also be held to. Otherwise, yes, it is just bullshit. Conceit is not fighting for us. Conceit is Clinton's coronation at the behest of the ruling elite.

4) Bullshit lies and distortions. Since I am not white, what is his excuse for my concerns? And I am not the only POC supporting Sanders and disturbed by these games.

5) No one voting block can hold a party hostage. We have seen what that has done with the Tea Party & the religious right and the GOP. A broad coalition of all minorities, not just AA's, and whites that all agree on multiple issues and not just single ones is what will win the general. One thing I particularly disliked about the Netroots Nation brouhaha was that Latino issues took a back burner all weekend. Many news agencies even lied and said that Sanders cancelled all events when in fact he was always scheduled and did meet with Latino leaders here in Phoenix. Black lives matter, and there are other areas such as immigration, continued LGBT economic & civil rights, and economic issues from student loan debt to bank reform that are also very important. If we make this a single issue election with one voting block only, then we all fail.

[Supersedeas]

10. the point is to keep the discussion going

and I might add that you do it well

[aikoaiko]

5. A couple of thoughts. First, Black lives matter and #BlackLivesMatter matters.

Second:

VJ: So I will not agree with every single choice, in every time and every place, made by every activist who is inspired by Black Lives Matter. But I don't have to endorse or embrace every tactic for me still to speak with deep respect and warm regard for a force that is becoming the most important movement against anti-black racism in decades.

This idea of not agreeing with the tactics of the Seattle BLM group was the message of most Bernie supporters who objected. No one said black lives don't matter. But yet, we were told we were white supremacists for preferring to hear Bernie speak and anti-BLM if we didn't support this tactic.

Third:

VP: Pundits tend to portray the modern Democratic Party as having only two factions: the pro-business/Wall Street "moderates" (traditionally represented by the Clintons) versus the economic populists (now represented by Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders).

VP: But a third force is rising: a growing, racial justice wing (best represented by the Dreamers and Black Lives Matter) that is highly suspicious of both -- and finds the clueless hypocrisy of the second to be particularly grating.

The third force is aligning with the first. First, we see the polling numbers of the general black population and now we how respectfully, deferentially, and non-disruptively the BlackLivesMater group interacted with Candidate HRC when they "attempted" to disrupt her event. All the lipservice about how we can expect HRC's campaign to receive equal treatment was just deflection from the truth.

[Starry Messenger]

6. K&R

[Blue_Tires]

8. #4 needs to be pinned to the top of this forum...

imho

[alcibiades_mystery]

12. Fuh real

[sketchy]

9. K&R

[alcibiades_mystery]

11. Van Jones nails it to the wall

[Jamaal510]

15. To add on to #5,

it's also imperative to have high turnout, not the laughable turnout from 2010 and 2014. The contrast between both parties is starker than ever on the vast majority of issues, so there's no reason for any of us who are eligible to vote to sit out the election. That's part of the reason why progress isn't happening as quickly or efficiently as we'd like. When people don't vote, we're more likely to end up with crooks.

[Number23]

16. Adding Van to the list. It's a long list already and growing more by the day.

And I'm beyond proud to be on the same side as everyone on it.

Yet another progressive voice calling these people and their tactics out. This won't get 200 recs (nothing can penetrate the DU bubble these days) but that's okay. Truth will out and always does.

I starting calling this dubious strategy "trickle-down justice."

A phrase that many here have also used to describe this same clueless crowd. Freshwest coined the phrase on DU months ago.

Pundits tend to portray the modern Democratic Party as having only two factions: the pro-business/Wall Street "moderates" (traditionally represented by the Clintons) versus the economic populists (now represented by Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders).

But a third force is rising: a growing, racial justice wing (best represented by the Dreamers and Black Lives Matter) that is highly suspicious of both -- and finds the clueless hypocrisy of the second to be particularly grating.

Ain't that the damned truth. And point #5 is the cold, hard truth that everyone, every single person advocating for a candidate needs to keep very close in mind. K&R

[zappaman]

17. Yeah, but Booker said something nice about Sanders.

So, that negates what Jones says.


Just thought I'd say that before someone else implied it.

[Number23]

18. Please don't remind me of that thread. My co-workers are still giving me looks after my

explosion of laughter when I saw the subject matter as well as the person who was posting it.

Booker did say something nice about Bernie. It was not an endorsement, a commendation or even all that definitive but yes, it was very nice.

[Waiting For Everyman]

19. #5 is irrelevant

unless Jones, or anyone, can drop that number of votes in the pocket of any candidate he chooses. Can he do that? I highly doubt it.

So, that makes this whole approach an attempt to blackmail Sanders supporters into sitting down and shutting up, based on a hypothetical that isn't going to happen. Most Sanders supporters are brighter than that.

This tactic of criticizing people into doing what you want... I think most adults are not going to respond to that very much. It isn't surprising at all, and it's not likely to change -- it's called lousy strategy. I'm stating a rather obvious fact, not advising anybody. Far be it from me to do that.

BLM can blunder on doing the same thing if it wants, but the outrage over the fact that it isn't working is kind of stupid.

[freshwest]

20. Van Jones is right about it all. I wish he'd consider a run for office. n/t