Psssst!! Crossposted from GD-P

[bravenak]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251789359

It's only four now since some cannot manage eight.

[bravenak]

1. I am not sure this is accurate.

Breakout star Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont continues to draw large crowds and gain in national polls. The firebrand socialist taps into the undercurrent anti-establishment ethos that is becoming increasingly palpable as the populace grows disillusioned with the stoic and stubborn two-party system.

In much the same way that President Obama enthused an intersectional base of voters in 2008 by promising new direction wrapped in post-racialism, Bernie Sanders is stirring excitement within a predominately white base frustrated by exorbitant corporate influence, and wealth and income stagnation.

Elected to public office in 1981, Bernie Sanders is considered a political outsider. A registered Independent and self-described democratic socialist, Sanders attracts those rebellious white progressives and radicals that love hacky-sack and Bob Dylan.

Kind of interesting with the hyperbole. I have seen nobody use a hacky sack in years.

[gollygee]

2. Great article!

Favorite part:

“I no longer support BLM because y’all don’t support Bernie”

That’s okay…because we’re not fighting for your support. You ain’t that important. We’re fighting for our right to live without racist oppression. If you wanna help, cool. If not, then get the fuck out the way.

[bravenak]

4. Exactly!!!

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. "That’s okay…because we’re not fighting for your support. You ain’t that important"

[Cha]

16. I'm glad I never supported bernie because his campaigners are too self-centered in his name.

And, he's never done anything to call them on it. It just never would have worked out.

[gollygee]

17. A lot of his supporters are self-centered

but as much as I cringe at GD-P, he's still the candidate I like best. If I'd come from somewhere else, I might not feel that way, but my area was pretty badly hurt by NAFTA and the loss of labor unions, so some of what he says is right up my alley. I recognize his faults but I recognize all the candidates' faults. I think Hillary will get the nomination though. I don't see how Sanders has much of a chance at this point. If he had spoken to the needs of more people, and if his supporters had worked more on coalition building than hero worship, maybe he could have done it.

[bravenak]

3. There is some very deep anger in here.

for Hillary, his supporters are much more paternalistic and arrogant. Why? Because they think that their rebellious, anti-establishment views give them license to shit on everybody else. Especially Black people.

When my Sisters Mara and Marissa disrupted Sanders, his STANDERS came out in droves with their anti-Blackness and white saviorism. Hell, even before then, when a Black person dared to criticize Sanders for his inability to differentiate between systems that oppress based on race and class, STANDERS would come at us with some bullshit.

So this post is for the STANDERS that are hurting the candidate more than we are. The Black vote is up for grabs, and his supporters may be the reason why Black people don’t cast their ballot in his direction. So here’s some things that STANDERS should stop saying to Black people before we go off…

[bravenak]

5. This part is very interesting!!! I have heard similar things.

the best thing for Black people!”

No, he isn’t. Black people are the best thing for Black people. A political system — rooted in anti-Blackness and reliant upon cheap Black labor — will not save my People. This system benefits y’all. White privilege means the political system, no matter its flaws or corruption, will always work for the interest of white people.

It works best for rich white people, duh. But it also works for poor white people in ways it doesn’t for Black folk. That’s why y’all get the most in welfare and aren’t called lazy. Y’all are called “hardworking.” That’s why presidential contenders come stumping for y’all votes during election season (especially if y’all live in swing states), but relatively ignore Black people.

But now, both Bernie and Hillary are getting their racial justice platforms together. They can now say “Black Lives Matter” without cringing, and can articulate the underlying principles of this burgeoning grassroots movement. They ain’t doing so out of the goodness of their hearts — they’re doing so out of political expediency. They’re doing so because we demanded it.

So full stop with the “Bernie-is-best-for-you” bullshit. We’re best for us. Bernie won’t lead to our Liberation, although he *might* lend to it.

I wonder what happened to cause all of this built up frustration? Very interesting.

[72DejaVu]

9. You black folks are inconvenient

As a white liberal who's political activism has been undertaken mostly in working class white neighborhoods, it's been my experience over the years that if it wasn't for racism, we might be more successful in pushing progressive policies in those areas. But when we talk to middle class laborers, small business owners and the like, we always run into the attitude that if it helps black people, they don't want it, even if it help themselves as well.

Unfortunately, some white activists, rather than work harder to combat racist attitudes, develop the attitude that only it's the presence of blacks that prevent their success. Oh, they will never say that, they may not even consciously articulate it in their own minds, but the attitude is there.

When a white Democrat loses a race because of Republican dog whistle tactics regarding welfare or crime, the subliminal message takes hold in some people's minds..."We'd have won that one if black issues hadn't come up". It's a short jump from blaming the racists to blaming the targets of racism. Like, If you weren't there, they wouldn't be either, and our nice white liberal would have won.

[yardwork]

11. I believe that racism is fundamental to the problems in the U.S.

Fear among whites that people of color will get "more than their share" creates a reliable right-wing vote in all elections. It's literally the reason that we can't have nice things, like universal healthcare, low-cost public education, subsidized day care, and a host of other life saving, life enhancing services that the wealthiest country on earth should be sharing with all its people.

Racism is the reason for Trump's popularity, and even the reason for Carson's following among conservative whites who love it when token black people confirm whites' racist stereotypes.

[72DejaVu]

12. I don't disagree with any of that

I'm saying that, for some progressives, the next step in their thinking is, if it weren't for all those damn black folks, we could get those nice things.

[yardwork]

13. I agree with your point. I mean, you've seen it firsthand as an activist.

What do we do about it? I'm ready to fight.

[72DejaVu]

15. I don't know what to do, other than what we need to do in any other case

White folks have to call out other white folks when we are confronted with their racism.

The thing is, that's a lot easier to do when the other white folks fit a racist stereotype than when they are sitting across the table from us as our fellow progressives.

[72DejaVu]

14. Case in point

[link:http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1187&pid=32271|

[mcar]

6. K&R

[bravenak]

7. .

[brer cat]

8. Very thought-provoking piece, bravenak.

I was gone most of yesterday, and skimmed the post in GDP late last night after the "conversation" had deteriorated beyond the point of interest. All of the "but Hillary" and "if a white person" arguments were specious. I wanted to yell "it is what it is: read it, ponder it, maybe learn something from it."

First thought: I didn't find the piece "hateful." Her anger and frustration came through, but anger and frustration don't equate to hate. I wonder if making this equation is why so many conversations go off the rails on DU and elsewhere.

Second, this hit home: It works best for rich white people, duh. But it also works for poor white people in ways it doesn’t for Black folk. That’s why y’all get the most in welfare and aren’t called lazy. Y’all are called “hardworking.” That’s why presidential contenders come stumping for y’all votes during election season (especially if y’all live in swing states), but relatively ignore Black people.

Living in a very white, red area I wonder why so many poor and middle-class people vote the way they do, and that quote was a direct hit. Politicians are good at stroking the ego, making the feel-good statements. The poor white getting assistance is special, hardworking and deserving of benefits even if he/she lays about all day and wouldn't consider answering a help wanted ad. They want to believe it, they would be hardworking if only they were paid based on their specialness, and it must be true if our representative or presidential candidates say it is. Any feelings that this isn't deserved (and surely they are there even if deeply buried) can be off-loaded to the "other"...usually the person of color who isn't like them. The myth, the stereotypes have been created and they will live on, dividing people who should be pulling together into warring camps.

Thanks for posting this, and for the cross-post. I stay out of GDP unless I follow a link from one of the groups.