King: Destroying the myth that Bernie Sanders doesn't address race or racism

[RedCappedBandit]

I have spent my entire adult life highlighting and fighting against racism in America. It's my primary job here at the New York Daily News as well.

With that said, I was slow to get on board the Bernie Sanders train. I just didn't understand how he planned on addressing racism, and I wasn't willing to get behind a candidate because it was the thing to do without feeling like I could be intellectually honest about it. Almost every speech or clip I saw of his was him speaking out against economic corruption and inequality in America. Race seemed to rarely play a role in those speeches. I really took my time critiquing, analyzing and learning who he is and what he truly stands for on issues of race and racism in America. I did this for a full six months, and then I endorsed him.

When this campaign season first kicked off, I was not at all pleased with how little any of the presidential candidates addressed the issues that mattered most to me and to the Black Lives Matter movement. It appeared as if Democratic candidates believed black voters were going to eventually support the nominee no matter what, and that the leading candidates weren't even fighting for black support.


I was actually proud of the courageous women activists who interrupted Bernie and other candidates — demanding that they drastically improve their platforms and focus on issues affecting African-Americans, particularly police brutality. Over these past six months, I've changed my mind on what matters most to the Black Lives Matter movement. I've come to believe that many of Bernie's core ideas will actually impact black communities in powerful ways; and I've come to learn that Bernie Sanders, contrary to popular opinion, speaks out often on issues of race and racism.

Read the rest here:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/king-bernie-addressed-race-racism-article-1.2518180?cid=bitly

[dreamnightwind]

1. Wow, great article!

Now we just need to get enough people to read it. Thanks for the OP.

I wonder if it should be cross-posted to the AA forum here? Not a lot of love for Bernie in that forum, I keep hoping that will change.