Ta-Nehisi Coates Is Voting for Bernie Sanders Despite the Senator's Opposition to Reparations

[UglyGreed]

The acclaimed writer Ta-Nehisi Coates, author of "Between the World and Me," has written some of the most discussed articles on the presidential race looking at Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and his position on reparations. Coates wrote the articles after Sanders appeared at the Black and Brown Forum in Iowa and said he did not support reparations for slavery because it is too "divisive" an issue. While his critique of Sanders generated headlines, today Coates talks on Democracy Now! about why he still plans to vote for the Vermont senator.



http://www.democracynow.org/2016/2/10/ta_nehisi_coates_is_voting_for

[Kalidurga]

1. I don't think opposition is the right word.

I am not opposed to reparations. But, it's not an issue I think can be solved with just legislation. There has to be a national dialogue and a whole lot of local dialogue going on. And for pete's sake can we start talking about Native Americans and other POC for a change my communities are literally dying from poverty and ecological terrorism from the government not giving a shit about what's in the water and substandard housing issues and that's not even considering how much housing for poor people is in very polluted areas.

[UglyGreed]

2. I would want anyone

who has been hurt by such actions to be recognized and compensated. I just don't know how it can be done fairly. I also agree with what you wrote, injustices are happening everyday it is not a thing of the past. We need to stop what is happening now or more and more people will be hurt.

[uponit7771]

3. but the same can't be done for SP!?!? ok... A revolution for one set of people isn't a revolution

[Kalidurga]

5. A revolution for one set of people isn't a revolution

glad you are finally on board

[beam me up scottie]

7. What "set" is excluded from Bernie's policies and proposals?

Funny, the only "set of people" who didn't join the revolution last night were the rich ones.

Everyone else happily signed up.

[Bread and Circus]

4. Goddam... that's great. That's just good to hear. Win or Lose I like to see this kind of thing.

AMY GOODMAN: Will you be voting for Senator Sanders?

TA-NEHISI COATES: I will be voting for Senator Sanders. I have tried to avoid this question, but, yes, I will be voting for Senator Sanders. I try to avoid that, because I want to write as a journalist—do you know what I mean?—and separate that from my role as, I don’t know, a private citizen. But I don’t think much is accomplished by ducking the question. Yes, I will vote for Senator Sanders. My son influenced me.

Good for him.

I feel a wee bit less exasperated now.

[AZ Progressive]

6. "I’m very, very concerned about Senator Clinton’s record."

I’m very, very concerned about where her positions were in the 1990s, when we had some of the most disgusting legislation in terms of our criminal justice, really, in this country’s history.

[UglyGreed]

8. Many are

yet some don't care.

[Armstead]

9. Glad to see it

I was cheesed off st his reparations column, but glad to see he said this.