Here's What Black People Are Saying About Bernie Sanders. Interviews w/audience after Minn Forum

[Nanjeanne]

An excellent article about Sanders' participation in “A Community Forum on Black America,” in Minneapolis and some comments from audience participants afterwards. This gives a real feel for what the reaction to Sanders being there was - and how he is perceived. The good and the not good - but all giving props for his being there.

Read the whole thing here:
http://www.attn.com/stories/5932/bernie-sanders-black-voters?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=internal

[FreakinDJ]

1. Clinton declined Minnesota Neighborhood's Organizing For Change's invitation to the event.

[Nanjeanne]

2. And Bernie got some votes out of it. Go figure . . .

[Uncle Joe]

3. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Nanjeanne.

[thereismore]

4. This is really great. Thank you for that. I had the feeling that he did

well at the forum. The audience was even more radical than he is therefore he was catching flak from the left for a change. And his use of AA instead of black is just him trying to be polite. AA people are no more black than NA people are red. I understand that black is now used as a word of identity not skin color but I think he is a bit too old to know that. He did very well there though.

[JRLeft]

5. It depends on the person, some of us like to be called AA and others like to be called black.

Sometimes we use other names, I won't delve into that right now.

[thereismore]

6. Actually, it would be really nice to know about it. Can you write an OP?

Thanks!

[JRLeft]

7. I can't use one of the words on this site.

Fam or family is one, brother and sister.

[thereismore]

8. I know what you mean, but if you could just give perspective on the use of AA and

Black. I feel like the more radical, young and progressive black people use Black now. White people learned to use AA because that is the "correct" thing to say but this is changing very fast.

[JRLeft]

10. It literally depends on the person I have friends who only use the word fam or family.

I never have used the term AA describe black people.

[thereismore]

21. Thank you. nt

[JRLeft]

22. YW

[Rebkeh]

17. It depends, here's mine

This is me, and only me:

I prefer black but I don't take offense to AA, it's not a big deal to me. But not everyone feels the way I do.

AA makes me feel a little weird, just a little, because I have no connection to Africa. I have never been there and don't feel any particular link to it. If I was an African who had become an American, that would make sense but that's actually a different identity.

Black, when I was growing up, often had a "shame" vibe to it so, obviously, I take it proudly.

Sometimes I use AA and black interchangeably when I write depending on target audience.

Like JRLeft said. Depends on who you ask. My family members don't make a distinction at all, to them, it literally makes no difference.

[EdwardBernays]

19. And I think

That there in lies the rub.

Some people dislike others things others like and vice versa. Others care more about people and politics than labels.

Others still would be offended by any label certain people use and totally forgiving of the same label from others.

I think that Sanders is doing what he thinks is right, and trying not to use labels based on whatever one random person says to him on a certain day, because he knows if he does he'll probably offend a different individual the next.

The benefit of his consistency - the way he doesn't change his approach or beliefs without a good reason - is that if you can be damn sure that he'll do everything in his power to achieve what he says he's trying to achieve.

Others may impress with their willingness to adapt politically, but adapt politically is just a fancy way to say they'll stab you in the back later for political reasons. Sanders will not.

[thereismore]

20. Thank you. nt

[JRLeft]

32. A lot of black people feel that way.

[bravenak]

52. Me too

[Stellar]

44. I think that too can be confusing to some, don't you think?

Cornel West uses brother/sister more as a term of endearment.

Why Brother Bernie Is Better for Black People Than Sister Hillary

Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/02/bernie-sanders-african-americans-cornel-west-hillary-clinton-213627#ixzz40GGY4f7f

[thereismore]

48. I see what you did there Stellar!

[Stellar]

49. You want to clue me in...most people know that I'm kind of slow. nt

[thereismore]

50. Your post included an opinion that I happen to agree with.

[Stellar]

47. There is some history on that subject...

https://books.google.com/books?id=v8LrAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA505&lpg=PA505&dq=define:+Progress+terms+of+negro,+colored,+black,+African+American&source=bl&ots=U243b4IANv&sig=pIbfC2RFgkKG7YMyaJexFt0NfmY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiLvaCNkvrKAhWMuoMKHfwWAJ8Q6AEIMzAD#v=onepage&q=define%3A%20Progress%20terms%20of%20negro%2C%20colored%2C%20black%2C%20African%20American&f=true

I came from an era when people were called negro/colored to James Brown singing 'Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm proud', to Jesse Jackson solidifying the term African Americans, looking for cultural heritage.

But as far as I'm concerned Black/African American...it's all the same thing to me. Can I assume that White/Caucasian (or what other country your family came from) American is the same too? IDK that's just me.

[Depaysement]

29. +1 nt

[21st Century Poet]

23. It has nothing to do with Sanders's age.

This kind of thing really bothers me. Political correctness is fine to an extent but there are limits. I mean, here is how it goes:

Don't call them black. Call them coloured.

Don't call them coloured. Call them African Americans.

Don't call them African Americans. Start calling them black again.

Ne*ro apart, all the terms above are still very much in use in polite society by different groups and different communities. It can easily get confusing so why make an issue at all out of it? He was obviously being polite and trying to listen to their concerns and talk about the issues that mattered to them.

Why pick on such a triviality as if he was being racist or something? African American just happens to be the term he favours, has grown used to saying and reading and sounds natural to him. Right on these very discussion boards, I see People of Colour, Blacks and African Americans being used all the time so I really think this is a non-issue.

[thereismore]

25. It's not an issue for you and me but there was a lady at the Black Forum last

Friday who accused him of being afraid to say black (he did say it many times at that forum), which is why we are talking about it now.

[21st Century Poet]

27. I know why we are talking about it.

Maybe I did not make myself clear. I understand that it became an issue but it should really not be one.

My point is that people should cut each other some slack and not be so extremely sensitive. I know that the world is complex and full of different individuals who identify themselves in different ways, and who have passed through different hardships and different experiences but people should not make each other feel as if they are constantly walking on eggshells when talking or writing, especially when it is obvious that someone is not using the term, word or phrase he or she is using maliciously.

[thereismore]

31. Obviously, not everybody is able to look at it with other people in mind.

With them it's Me Me Me. You disrespected Me.

You are right though. That's how it should be.

[JRLeft]

45. No one says colored anymore.

[KingCharlemagne]

46. "all the terms above are very much in use" - unless I am badly mistaken, 'coloured' (sic) is almost

as taboo today as the 'n-word'.

[vdogg]

24. To be completely honest

Black or AA doesn't matter to me in the slightest. I personally say black just because it's shorter to say.

[thereismore]

26. Thank you. nt

[CharlotteVale]

9. K&R

[Todays_Illusion]

11. It is a good article, thanks for the post. nt

[azmom]

12. He doesn't deserve props for being there.

It's the right thing to do. Our issues matter.

The question is, why is Hillary avoiding us? We don't have many chances to ask questions of someone that may be president. Why is she not allowing us that opportunity? Do our questions and our issues matter to her? Obviously not. This is the third event on minority issues she has decided not to attend. She needs to do better.

[nyabingi]

16. You are absolutely right

Hillary is not the kind of person who will fair well in a setting in which she might have some really tough questions because she'll always fear that her true feelings might come out (i.e., she really doesn't give a hoot).

[Depaysement]

30. "Us" is already voting for her

Supposedly. That's what We've been told.

It's pretty insulting. I thought you had to ask for someone's vote and give them a reason to vote for you.

[azmom]

34. Nope. We are her firewall because

We love our abuelita so much.

[Depaysement]

38. Well said

[Deny and Shred]

36. It should be a regular stop on the campaign trail, but it is not.

Sitting on stage being asked about the fear of saying black or why you don't support reparations is presidential political kryptonite, especially days before the SC primary. He stood in there, and did his best. I've seen several OPs trying to impugn his AA cred based on this appearance. The fact that other politicians don't show up means he DOES deserve props. Sanders could have taken a pass, too. His presence made it more newsworthy.

The question IS why is Hillary avoiding, and why aren't you making that the headine? Why doesn't Hillary's avoidance become his gain? Why isn't she bringing these issues to the fore? She the favorite among AA in the polls. This SHOULD be on her schedule, and he should be avoiding it.

What can he do to gain 'props' other than try?

[azmom]

39. I agree with you. It is shameful that

Some are using this appearance to criticize him. Specially, since he did very well.

As I pointed out in the other thread, this is the third forum on minority issues that Hillary has avoided. That is simply not acceptable.

[Deny and Shred]

40. Glad to hear it

I feel she should have been there as the frontrunner. She should have been the one being grilled. She chose pragmatism. She skipped the event and took the AA vote for granted because being asked about reparations and having to take sides vis a vis the white working class holds nothing but downside.

He could have very easily said forget this and headed to a hedge-fund fundraiser instead. Do you really think he doesn't deserve any props at all for his attendance, honesty, fortitude, and desire to understand knowing it may hurt his chances? I see it as courage.

[azmom]

41. I'm not opposed to giving Bernie props.

I worded my response badly. What I am opposed to is Hillary getting a pass on not attending.

[UglyGreed]

13. K/R

thanks!!!

[valerief]

14. But...but...but...politico said...

[LWolf]

15. A bit more nuanced than was reported

elsewhere.

I appreciated all of the responses I read.

"I'm here to support him. I'm here to hear him talk about issues that specifically or disproportionately impact the black community. I think his racial justice platform is alright. I think it's better than the others. It seems like he generally wants to emphasize economic issues and I get that's more politically feasible with the general electorate. I'd like to see him propose some more specific racial equity policies. I support him though. Ninety-nine percent!"

I LIKED that he was challenged from the left. He's not nearly as radical as the establishment would like to portray him.

"Both parties have always sold us out, and continue to sell us out. I definitely like the single-payer thing, but he still is within the framework of capitalist society. He's not kicking that out. Even though he's talking about political revolution he's still a part of the establishment. He's saying some good things. He's got people thinking. Most of us working-class people want to see an end to police brutality. We want to see an end to mandatory minimums and mass incarcerations. We don't think people should go to jail for non-violent crimes. Barack Obama sounded good eight years ago. Jesse Jackson sounded good about 20 years ago. It all sounds good, but when the smoke all clears we're still here catching hell."

And this, especially, from Michaela Day, local activist with Jusice4Jamar and BLM:

"His stance on racial justice, and justice for marginalized groups in the past, before he was campaigning, that's what actually does speak to me. I don't feel like he's just feeding us a line of complete B.S., because he hasn’t flip-flopped the way Hillary has. If you look at his stance 40 years ago, 30 years ago, 20 years ago it's pretty much the same as today. [It's] as radical then as it is now, but it's sad that this is what they consider radical."

[nyabingi]

18. Someone please, PLEASE

ask Hillary about her thoughts on reparations at the next debate, townhall, forum, etc.

It's very suspicious that it hasn't happened yet, and I'm sure if she was questioned about it and offered an answer, her support among Black people would drop to George W. Bush levels or worse.

If Bernie is being grilled about it, let's grill ALL the candidates about it and judge all of them on an level playing field.

[azurnoir]

43. K&R this is far more balanced not to mention honest coverage of the meeting at Henry High

[Oilwellian]

51. That's probably why she didn't attend n/t

[HooptieWagon]

28. The comments were good.

I have a couple bones to pick with the article though. It cites Sanders as being behind Clinton 17-74 in Black polling. Hes trailing, but I'm not sure it's by those figures. Secondly, it mentions Clintons endorsement by the "influential Black Caucus PAC". Now I don't dispute the Black Caucus is influential, but I question how influential the PAC is, unless we're talking about all the corporate lobbyists that compose the majority of the Board.
Overall it was pretty good though.

[Jarqui]

33. Economic justice is only a part of racial justice but ...

Economic justice is a big deal because it helps or reduces many of these issues:
poverty

unemployment

helps overcome substandard education for blacks for some blacks

substandard education for blacks because more can afford education

racial disparities and inequalities in healthcare because more can afford healthcare

disproportionate incarceration of blacks because more blacks can afford to eat rather than committing crimes to get by

disproportionate shooting of unarmed blacks by police is likely to be reduced because more will be in school or in jobs - off the street

discrimination in voting rights would be improved because more can afford photo ID or whatever to get over the Republican hurdle in front of them
etc

It's the only issue that has such a wide impact. Bernie is absolutely right to give it a high priority.

[Enthusiast]

35. Kicked and recommended!

[Wounded Bear]

37. Good read, thanks for the link...

Nice to see the supportive, although somewhat skeptical responses. I can't blame the black community for being skeptical, history tells us they should be. I can see how this shakes out for some people, at least. Bernie maybe hasn't said enough to please the black community directly. His anti-poverty, justice system reform ideas are more general, and in that he wants to believe that it will kind of naturally help the black and latino communities as it helps everybody, whereas history says that the bigots out there have made their bones finding ways around and past legislation aimed at equalizing things.

Hillary not attending can't help her a lot. It's starting to look like three camps, Repubs who have written off the black vote, Hillary who seems a bit indifferent and smug about her lead in polls among blacks, and Bernie who has more actively met with black leaders and constituents trying to earn their votes.

I'm a white guy, and I really don't want to make assumptions about how the black community will go this election. I support Bernie for a variety of reasons, one of which is a long standing civil rights record that hasn't changed much over the years. The Clinton camp seems to be taking the minority communities for granted, which would be a mistake. The last thing I want is for black people to stay home on election day, and taking them for granted is a good way to encourage that.

[Jefferson23]

42. From the responses, the common denominator appears to be, can he do it. Can't get a more

fair statement than that. K&R