Bernie Sanders makes a point about black unemployment you probably haven’t heard

[KamaAina]

Bernie? Talking abut race? I'm shocked! Shocked!

http://fusion.net/story/161785/bernie-sanders-makes-a-point-about-black-unemployment-you-probably-havent-heard/

The national conversation and activism surrounding racial inequality has a major blind spot, says Bernie Sanders: the link between unemployment and civil rights.

“How do you discuss Ferguson and not know that, in that particular community, unemployment is off the charts?” the presidential candidate said in an interview with the Nation published Monday. “How do you discuss Baltimore and not know that, in that particular community, unemployment is off the charts?”

Sanders connects civil unrest in black communities, police shootings, and violence to soaring black youth unemployment. “I do not separate the civil-rights issue from the fact that 50 percent of African-American young people are either unemployed or underemployed,” Sanders told the Nation.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, black youth unemployment in the United States was a staggering 24.8 percent in 2014, compared to 12.2 percent of their white counterparts. And more than half of recent black college graduates are underemployed, meaning that they hold a job that does not require a college degree, according to a study by the Center of Economic and Policy Research, a left-leaning Washington think tank.

[BrotherIvan]

1. Talking about income issues for people of color is considered ignoring them on DU

Because we are just supposed to ignore that that 37.9% of black children and 33.8% of Hispanic children are living in poverty. Because they are not as poor as in Africa. Because saying you care about the poor and unemployed and hungry actually means you are a selfish asshole.

[ismnotwasm]

4. Wait--what?

First of all, I think the conversation should start with a question; Why are disproportionate poverty levels in Black and Hispanic communities?

Gather a few responses-- some even from people of color, those that are left here--hopefully and go from there.

[BrotherIvan]

7. I *AM* a person of color

We don't ALL agree that talking about the economy means you don't care about race. This is a completely fictional split that has happened on DU.

Here is a recent poll where you will see that African Americans DO care about issues such as unemployment and the economy AS WELL AS racism and the justice system. But we are not allowed to talk about that here.

[navarth]

9. Brother,

you are a breath of fresh air.

[BrotherIvan]

25. Thanks, don't know about that

But I will likely be voted off the island soon.

[GoneOffShore]

49. Not by me you won't.

[BrotherIvan]

68. de bump

[BlueJazz]

64. Be true to yourself and speak what's on your mind. Nobody should be afraid to say how they feel.

Nobody is perfect here but the day that a person is "sent off the island" for trying to educate DUers is the day I want passage right along with the person who is departing.

[BrotherIvan]

67. Punch your ticket

The target on my back keeps getting bigger and brighter. We should all try to speak honestly, but I guess during campaign season, honesty is not a top priority.

[merrily]

132. Not by me, either. Brother Ivan.

[madokie]

138. Nor me

[cui bono]

30. There was a time when it was wrong to think of PoC as a monolith...

what happened with that?

[Hiraeth]

151. I was just wondering the same thing.

[Live and Learn]

202. +1000 nt

[ismnotwasm]

38. Ok

So why do you think there is a disproportionate poverty level in Black and Hispanic communities?

[BrotherIvan]

46. Because those communities have been systematically oppressed

Economic oppression is a tool of racism. But keeping people poor and unemployed creates bodies for the for profit prison industry, so those communities have been left to rot. Lifting people out of poverty through education, jobs, and access to healthcare and nutrition are FUNDAMENTAL principles of liberalism. When the hell did that change??

People are confusing cultural racism with institutional racism. You can't stop people from thinking racists thoughts, but you can ensure that no public employee, including a cop discriminates. You can end the sentencing laws--which began with the CLINTON Crime Bill--that have led to the skyrocketing of inmates. We are not talking about how the Supreme Court just shot down Three Strikes, with Hillary Clinton PERSONALLY CAMPAIGNED FOR. But we're all supposed to forget about that now?

We have to create justice through the ENTIRE SYSTEM. You can't say that it is possible to end racism by ignoring economic oppression or lack of access to jobs, education and healthcare. Only elitists would even consider that notion.

[chknltl]

58. Thanks for the clarification

Thom Hartmann could not have said it better,

[ismnotwasm]

59. So you are for a two fold approach yes?

Understanding the depth of institutional racism, (for instance one issue was corrupt and racism housing laws that lead to a lack of inheritable wealth) arose from cultural racism. You are correct about that crime bill being a mess--elimination of Pell grants for inmates for instance. It a a few good points, but not enough to outweigh the bad . It was a reactionary bi-partisan bill that both Hillary and Bill Clinton refute today.

Here's an interesting article from the time

This time, it was seen as genuinely bipartisan. At the news conference following the 235-195 passage of the crime bill, House Speaker Thomas Foley (D-Wash.) and Majority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) and the top Democrats on the Judiciary Committee were surrounded by a dozen Republicans who had made major contributions to rewriting the crime bill after the House stunned Clinton on Aug. 11 by rejecting the procedural vote to call up the bill, 225-210.

On that vote, 58 Democrats-mainly opponents of the assault-weapons ban-opposed Clinton and only 11 Republicans (mostly Northern suburbanites) crossed lines to support bringing up the bill.

Clinton took his case to the public, but shifted few votes. He tried private wooing of recalcitrant Democrats, but got only three of them to come his way. On the key procedural vote Sunday, 55 Democrats still opposed the president. What made the difference was that this time 42 Republicans, almost four times as many as on the first round, voted with Clinton.

He got them by sending White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta into serious negotiations with the Republicans and telling his congressional allies he wanted them engaged in the talks as well. Clinton refused to compromise on the bill's assault-weapons ban, but approved major concessions on other provisions and a reduction in its overall spending targets.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1994-08-24/news/9408240071_1_crime-talks-crime-bill-procedural-vote

[BrotherIvan]

66. She personally stumped for Three Strikes to shore up working white class votes

We need more police, we need more and tougher prison sentences for repeat offenders. The three strikes and you’re out for violent offenders has to be part of the plan. We need more prisons to keep violent offenders for as long as it takes to keep them off the streets.

Even Bill Clinton has now admitted it was a disaster.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/06/politics/bill-clinton-crime-prisons-hillary-clinton/

Coupled with the racism in her 2008 campaign we are now supposed to buy that her tepid proposals make her a Champion! How are we sure she won't make the same mistakes she has on numerous important issues?

And in answer to your question I am for an ALL IN approach. We have to make equality of ALL people of every race, gender, sexual orientation, income, etc. a top priority in this country. We have to attack racism and the very urgent problem of police muder RIGHT NOW. We should be pushing the current president, who will be in office for two years, to do something now, not fight each other over who gives the best speech.

But here we are. And it should make you pause and think that perhaps this isn't the best course. It is EXACTLY how TPTB like it.

[ismnotwasm]

77. And Sanders voted to reinstate funding to the COPS program

Although his voting on crime measures is exemplary. I have to go-- you can attack Hillary all you want of course, my purpose of this conversation wasn't to attack Democratic nominees but to discuss issues. I'll be back with a reasonable reply about why I feel strongly about social justice, and why I believe social justice drives economic justice. We agree that both are important.

[BrotherIvan]

80. This line of arguing has been used to attack one candidate in favor of

another. That is why I mentioned it. But yes, I agree we, and most Democrats would agree that BOTH are important. That's why I'm spitting mad that we have to go over it so many times.

[Live and Learn]

203. +1000 nt

[ananda]

65. I think it started with Saint Ronnie (sarcasm)

You are write about the privatized and corporate interests who want us to ignore or demonize Black communities.

The media is also complicit in this.

[questionseverything]

70. plus 1

[cstanleytech]

79. The real tool isnt economic oppression its education oppression and its a tool that

has been wielded masterfully by the republicans with their attempts to strip the public schools of funds and or keep then underfunded on purpose.
Right now their focus is on striping even more funding from public schools in favor of "charter" schools which they can control better than they can the public ones since the charter ones are private and thus they dont have to abide by all the rules and laws the public schools have to.
For example you would have a hard time trying to teach creationism in a public school but you can in a charter school.

[LittleBlue]

91. Brilliant

An opinion supported by historical facts and data is rare on DU these days

[jwirr]

97. Thank you.

[duhneece]

145. AND by keeping them poor, they are ripe for the military

The military is often the only ticket out of where they have no or very limited employment possibilities.

[7962]

166. Most people in the military are there because they WANT to be.

There is a common misnomer that the poor and uneducated flock to the military. The military force is actually, on average, better educated than the civilian population. Thats one reason we have such a good force. People who dont want to be there will not make great soldiers. It is also a common misconception that minorities are the main recruitment target.
http://mic.com/articles/59699/one-stat-about-the-u-s-military-that-will-surprise-you
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/11/military-education-infographic_n_1873842.html

[appalachiablue]

174. +10. In praise of your truth that I thought most on the left knew. Of course you cannot

legislate what people think about race, religion, origin, etc. but laws against discrimination rising from those views can be passed. Striving for justice means fighting both the cultural prejudice and the economic negatives. I thought this was fundamental but we're witnessing a new manipulation by some fairly ignorant but motivated people in many areas. Much appreciate your comments and clarification.

[sulphurdunn]

72. Because they

live in America?

[tymorial]

40. Thank you!

I find this chart interesting. I am not totally surprised to see unemployment and race relations topping the chart. I am surprised that education ranked at 5%. Given the lack of sufficient funding and quality of education in inner city schools, I thought that might rank higher. I have worked and volunteered as an educator for most of my career so my opinion is probably swayed by this fact. Our education system in this country is so broken.

[Mnpaul]

82. I'm surprised those two weren't higher

Given the unemployment rate in the AA community and current events. Maybe those hit hardest aren't reached in polling.

[tymorial]

88. I don't think its maybe.

Given my experience, the people who need to be asked the most aren't often asked. As I said, my opinion is swayed by my background. Unemployment is a terrible problem and its not getting better unfortunately.

[madfloridian]

52. Thank you for your 2nd sentence with such great perspective.

Means a lot.

[BrotherIvan]

57. Read downthread for some eye openers

People are being led astray and it is shameful.

[TM99]

127. I am too,

and I approve of this post!

I only see this division here on DU. Frankly I only see it with those who are New Dems. They artificially separate the social and the economic sides of the equation. Bluntly, many of them have prosperity and so social justice is more important for them. Some of us, hell many of us, still demand and need both social AND economic justice and reforms.

[blackspade]

168. Thanks for that.

That puts things in perspective.

[HooptieWagon]

179. +100

[rhett o rick]

152. Very well put. Because one believes that economic justice goes hand-in-hand with social

justice, one sometimes gets labeled as ignoring racism. In My Opinion, that tactic is used for intimidation.

[heaven05]

153. I respect Bernie

he is offering solid economic and social policies that, IF implemented, can give us the gold mine that all politicians promise but that usually end up just leaving us with the shaft. Yet, why are the jobs that are available presently not helping the communities of the poor and downtrodden now? Manufacturing is basically gone to China and elsewhere. Industrialization is an american phenomena no more. Unions are now a shadow of what they were in the 20th century. R & D is thriving, yet those jobs are denied even to the college trained POC. Why? They are working in McDonalds, Walmart if they are very lucky to get through the interview process with johnny or joanna reb or a 7-11 for 7-8-9 dollars an hour. Yeah plenty of those jobs in the inner city and poorer sections of our nation. Don't get me wrong, poor come in all races. Bernie is trying to help all races. No problem.

Yet training a cop to recognize their racism is not going to stop them from wearing a confederate flag over their hearts. Good community-police relations programs will not stop the murder of the POC in this country by agents of the corporate and racist political powers. Mass incarceration of POC vs whites for the same crime(s) will not be stopped by the job manna from Bernie heaven or his as yet to be revealed social justice policies. I know he probably can't reveal all his cards yet or if ever because of fear of alienating those johnny or joanna rebs who might benefit from his jobs programs and who would vote for him on that issue only but will vote against him strictly because some of his social policies might help POC.

Bernie may revitalize our economy, but what's he going to do about revitalizing the institutions that have generations old racial hate embedded within? The institution(s) of "southern pride and heritage", east, west, north and south that will continue to hate POC as a representative people of why they lost their "cause" in a civil war? The systems NOW in place by them to deny those jobs that Bernie heaven is going to shower on our countries poor and downtrodden. What is Bernie going to do about the systemic and institutionalized racist hate in education, policing, justice? What is he going to do about school revitalization in the inner cities? The suburbs have computers for every student that needs them. The inner cities have a computer for every school that might need one. That's no exaggeration.

All want to paint this rosy picture of Bernie showering job manna down on the unfortunate poor and downtrodden yet the cause of the racist hate perpetuating generations old systems of denial of educational and job opportunities will still be in place. The jobs won't solve that. Racism has nothing to do with the job manna promise. Is Bernie going to push for a new civil and voting rights initiative? Is he going to use our justice department to start rooting out the systems in place that are allowing LEO's to murder and indiscriminately execute unarmed POC with no repercussion? Hell, Obama's FBI director said dylaan roof is not a terrorist. Why? Only because he is white. That's the privilege that divides. These questions are NOT being addressed as a policy because of what reason? Not really that important to a Bernie Sanders or his advisers and his cheering section here? It is a black and white problem of staggering proportions, yet to avoid insulting, alienating those with their privilege intact this problem is to be avoided at all cost. It is and will remain obvious what the reason(s) for skirting around this huge issue is.

Lack of good paying jobs nationwide is a significant problem, no doubt. The lack of job and educational opportunities within that national problem as relating to the poverty in the inner cities and among all POC is significant also. Why? Will Bernie make sure, I ask once again, that the johnny and joanna reb sympathizer does not deny that job opportunity to a POC based strictly on his/her skin color? No, he cannot. Except for building transportation(cars, mainly, a little steel) all other manufacturing and industrialized jobs are GONE. How is Bernie going to force the corporate powers to bring the jobs back from China, India, Pakistan and all other places these corporate PTB have sent jobs? This job manna heaven is a very nice vision yet if 10,000,000 million jobs were available today, you're telling me johnny and joanna reb sympathizers, north, south, east and west, who are going to be responsible for those jobs, will be fair and equitable without some fear of being criminally charged with malfeasance for obvious racism?

All this is moot of course. If Bernie is the candidate in the general election, he will have my vote. No other choice. Yet some serious questions as to his understanding of policies that address the pressing need for racial fairness and equality remain. That issue has nothing to do with economic and social equality. I wish that were not true. Minimizing racial oppression down to a single issue of economics is just not dealing in good faith with the problem of racism. Period. That is socialist blather.

[bettyellen]

157. Truth. A couple weeks ago many were saying here that politicians cannot do anything about racism....

Which says to me they never were terribly interested in the issue. They sure as hell give Obama no credit at all. Ill informed, because economics is the only priority.

[BrotherIvan]

164. I should have read this post and your other before answering

your other post. I wish we could be having discussions like these, more full and in-depth than the fighting that goes on now. This is how we figure stuff out and learn from each other. I appreciate what you wrote and it makes me think. This is why I came to DU in the first place.

Bernie can't, Hillary can't, Obama can't, no one president alone with a speech can end cultural racism. None of them. I have no idea why all of a sudden it is Sanders' responsibility solely, but it has become that.

But I will say, I do know a little about manufacturing because that is what I do as one of my jobs. And yes, some of what Sanders is saying WILL make a difference. I work in textiles, and most of the manufacturing has been moved to China. The equipment was taken apart and put on boats. It has decimated whole communities that used to rely on those jobs, especially in the Carolinas where most of the fabric mills used to be. They have made a concerted effort to try to get the mills to open again, because it is very difficult to buy made in the USA fabric or notions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/business/us-textile-factories-return.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

But now the problem is no workers are trained for these jobs anymore. They literally are dying off in the meantime. A lot of small companies like my own is making their whole thing about Made in the USA, but there are no sewers who are trained. People didn't want these jobs when the economy was good, so now they are not trained. The only sewers are from South and Central America because they have the skills. In the factory that makes our stuff, we pay about $12 to $20 an hour because these are skilled jobs. That's better than fast food which in some communities is all there is. And it will go up once LA gets to $15 an hour minimum. It is so hard to find people they can demand high wages.

And the reason manufacturing is coming back to the US is because the quality of foreign goods is becoming worse and worse. It costs more money to fix all the mistakes than it would just to have made it in the US and oversee it. Customers drive it, and if a customer will only buy a Made in the USA item over the foreign made one, this whole thing would change overnight. But they won't. They've been trained to buy the cheapest even if it is a few dollars. They overconsume and just stuff themselves with cheap crap. So the cycle continues and we don't have jobs.

But why isn't the US government investing in training and bringing factories back to the US? Why isn't it encouraging minority owned business in economically challenged neighborhoods? How do we get the jobs to the people who need it and make sure they aren't discriminated against? That is a good conversation and needs to be had. Coming up with ideas and solutions accomplishes far more than the bickering and blame.

So by coming together and coming up with ideas, we can then demand the changes we want. I keep looking at the LGBT campaign that changed the huge majority of the culture in such a short space of time. I wish we could come up with a way to tackle the cultural issues like that. The tragedy in South Carolina brought up the conversation on the Confederate Flag, and overwhelming public opinion changed things. The country elected a black president twice in overwhelming numbers. It is time to consolidate and capitalize on that sentiment and change the very foundation of this country. I don't know how to do it or who will do it, but it needs to be done.

[heaven05]

169. thank you

nice to have the honor of addressing reasonable people. I don't know the answer either. Our cultural problems and behavior must be changed and soon. We did get a person of color as a POTUS, shows the impossible is possible... yet now the hard work again will be getting the best person to represent us in the general. Hopefully we get that person.

[BrotherIvan]

171. Thank YOU

Having discussions like these where you really lay out your argument and what you think are the absolute BEST. I was down in the factory today and I was thinking all day about what you wrote. How can it change? How will it ever change?

We have so far to go. I don't know how we will get there. Racism is a disease in our country and it needs to be ENDED. I also wanted to share this with you as it made me happy because we need to hear more of this.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251432507

[Mnpaul]

188. Part of the problem

is that everyone in the lower half of income isn't doing that great and people like those over at Fox are blaming all our ills on minorities. Some people even believe half the people are on welfare(the Democrats). The 1% loves to intentionally do this so that people don't realize where the real problems lie. Just look who got blamed for the mortgage crisis. In reality the majority of the subprime loans were held by persons who had a credit score high enough for a conventional mortgage. The CRA loans, that the Republicans like to blame, performed on par with convention loans.

Bernie mentioned this in his Madison speech and needs to talk more in depth on this(debates?)

[Gormy Cuss]

163. IMHO what causes that reaction is talking about economics as a substitute for talking about race.

IOW, while only a fool would deny that higher levels of poverty in a community is part of the picture, claiming that racial bigotry isn't the fundamental issue or claiming that the economic disparity can be solved with simultaneously addressing racism will get one shouted down every time here -- and from what I know, there's good reason for that.

[BrotherIvan]

165. I personally think that any white person shouting that they were

the new warrior who was going to end racism in the US would be criticized far worse. I would have laughed him out of the room. So it's a bit of a catch 22. He's not Barack Obama, who incidentally, never claimed he could end racism either.

But what is interesting is that it doesn't matter what the candidate's history is, but the last speech he gave. I find that perplexing as the other two candidate's records on race pales in comparison with Hillary in the negative column. Why is one candidate singled out and the others given a pass?

[Indydem]

2. So what exactly is Bernie proposing to do about it?

This is where Bernie Sanders (not a Democrat) is going to run into a lot of problems when the light starts to actually shine on him.

Yes, unemployment is a problem. Youth unemployment, and minority unemployment is a major problem.

So what is Bernie's big solution? A trillion dollar program for infrastructure? Ignoring that we just spend 787 billion on that shit and it didn't fix one GD thing, these aren't construction workers or fiber optic technicians laid off for lack of work - they need training.

1 trillion dollars over 5 years? And "this legislation would create and maintain at least 13 million good-paying jobs"? How in the hell is that even possible? Simple mathematics shows that 200 billion / 13 million is $15,385. At 2000 hours a year, that is $7.69 an hour - STARVATION WAGES. Thanks Bernie. (Math being the enemy of big ideas, this of course, leaves nothing for materials, logistical support, equipment, or administration.)

Free college? How is that going to solve unemployment? There are thousands of millennials who have degrees and can't find jobs now.

Equal pay, sick leave, maternity leave, guaranteed vacation? How are any of these "Big Ideas" going to solve unemployment? They aren't. Period.

Universal Healthcare? Well, while we are at it, let's just promise everyone a Unicorn and a Ferrari too.

Bernie can complain - a lot - but he has no actual solutions to anything. Just a lot of complaints and pointing the finger at others as the big problem.

It's easy enough to make the center of your campaign a litany of bitching about everything that is wrong with America. With the current political climate, people have a lot of complaints. But the bottom line is that Sanders (-D) doesn't have the foggiest idea how to actually get America moving forward again, and that's just the bottom line truth.

[frylock]

12. has Clinton offered up any policy proposals to address these issues?

[Enthusiast]

17. You ask inconvenient questions.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[BrotherIvan]

19. A speech! A tweet! A video!

Forget about dog whistles, she cares!

[Enthusiast]

15. Your bottom line truth is nothing but the most absurd fiction. Sounds like Republicanese to me.

What 787 billion are you talking about? The stimulus? Fully one third of that stimulus was comprised of tax cuts.

Infrastructure jobs create other, addition jobs, in a stimulus effect. Bernie is calling for a minimum wage of $15/hr not $7.69/hr.

So you want Hillary. Go ahead and vote for her in the primary. I'll vote for Bernie.

[Beartracks]

131. Thx, I was going to point out the stimulus effect, too. Beat me to it.

When you invest $200 billion in infrastructure, that money isn't just paid to a lot of construction workers and then stops circulating. Economic activity and jobs are sustained when money continues circulating, which is what would happen in this case: money is invested in companies which hire not only the construction workers, of course, but all sorts of other personnel (secretaries, engineers, etc.), and they spend money on food, clothes, gas, homes, toys, lawn mowers, etc. As the businesses spend money on their projects, they contract with supply chain contractors, accountants, etc., and these hire employees who spend income on day to day stuff as well. The TRICK is to keep the money flowing around among the people and companies who actually earn it and actually spend it, and not allowing it to all gravitate up into the pockets of rich corporate bigwigs where it gets stashed offshore, invested overseas, or otherwise squirreled away out of the economic action.

Obviously this is a simple and non-expert description, as I am simply a non-expert.

=========================

[Enthusiast]

140. Well obviously I am a non-expert too but I believe you nailed it.

[BrotherIvan]

18. If you don't know the answer, maybe you should look it up

If your complaint is that social programs are giving away "a Unicorn and a Ferrari too" then the Democratic Party is not a good fit for you. We spend hundreds of billion dollars per year on the military and wars and corporate welfare; we bail out the banks but the idea of putting our resources toward things like education and social welfare are a pony?? Fuck that noise.

But just in case there are those reading this who ARE interested in actual facts, they will find that every one of the proposals Sanders is making on the campaign trail are being backed up by introduction of a bill in the Senate. Here he is talking specifically about youth unemployment.

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-06-04/bernie-sanders-let-s-spend-5-5-billion-to-employ-1-million-young-people

The Employ Young Americans Now Act is the sort of legislation that would have struggled even in a Democratic Congress. In a Capitol controlled by Republicans, it might as well propose taxing churches to pay for sex reassignment surgeries on a moon base. The legislation, introduced by Michigan Representative John Conyers, would create a $5.5 billion fund, $4 billion earmarked for the employment of people between 16 and 24, $1.5 billion for job training grants. There are no pay-fors. It would ask a Congress that is dead-set against "big government" to employ people, with the help of big government.

Yet the bill's Senate sponsor is Vermont's Bernie Sanders. That matters quite a lot in June 2015. On Thursday morning, Sanders joined Conyers on a visit to the H.O.P.E. Project in southeast Washington. The presidential candidate toured a small but busy office, located above a strip mall, that had successfully trained 375 people in the IT field, and seen 315 of those people get jobs that paid an average of $42,000—far above the median income locally. Ninety-three percent of graduates were African-American, and when Sanders entered a computer room—pausing to greet every student—the only white faces belonged to journalists and staffers. The room was crowded with TV cameras and iPhones, some pointed at four words on the wall: "HARVARD OF THE HOOD."

"In America now we spend nearly $200 billion on public safety, including $70 billion on correctional facilities each and every year," said Sanders from the front of the room. "So, let me be very clear: in my view it makes a lot more sense to invest in jobs, in job training, and in education than spending incredible amounts of money on jails and law enforcement."

Sanders got darker, decrying the size of America's prison population, imagining a world in which people got jobs instead of jail sentences." According to the NAACP, from 1980 to 2008, the number of people incarcerated in America quadrupled from roughly 500,000 to 2.3 million people," he said. "If current trends continue, one in three black males born today can expect to spend time in prison during his lifetime. This is an unspeakable tragedy."

After Sanders finished, and after Conyers said the candidate was "even better as a senator" than as a congressman, H.O.P.E. founder Raymond Bell introduced "superstar" program graduates.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

61. Thank you! Seriously, I cannot belive we see crap like this on DU:

Universal Healthcare? Well, while we are at it, let's just promise everyone a Unicorn and a Ferrari too.

Really, do the countries that offer universal health care also give out ponies and unicorns?

[BrotherIvan]

69. It just shows how much conservative propaganda has infected this country

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

71. Yep, so much so that the Democratic Party is less liberal in many ways than the Republican

party was 50 years ago.

[Indepatriot]

114. Surely Sanders paid those people for being in the photo op.....

even the esteemed Mr. Conyers...

[Enthusiast]

146. +1! What a post!

[whatchamacallit]

175. BrotherIvan!

!!!Crushing it!!!

[arcane1]

176. This entire thread has been a huge breath of fresh air. I wish I could rec your every post in it.

[Maedhros]

32. BTW, for some of us, "not a Democrat" is a feature, not a bug.

Your post being a prime reason.

[Maedhros]

76. Wow, you've really got nothing but insults.

I can't imagine it being worth my time to read any more of your posts.

/ignore list.

[GoneOffShore]

83. None of us are seeking fantasies OR ponies.

Democrats united could put all these programs in place.

It all has to do with a 50 state GOTV strategy and getting rid of the DINO's who have invaded the party.

[Indepatriot]

120. Because nothing says Democratic like "Walk in lockstep or get out"!!!!!

Guess we can start folding up the big tent.....

[frylock]

123. Where can I get my uniform, sir?

[HassleCat]

34. OK, then

Nothing will work. Maybe we should just not elect anyone president.

[cui bono]

36. Bernie Sanders (better than most Democrats) is running as a Democrat. Period.

Get over it.

Not bothering to read the rest of your post at this time.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

62. Lol!

Not bothering to read the rest of your post at this time.

Good decision.

[Mnpaul]

84. even better

<--------------- click on the "Democrats" link and see who is listed directly below the President

[Tommymac]

147. +1

[think]

47. Bernie introduced a bill in regards to jobs for youth last month:

Sanders Proposes Youth Jobs Bill

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Sen. Bernie Sanders today visited an innovative job training site for unemployed youth in the capital city’s Anacostia neighborhood and unveiled legislation with Rep. John Conyers to create new jobs.

“We cannot continue to ignore the crisis of youth unemployment in America. We are talking about the future of an entire generation,” Sanders said. “We have got to make sure that young people in Washington, D.C., and all over this country have the opportunity to earn a paycheck and to make it into the middle class.”

Sanders and Conyers today introduced companion bills in the Senate and House to provide $5.5 billion for states and local governments to employ 1 million youth from ages 16 to 24 years old. The U.S. Department of Labor would provide $4 billion in grants to provide summer and year-round employment opportunities for low-income youth. Another $1.5 billion would be allotted for competitive grants for work-based training programs.

Their measure also would provide training for hundreds of thousands of young Americans who in many cases have finished high school but have no prospects for college or other training and no job opportunities.

“Despite the nation’s progress on job creation, America’s youngest workers continue to struggle with an unemployment rate that is twice as high as that of the general population,” said Conyers. “For young high school graduates, the unemployment rate is 19.5 percent, while the underemployment rate is a shocking 37 percent, over 10 points higher than before the Great Recession.”

“The answer to unemployment and poverty is not and cannot be the mass incarceration of young African Americans,” Sanders said. “It's time to bring hope and economic opportunity to communities across the country.”

After announcing their plan, Sanders and Conyers toured the H.O.P.E. Project in Anacostia, which offers a job training program for young men and women in poor communities. Students commit to an intense training period in technology skills and have found work in the federal government, at private firms and elsewhere after finishing their classes.

To read the bill, click here

To read a fact sheet on the legislation, click here

To read Sanders’ prepare statement, click here

Source:
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/sanders-proposes-youth-jobs-bill

Here is the text of the fact sheet for his youth job proposal:

Fact sheet on the Employ Young Americans Now Act

At a time when the youth unemployment rate is over 17 percent, and the African American youth
unemployment rate is over 27 percent, we have got to do everything we can to make sure that
young Americans have the jobs they need to pay for a college education and to move up the
economic ladder.

The Employ Young Americans Now Act that will be introduced in the Senate by Sen. Sanders
will provide $5.5 billion in immediate funding to employ one million young Americans in
summer and year round jobs; and will provide hundreds of thousands of young Americans with
the job training and skills they need for the jobs of the future.

Under the Employ Young Americans Now Act, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) would
provide $4 billion in grants to states and local governments to:

 provide summer and year round employment opportunities for low-income youth, with
direct links to academic and occupational learning; and

 provide important services such as transportation or child care, necessary to enable
young Americans to participate in job opportunities.

Each state that would like to participate in this program would have to submit a plan to DOL that
must include:

 strategies and activities to provide summer employment opportunities and year-round
employment opportunities for low-income youth, including links to educational activities;

 identifying employment opportunities in emerging or in-demand occupations;

 identifying employment opportunities in the public or nonprofit sector that meet
community needs; and

 an estimate of the number of youth expected to be placed in employment opportunities.
Under this legislation, DOL would also award $1.5 billion in competitive grants to local areas to
provide work-based training to low-income youth and disadvantaged young adults.
Through this bill, DOL will award grant applications to local areas that have the ability to:

 implement effective strategies and activities to provide unemployed, low-income youth
and disadvantaged young adults with the skills needed for employment;

 provide opportunities for on-the-job training, and registered apprenticeship programs;

 provide connections to immediate work opportunities; paid internships; enrollment in
community colleges; or basic education and training for low-income young adults; and

 develop partnerships with employers and employer associations, community colleges,
and other postsecondary education institutions; community-based organizations; joint
labor-management committees; and work-related intermediaries.

Most of this funding is targeted to areas of high youth unemployment and poverty. There is a
small state minimum to ensure that every state in this country is able to create jobs and provide
job training opportunities to young Americans.

The legislation was endorsed by the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, UAW, the United Steelworkers of
America, Campaign for America’s Future, and the National Employment Law Project.

Source:
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/060415-employamericansnowactfactsheet?inline=file

[Stevepol]

60. That trillion dollars buys a lot more than jobs building or repairing infrastructure.

The money that is put out there, plus the multiplier effect, will stimulate a Brazilian more jobs of all kinds and many of those jobs will be taken by blacks currently unemployed. And the other things he plans to do will also add a lot to the money in circulation. When students don't have to pay for tuition, they will spend more money on other things like lunches, clothes, etc., etc. When healthcare is paid for by taxation of those who can afford to pay, that means more money circulating as well. Everything he is proposing will add to the amount of money circulating in society. It's called Keynesian economics and it has nothing to do with trickle down idiocy. Keynesian economics works, always, trickle down, not so much. Reagan did have a fairly strong surge in employment during his years (not quite as much as Nixon but not bad) but that was because of a large infusion of money from other sources (the almost total rebuilding of the navy e.g.) Bernie sometimes points out that pay equity (making sure women receive the same wages as men for the same job) will have a strong effect on the economy in increasing personal income and thereby more spending, more jobs, etc. This is not hard to figure out. Just do a little thinking about it or get a simple economics text book and look it over. I'm sure Bernie has spent a lot of time thinking about it.

If there's one thing that was learned in the depression, it's that adding money to the economy generates more spending, more jobs, etc. The years of the depression except for 1937 when FDR started listening to the Repubs fears about excessive spending were the years of the greatest improvement in employment for everybody. Once FDR realized the Repubs didn't know what they were talking about, he got back to the job of using government spending to prime the pump. Those years were the years when the unemployment rate dropped faster than at any other time in American history except for the war years when in effect nobody who wanted a job was denied one, even if it meant soldiering around the globe.

Sanders is relying on the best economists on the globe at the moment: Krugman, Stiglitz, Reich, et al. All of them accept the principles of Keynesian economics. Krugman in particular has focused on recessions and what's necessary to create jobs to get the economy moving again. Keynesian economics works. But I don't think Bernie will be suddenly devoid of ideas to help blacks or Latinos or others if it turns out they need special attention. Bernie reads and studies these things and has for many years. The only problem Bernie will face is the Repubs in Congress and he's hoping that the revolution will gradually give him the Congress he needs.

[RiverLover]

101. DU rec! excellent post /nt

[cui bono]

126. Sure, but why does Bernie want to help the Brazilians get more jobs???

[azmom]

178. +1

[valerief]

75. Instead of a WAR on the Middle East, how about a WAR on Unemployment? nt

[Number23]

92. Thank you. I was about to ask that same question.

So what exactly is Bernie proposing to do about it?

There are some pleased as punch that he even MENTIONED minorities. Just all grateful as hell and prostrate before the Great Man for even mentioning us. That may make them all warm and tingly, but it doesn't do a damn thing for me.

ALL of these people running need to do more than just "mention" us. This OP was meant to -- once again -- shame minority posters for having the unmitigated gall to question Sanders' policies on racism and racial discrimination. But all it really does is prove how little he's actually talked about us and how he really doesn't have to say much at all to be rewarded with unending "gratitude" from his easily placated supporters.

[BrotherIvan]

104. It is the comparison between the two that is getting the pushback

The idea that Clinton, of all people, is now so much better on race is preposterous. Can we ask our candidates to talk about race? Of course. But saying the same thing over and over that he doesn't talk about race at all doesn't make it true.

He is talking about restructuring the entire justice system and ending the drug war because it is racist. That was in his Madison speech that I watched. That is a very bold statement that doesn't get any discussion because the faces in the crowd are white. He is also talking about unemployment in the black community and is taking steps to do something about it. What could be wrong with that?

And the fact that Hillary Clinton was one of the most powerful proponents of the Crime Bill which brought us the to incredibly insane justice system, along with Reagan's War on Drugs, and is the DIRECT LINE to the rash of police shootings--when are we going to talk about that? Her two proposals in her mass incarceration speech were police cameras and community policing. That's pretty tepid. Why aren't we also demanding that Clinton make bold proposals?

[BrotherIvan]

113. I see

[frylock]

125. And here comes the Messiah meme. Now where have I seen that before?

And so early in the game, too.

[bravenak]

184. Brother.

When we talks about Bernie, delfecting to Hillary just lets us know that we cannot just discuss what his intentions are.
Many of us cannot stand Hillary, number23 is undecided.

I'll tell you Why Hillary get's black support, right now. She listens to us. She hires alot of us. She sorounds herself with a diverse group of people. And this year, her supporters are using lessons kearned in the last campaign to shore up her support. Remember the race baiting from her supporters? This time it is not her supporters race baiting. Bernie's fans have soent the last WEEK harassing every black person who questions or critisizes Bernie by ranting and yelling about 'ALL HE'S DONE FOR YOU PEOPLE!! In those exact words, plus they call me race nagger. Race nagging is bringing up racism in our society.

If he wants black support he will have to shut his Standers up and speak for himself on race, without trying to make it all about the economics of it. Read back from the day this drama started with the ops Written by madflo.

Since this started I have gone from supporting Bernie to not voting in th primary. I had to ask other black folks on twitter and facebook and other places if they were getting harassed by bernie fans too. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw feeds where duers were trying to get Elon, the black man who works for netroots fired. Told to go back to Baltimore, with the other blacks (we all live in baltimore), called a Lee Atwater Plant, told to kiss hillarys ass, that white progressives won't 'help' blacks no more cause were 'arrogant'.. This is pretty much the reason Bernie will nevrr break ten percent. His fans.

Now, at the beginning I warned not to go fucking with black folks and to stop telling us about the marching and mlk, cause we study history too. Nope!!

The only way for him to pull black support is to have blacks around feeling happy ahd comfortable to be in his group. Will not happen if his supporters are nasty, mean, racist or cruel. Tell yr friends.

[JustAnotherGen]

185. If you and Number23 get alerted out of being able to post

When you come off of time out - you guys are gonna have 80 people to unblock.

I'm not shitting you.

[bravenak]

186. Good. I will NOT unblock a damn body.

Trying to pick us off one by one like it's war. Time for Skinner to say something. They might understand it coming from him. Or not. They might ignore him and keep going. This is crazy.

[AverageGuy]

130. The first step is acknowledging a problem exists

Then you can take small steps towards a solution. Finally, a solution is reached. Everything Bernie proposes is a small step, and will require that the american people join him, in order to reach that final goal. I am a Hillary supporter, and will continue to be one, until I see Bernie beating Republican candidates head to head in the polling. Bernie has my heart, but Hillary has my head.

[Fumesucker]

149. The reasonable man adapts himself to the world...

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world, the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. -George Bernard Shaw

Is it reasonable to expect others to make a leap of faith that you evidently are not willing to make yourself?

[madokie]

142. All of this takes money

what is Bernie saying about that? Well if you've been paying attention you'd know what he is saying. No more tax havens for the rich and corporations for starters, make then start paying their fair share, etc. Raising the cap on SS for a fix to that. Bernie has answers to all your questions if you'd only read or listen to what he says.

Have a nice day.

[sufrommich]

3. I'm pretty sure police shootings are caused by police

shooting at people.I doubt very much any of those police knew the employment status of their victims.

[ismnotwasm]

5. Exactly

This is not hard to understand

[LWolf]

6. "Police officers have got to be held accountable for their actions."

[sufrommich]

8. “I do not separate the civil-rights issue from the fact that 50 percent of

African-American young people are either unemployed or underemployed" Do you think those kids in Ferguson and South Carolina were shot because they were unemployed? It's nice that Sanders wants the police prosecuted,but those kids died because of racism,not employment statistics.

[LWolf]

10. Nope.

But I don't think the issues should be segregated, either. I'm for integration.

[navarth]

11. What would it take to satisfy you?

Serious question, not trying to bait you.

To me, it is patently obvious that Bernie is on the side of the angels when it comes to racial equality. It appears that it is not obvious to you. Can you help me to understand why?

[sufrommich]

14. What do you mean "satisfy me"? I object to anyone tying police

shootings to unemployment.One has nothing to do with the other.

[BrotherIvan]

23. That is just a plain ignorant statement

Economic oppression is a tool of racism. I can't believe that people don't know this stuff!!!

[abelenkpe]

26. +1000 nt

[uponit7771]

27. There are blacks and browns on DU that don't have the economic problems and are still treated no...

.... different than than the people in "those" neighborhoods.

People with less resources have more to deal with, that doesn't exclude people of color of means from institutional racism

[BrotherIvan]

41. They damn well are treated differently

A poor black person and a rich black person live in different universes. A rich black person does have to face racism, but they are nowhere near as victimized as a poor black person. NOWHERE NEAR.

How do I know? Because I grew up very middle class with an excellent education. The problems I face PALE in comparison to the people in low income neighborhoods. I taught in a poor neighborhood and it opened my eyes. Maybe some people who wish to claim they have it as bad as a poor person should visit one of those neighborhoods too and have their eyes opened.

Racism is horrific. Racism and poverty are deadly. Why can we not talk about it?? It makes DU look so elitist and out of touch.

[uponit7771]

45. I disagree it's universes apart, if you're a career person of color of means your set of racist ...

.... issues don't diminish to that magnitude they just become different.

Ask Tyler Perry if being a person of color of means is anywhere near a panacea for racism?!

He would turn over millions of dollars on his movies and went decades without a big contract...

hell, that's just the start

[BrotherIvan]

51. OH GOOD JESUS

Last edited Tue Jul 7, 2015, 07:14 PM - Edit history (1)

I work in the film and television industry. Tyler Perry is a UNION BUSTING HACK who takes advantage of all of his workers, most of whom are people of color. He didn't get contracts for his movies because they are awful. And yes, he got a $200 Million dollar contract for his shit show on TBS.

And if you have been convinced that Tyler Perry or Oprah has it as bad as a poor, unemployed person in Ferguson, then I really cannot say anything to enlighten you. That is just sad.

-Edited to remove personal information-

[uponit7771]

63. No one said they're have it as bad I'm conceding having money makes things easier just not unverises

... apart when it comes to racism.

There's a whole new set of issues that have to be dealt with and no matter what you think of Perry's movies if he was white and turning 1 billion dollar revenues like he did there would've had contracts sooner.

[BrotherIvan]

74. That is what I am saying

You have been totally misinformed. Tyler Perry lives a lifestyle you cannot imagine. Oprah too. I mean you cannot imagine what that kind of money and power means. And the fact that he doesn't want to share any of it by paying union wages or even fair wages to his workers means he can go pound rocks in my book.

Is there racism within the industry? Yes, there is. Does that make Tyler Perry's stuff any less crap? No, it doesn't. His movies are embarrassing. His tv show is abysmal. He is certainly not the kind of person I would use to represent African Americans in the film and television industry. There are lots and LOTS of talented, amazing artists of color. So let's talk about them instead.

[GoneOffShore]

85. Please let us talk about anyone in the film industry except Tyler Perry.

I expect that any day now he's going to team up with Kirk Cameron and Hovind and put out an AIG (Answers In Genesis) movie that will be even more embarrassing than anything he's done.

And thanks for the info about him being a "Right to work" sort of guy.

[BrotherIvan]

87. I don't know, I stopped paying attention to him a long time ago

The fact that his crap has been given so much attention when so many other artists have been kept out of work is just sad. The fact that people on DU don't care about millions of people living in poverty and feel the need to so urgently defend the most powerful is sad. Fucking tragic.

[GoneOffShore]

89. You ain't seen nothing yet.

Unless you lurked before 2007.

There will be blood.

There will be banning.

There will be calls for loyalty oaths.

There will an exodus (particularly if Ms Clinton doesn't get the nod).

The Lounge will get very crowded as the less contentious of us go there to escape the carnage that DU becomes during primary season.

Who knows, you may even be able to spot bunches wild cats (puma's) rampaging across your screen.

[uponit7771]

99. Strawman, Bernie both address economic inequalities base off of racism and root of racism itself

... he's a smart guy

[BrotherIvan]

100. huh?

[Indepatriot]

129. Hear Hear!!! I've heard nothing but bad things about Mr. Perry's treatment of his workers.

[whatchamacallit]

180. This is the crux

I am sad to say we are not ending discrimination. Ever. It's a flaw of human nature that's plagued mankind throughout history. Unfortunately, somebody is always gonna hate on somebody else for being different. So what's the answer? Where man's propensity for hate has created institutional discrimination and inequality, the solutions are twofold:

Strong laws and penalties to combat discrimination, and economic empowerment to address inequality. People, and in particular PoC, need the resources to elevate their status, and protect themselves from abuses.

[Vattel]

190. Thank you so much for speaking these truths.

You have unfairly attacked me in the past, but on this you are so clearly correct. To give an example, a young black woman I know and her siblings are all doing extremely well. She is working on her second masters degree, this one in urban planning. She has never been arrested. But many of her cousins and aunts and uncles are doing poorly in various ways. One was shot to death, another is in jail for life, some are single mothers struggling to get by. Some are addicted to drugs. What is the difference between her family and her cousins' families? Well, when she was still little, her dad managed to move out of the projects in NY to the suburbs in New Jersey. That gave her genuine educational and economic opportunities that her cousins back in the projects lacked. She firmly believes that she would be poor and struggling like her cousins had she grown up in their neighborhood. Racial inequality in educational and economic opportunity is the biggest and worst chunk of institutional racism. Many many many more blacks suffer and die from that lack of opportunity than from racists cops shooting people. Any black person no matter how wealthy can be the victim of racially motivated violence. But to echo your words, the average rich black person is nowhere near as victimized as the average poor black person. That is just reality.

[cui bono]

93. Yes, and sadly, some of those don't think it's important to help those less fortunate than them.

And that is the worst part of this whole stance. What it really is showing is not that Sanders has a racial problem, but that PoC who are fine economically do not care enough to fight for those who are economically disadvantaged. They'd rather have all their problems solved first. It's been said in so many words here on DU.

Fact of the matter is, everybody needs to fight for everyone's rights be they social or economic. There are whites on DU that don't have the social problems and are still suffering, even dying, because they don't have the means to buy food or pay for heat/air conditioning (and I mean a/c that means the difference between life and death, not just for comfort).

So who gets to decide which lives are more important than the others? Why should we decide? We shouldn't. We should fight for ALL of it and not give up until EVERYONE is taken care of in whatever way they need to be.

And yes, economic depravity IS a tool of racism. TPTB want people to not have enough. That's exactly how you turn different groups on each other. When there is a scarcity of resources, people tend to group into a tribal mindset and go against those who are 'not like them'. If there is a fight to be had over the crumbs, it is going to be along racial/ethnic lines. That's part of the whole RW talking point of welfare, freeloaders, etc... it's a dog whistle to make working class white people resent blacks. Well if everyone has enough, that won't work as well. Will it magically make racism disappear? Of course not, but it keeps the infighting for survival at bay. It keeps the resentment at bay. It will help.

But just because I'm white doesn't make me say, meh, if I had to choose, I'd choose economic issues because, hey, I'm white, I've got my social issues taken care of, now I'd like some more of my issues handled. I want everyone to have their issues handled be they social or economic.

This false meme that you have to pick one or the other is just a tool to divide people and to justify backing a corporate candidate imo. The reality is that if someone picks one issue over the other then they are not a liberal or a progressive, they are a centrist.

[uponit7771]

98. 80% of blacks are not poor, working poor maybe but not poor that doesn't mean that 80% doesn't care

... about the other 20% or whatever number it is amounts everyone.

It sounds like Bernie is going to hone his message, if he does and can draw 10,000 in Southside Chi Town he's a shoe in

[cui bono]

124. Right. I'm not saying 80% don't care, I'm saying there are some here on DU who don't

and have pretty much stated that.

I think Bernie is already honing his message, I agree he should do that. It's early yet...

[bobbobbins01]

128. The poverty rate for blacks is currently 27%

And in my opinion, the poverty level right now is way too low. Above 15k is not working poor(I'd put that figure at at least 30k). I agree though, if Bernie starts pulling in minorities, slam dunk!

[TheKentuckian]

198. Working poor is poor. The majority of black people make less than 15 an hour. 60% for hispanics.

Concentration in urban areas only exacerbates the situation.

The premise that most people are fine is happy horseshit, even most of those you'd assert are OK are struggling pretty hard.

Where you live, the food you eat, the people you know, the elements you and your children are exposed to, influence, the reactionary level of law enforcement, opportunities, health, experiences, culture, rat race stress, odds of being incarcerated particularly long term, exposure to random violence, life expectancy are all HEAVILY influenced by money or the lack thereof. Not the only one but always a dominant one. Sometimes not THE dominant one even but ALWAYS significant and considering the very design of government and institutions batshit crazy to pretend otherwise.

[navarth]

116. We will have to disagree.

I don't know how easy it would be to establish causality, but they certainly are related, as is racism.

What I mean by 'satisfy you' would be simply this: what would it take to convince you that Bernie has the best interests of poc as well as any other oppressed minority? I thought my question was obvious, but hopefully this clarifies it.

Perhaps I'm wrong but it seems that many vocal Hillary supporters here on DU are just looking for ways to point fingers at Bernie. I say the implied racism is a canard. Does this mean you? Not necessarily.

[Robbins]

13. and what exactly would hillary do

she supports militizaion of police and erosion of civil liberies in "fighting terrorism"

Bernie sanders is far more critical of police than she will ever be.

[sufrommich]

16. Does Hillary Clinton claim police shootings are the byproduct of

unemployment?

[frylock]

24. Can you answer the question?

What policy proposals made by Clinton will address police violence against minorities?

[sufrommich]

28. Mandatory body cameras for all police officers is one.

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/apr/29/hillary-clinton-criminal-justice-overhaul-baltimore-unrest

[frylock]

44. As does Sanders. What else is she proposing?

[BrotherIvan]

54. Community policing

Surprise! She can't magically end centuries of racism! Who would have thought it. But she does think a white president is better than a black man.

“Dr. King’s dream began to be realized when President Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act,” Mrs. Clinton said when asked about Mr. Obama’s rejoinder by Fox’s Major Garrett after her speech in Dover. “It took a president to get it done.”

[uponit7771]

35. ok, can you please answer the question about what Bernie would do? tia

[uponit7771]

29. I used to live in a Ferguson, they were shot because the LEOs don''t value their lives or ...

... a relationship with that community.

The kids in McKinney Texas were upper middle class kids of color and some stupid cop still pulls a gun on them.

I don't understand how people are glazing over the fact that 80% of blacks aren't poor and this is not the mid 90s

[sufrommich]

33. I think some people don't like to admit that racism exists regardless

of class.

[uponit7771]

37. McKinney should've been the eye opener for them... I don't... I live in NorTx so maybe I know

[questionseverything]

42. they died in part because police have not been prosecuted in the past

start putting some of them behind bars and you WILL see their behavior change

[HassleCat]

43. They were, yes

I worked with "at risk" youth from Baltimore, DC, and Philadelphia. Yes, they were shot because they were unemployed. Indirectly. Because they have no jobs, they spend a great deal of time hanging out, hiding inside their hoodies, looking suspicious, making the cops fearful. Yes, the cops are afraid of young black men, because they see them basically "lurking" so much of the time. The police know young black men commit crimes, mostly petty crimes, but still crimes, because they need money and have no jobs. Most police officers are not afraid of black people in general, although some certainly are, but they look at young black men differently. "They have too much time of their hands," is something I heard often. The students in our program, mostly between the ages of 16 to 20, acknowledged that unemployment and boredom contributed to gang membership. They also admitted they would go back to spending the day watching TV on grandma's couch, and hanging with their friends all night, if they couldn't get jobs when they completed the program.

So, yes, they were shot because they were unemployed. That's one reason. You can't reduce social problems to fit simplistic notions like, "End racism and the problem is solved." Part of ending racism is finding jobs for young black men.

[sufrommich]

50. Funny,you don't see white kids shot for being unemployed.

You would think if cops were afraid of all unemployed young men with too much time on their hands,you'd see a lot more white teenagers getting shot by police as they exist in far greater numbers.

[HassleCat]

56. You would

Except unemployed white kids don't live in the same places, hang out in the same ways, etc. as unemployed black kids. Sure, cops are far quicker to shoot at young black men than young white men. That's because they see a pattern, attach too much significance to it, and respond to it with fear and violence. You realize, I assume, black police officers are quicker to shoot at young black men?

[heaven05]

161. link please

to support you statement.

[bklyncowgirl]

144. Lack of opportunity leads to social pathology.

If whatever you do you know that you are not going to have a decent life than why should you try?

You are right that we tend to take an overly simplistic approach to these issues. These kids are victims of long term policies which take decent paying jobs away from their communities and send them to places where labor is cheaper as well as long standing prejudice.

If you could take a magic wand and make racism disappear these kids would still be poor, desperate and yes, dangerous because there is nothing more dangerous than a bored young man with nothing to lose.

[BrotherIvan]

21. The community was OPPRESSED by the police because it was economically

depressed. This happens in low income/minority neighborhoods all over the US. The MAJORITY of prisoners are black and brown and POOR. Do you think this is a coincidence?

That is what he is talking about and it is a deep, complex issue. Callous, bland remarks show that you do not wholly understand the situation.

[questionseverything]

39. the 1% and their for profit prisons is part of the story

http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/23-cents-an-hour-heres-the-perfectly-legal-modern-day-slavery-happening-in-21st-century-america/

Many more are ensnared in the criminal justice system’s other branches. At the end of 2013, nearly 5 million adults were either on probation or parole, according to Bureau of Justice Statistics. All of these populations and even those not even convicted of a crime are vulnerable to exploitative fees and byzantine rules seemingly designed to catch people and get them back into the grips of the prison system. Basically, there is a trifecta of exploitation in the American criminal justice system. As reported on AlterNet, the bail system in America keeps many people in jail in a massive form of pretrial detention one has to buy one’s way out of. And police departments are increasingly funding themselves by charging poor people exorbitant fees for minor infractions.

[azmom]

55. The 1% and the for profit prison system

Are also preying on poor undocumented immigrants. It seems like our broken immigration system has been very lucrative for some.


http://www.thenation.com/article/how-private-prisons-game-immigration-system/


Follow the money

[awoke_in_2003]

78. I wish there were a way

to follow DUers, because you always seem to be spot on.

[BrotherIvan]

81. That is a compliment, thanks

I guess I write more when I get mad. This whole argument is absurd, and yes, my head has exploded. I am an expert on nothing, but I am shocked at the bland and callous ignorance in this thread. I have seen it so much on DU and I can't believe we are supposed to ignore people choosing between food and medicine or a roof over their heads. It looks like people really do live in a bubble and have no idea what is going on in our country.

[Jefferson23]

139. +1. There is much to discuss yet this situation must be confronted, the connections have been

well defined for a long time.

[heaven05]

156. and minimizing

racial oppression down to an economic issue isn't a lack of TOTAL understanding of the WHOLE issue?

[BrotherIvan]

162. That is not entirely happening

Could he say it more clearly that racism is the problem? Yes. Does talking about the economics of racism mean he doesn't care about people of color? No. And in fact he does say now very clearly, the entire justice system needs to be reformed and police need to be held accountable and prosecuted and that racist police will be dealt with. That is part of his stump speech now.

But what no one has articulated is what they want to see done about racism besides putting it in a speech. How do we end racism in the US? That is a very deep and complex question and I don't think a candidate running for office can change centuries of racism in this country and the world. So why don't we come up with what we want and demand it from our leaders?

We have to take it apart and dismantle it piece by piece. Voting rights, housing discrimination, access to education and healthcare, job discrimination, and the most urgent being the cops in this country and the whole justice system. There are many more pieces to the puzzle. And the system as well as the culture will need to be completely overhauled for that to happen. Bravenak said the most brilliant thing last week when she said, "They should teach slavery like the Holocaust." That they should teach everything and not lie about it like they are trying to, even the textbooks. They are purposely raising generation after generation of racists in home schools and church schools and all white schools. If we want to change the culture than we need to change that.

But what I really don't understand is why one candidate is being singled out as the focus of all the ire. The other two candidates have worse records on race, with the frontrunner who is trying to "reintroduce" herself to the black community unwilling to admit that it was her and her husband's policies that led us to where we are today, not to mention her campaign in 2008: Welfare Reform and the Crime Omnibus Bill, both racist to the core. Why aren't we talking about that?

[heaven05]

170. I could not agree more

with your analysis of the Clinton's during Bill's stint as POTUS and the dog whistling in the 2008 democratic party primaries. Bill has created very large problems for the minority community specifically and the nation at large with his administration's support of repeal of Glass-Steagall as one of the most important to me. I could go on but that would really be beating a dead horse.

Sen. Sanders must make people comfortable that he really is concerned about ALL americans, no matter the color or culture. He has started addressing racial issues and he, so far, is the only candidate that I feel is capable of solving our deep racial divisions in this country and healing the immense political rift that presently curses our every living day without selling his soul to the corporate and banking PTB. .

I'm watching, listening and hoping. Lot of work in the next 16 months or so for all concerned americans of good will and conscience.

[BrotherIvan]

172. YES!

And let's keep listening and learning from each other!

[heaven05]

173. cool

[heaven05]

182. yep you're right

I've learned a lot about one group and SOME of it's supporters this week and have totally enlightened to the underbelly of the progressive and liberal(alleged)underbelly. Made me back way off and raise alarm bells with a multitude of people who had been like minded. I just sent them here to look in different forums for the offending OP's. Wow. The feedback. Those supporters would really be offended. They have seen nothing yet as to how they have tainted BS.

[azmom]

181. +1

[jtuck004]

22. I don't see them looking for so many opportunities to shoot people where the people have jobs.

Perhaps the point is that the racist police and cities SHOULD know their unemployment status.

Bet they know how many they plan to arrest next month. I'll bet you a thousand fucking dollars an estimate is sitting on multiple desks.

Bet you 5 times that much there isn't a report on how to increase employment and opportunities so they don't need so many police.

Racism without racists: http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/26/us/ferguson-racism-or-racial-bias/index.html

Racist fucking country, policed by people who pretend to innocence by ignoring the tragedy around them.

[uponit7771]

31. McKinney Texas?! Officer asshole would've shot one of those kids no doubt ... Those kids are upper..

...middle class blacks and browns and don't need to be employed... their parents live in 500,000 to 1.5million dollar houses and a gun was still pulled on them

[morningfog]

20. Doesn't count!

Because Maine is a white state! And if he talks about economic inequalities at the same time as African Americans it doesn't count. And it was too brief!

And this didn't happen or the racist white supporters would leave Bernie! Or something along those lines.

[George II]

53. To put it in anti-Hillary Clinton terms.........what took him so long?

[Tommymac]

148. Yup...the 1960's were only a short while ago.

[underthematrix]

73. You see this is where I have a problem with Bernie.

He has a hell of a nerve trying to claim no one has ever discussed the link between unemployment and civil rights. What has changed now is that whites can hear him because he's a 73 year old white guy who lives in Vermont, a place that's 95% white. Pretty much every civil rights leader (remember MLK?) and the first African American President of the United States has said this. But President Obama is about the walk. This is why he established my Brother's Keeper, which has been implemented across the country. This is why President Obama established a community policiing task force. This is why President Obama and AG Holder, and now AG Lynch have been and are working on criminal justice reform. There's only two candidates people of color are gonna get behind, Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden. I prefer Joe Biden. My sister prefers HRC. Seriously, there's no way in hell I'm voting for someone in the primary who joined the DEM party so he could run as a DEM because he knew he couldn't win as an independent.

And this right here?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, black youth unemployment in the United States was a staggering 24.8 percent in 2014, compared to 12.2 percent of their white counterparts. And more than half of recent black college graduates are underemployed, meaning that they hold a job that does not require a college degree, according to a study by the Center of Economic and Policy Research, a left-leaning Washington think tank.

Did you listen to President's Charleston speech when he talked about calling back Johnny after his job interview but not Jamal.

[BrotherIvan]

86. Please list the policies of the Obama administration that have directly

addressed racism in the US.

[bettyellen]

155. Here's another one from today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/07/08/obama-administration-to-unveil-major-new-rules-targeting-segregation-across-u-s/

[Tarheel_Dem]

150. ^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^

I wish I could rec this post a thousand times.

There's only two candidates people of color are gonna get behind, Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden. I prefer Joe Biden. My sister prefers HRC. Seriously, there's no way in hell I'm voting for someone in the primary who joined the DEM party so he could run as a DEM because he knew he couldn't win as an independent.

And don't forget the infrastructure. He needed the Democratic Party infrastructure & $$$$$$!

[arcane1]

177. "Party over principle" is part of the problem n/t

[Stellar]

90. Bernie need to talk much more about issues that AA's and others care about.

I was listening to a young lady by the name of Tara Dowdell (democratic strategist), talking about how she notices Bernie Sanders has a cross section issue, his crowd not very diverse. the democratic party is very heterogeneous. And that Bernies supporters get angry when it's mentioned. She said they shouldn't get angry, they should fix it. If you noticed Obama's crowd in 2008 they were ...

3 out of 4 jews that voted for Obama
3 out of 4 Hispanics that voted for Obama
3 out of 4 Asians voted for Obama and a record numbers of African Americans.

She says this has to be fixed, and I agree. And that, she says is the winning coalition.

[BrotherIvan]

94. This is a Clinton campaign generated talking point

There are plenty of PoC on DU that support Sanders. In fact, by my count it is about 50/50, but some people are more vocal than others so it is not as obvious. DU also has quite a few PoC who support O'Malley as well. There are groups of PoC starting all over social media in support of Sanders. He has been endorsed by Killer Mike, a very politically active rapper who has 1 million twitter followers. If you look outside the MSM, you will see Sanders' support is growing in every category. To assume that Hillary, who ran a racist campaign in 2008, has a lock on African Americans is a very shaky assumption.

People of color DO care about jobs, about education, about changing the justice system. Sanders talks about all of those things in his stump speeches and the more people hear him, the more they may be interested in him. This election will come down to honesty and trust and the more that people see that his proposals are not "fringe" the more people will jump on board. People are tired of hollow promises.

[Stellar]

106. The way I see it,

she may very well be using a Clinton talking points...but she is still telling the truth.

Why would any PoC be fans of O'Malley and I still got my eye on Clintons...both of them. Bernie as I said need to speak to communities where they are... 'Black live Matter' would be a good start. Otherwise, I think he's got a lot going for him.

But then...any one of them that can jump on the 'Black lives matter' issue....will get my vote!

[BrotherIvan]

111. I didn't mean Number 23, I meant the whole dustup

I hope that Sanders does find a way to connect so people of color can see that not only does he have the record to back up what he is saying, but he would be the best candidate for anyone not in the top 1%. Hillary couldn't even say "Black Lives Matter" she said "All Lives Matter."

And now, let's be honest, we have a black president and a brand new black female AG. Don't you think the best possible time to do something about it would be right now?? Candidates make speeches, but whoever wins is two years away. Why not raise our voices now?

[Stellar]

115. I like the PoC in the administration but I'm more interested in anyone that can help...

the issues that I care about.

[corkhead]

135. I have really appreciated your contribution up and down on this entire thread

Thank you for providing an alternative perspective to some of the noisemakers on this site.

[merrily]

133. Talk is good. Action is better. Pandering to get votes sucks.

[Number23]

96. Exactly. Poll after poll and article after article talks about Sanders' lack of focus on minority

issue. This is something he has simply GOT to address. Some may try to pretend that this is about DU but they don't get it and it is plain to see they aren't trying to.

These also seem to be the same folks that say that because he "marched in Selma" that this somehow proves that he is committed to minority communities and that this speaks to what he is going to do to address the specific concerns of minority communities TODAY.

Tara Dowdell is right. And thank goodness Sanders isn't listening to his panting, easily placated "supporters" on DU. He has acknowledged his own shortcomings on addressing minority issues and hopefully he will begin to come up with concrete policies and solutions -- not simply "mentioning" our issues in two sentences in a speech and expecting anyone with any sense to be satisfied by that -- that address them soon. He has a clear background on these issues I'm really excited to hear what he has to say.

[Stellar]

112. hear, hear!!!

I'm tired of my people being abused. If they keep killing our people, all that other good stuff don't mean a damned thing to me. That is more important to me than anything. Other than that, I like where Bernie is coming from if he can add that into his repertoire.

[Number23]

117. And not just killing us, keeping us from housing, from good health, from employment. The very thing

-- seemingly the only thing -- that Sanders thinks will solve all of our problems.

Have you seen the stories about housing discrimination against black folks TODAY??! Not fifty years ago, not twenty years ago. IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. It never stopped!!!!

http://www.diversityinc.com/diversity-and-inclusion/though-more-hidden-housing-discrimination-is-still-absurdly-high/
http://www.citylab.com/housing/2015/05/how-todays-developers-maintain-jim-crow-housing-segregation/393188/
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-25/housing-discrimination-lawsuits-backed-by-u-s-supreme-court
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/monique-mo-george/housing-discrimination-ge_b_6701758.html

We all know that owning a home was for a lot of people, a way of getting a slice of the American Dream. It's the fastest way to wealth and stability for millions of families. So black people have been discriminated against in housing for centuries. How can we talk about income equality and wealth and employment in a way that will rally poc to your side without talking FIRST AND FOREMOST about racism????? Without talking about racial discrimination??? THIS is why only focusing on economic issues will not only turn off large swaths of minority voters, but only will address half of the problem.

Because racism in the US has ALWAYS been about economics for black people, along with opportunities and education and health and employment and and and and... We have to deal with the economic issues that white people deal with AS WELL AS racism which affects our lives in every conceivable way. Only talking about 'unemployment' in the face of Ferguson is problematic for me. And I bet I'm not the only one.

[Stellar]

136. You've got a lot just in 'THIS' post.

It feels as though we are being herded together before killing us off.

[heaven05]

154. YOU are a breath of fresh air

always with the truth. You got to stop that..... Just kidding. Keep up the good work.

[Mnpaul]

187. Who has a record of fighting to save low income housing?

Who blocked the developers from tearing them down to build luxury condos?

Who worked with Senator Leahy to come up with the funds to rehab them and allow the working poor to buy them at low prices?

Who worked to bring a supermarket to the inner city?

Who turned down the mega stores in favor of a member owned coop?

Who cleaned up the industrial wasteland in the inner city and created a beautiful park for everyone?

Who has never(in 35 years) missed the annual Christmas party for underprivileged children?

Who created programs to provide seed funding and technical assistance that focused on creating more female entrepreneurs?

and he had to fight big money and members of both parties to get it done. There is even at the link below:
http://www.thenation.com/article/bernies-burlington-city-sustainable-future/

[bravenak]

189. I suppose thats all wonderful, but it has not helped save our children.

What is he gonna do in the future to ramp things up to help save the black community? All that stuff is nice, but it has not put one damn dent in the problem. Things have been getting wirse not better and economics doen't solve the problem.


Trayvons parents were middle class, his father lived in a gated community. There were none of the poverty issues yet RACISM killed him.
Sandra Bland was a college graduate staring a new job, a black lives matters activist and in a sorority, the epitome of middle class black upbringing, yet a racist cops abused her and jailed her for a turn signal violation, now she is dead.
Mike Brown had graduated high school and was on his way to college now he's dead.

What we want to know is how will Bernie address that? Money doesn't mean shit if we live in such a racist environment that a young white man can go into a church and murder a state senator just and many other just for being black. We want racism addressed as the main focus. That is the problem. We say fix racism, his side says, 'lets fix poverty and racism can wait or will fix itself'. That's bullshit to us and lets us know that we are not being listened to. We're dying and they just want to send our dead kids to college.

[Mnpaul]

191. Would Mike Brown be alive if he had a job earning money for college?

How about Eric Garner? What if his street hustler skills were used for a good paying job selling something else?

I have dealt with similar situation that Bland was involved in numerous times but never escalated it to the point of going to jail. Cops love to play this game in small towns. They come up behind you(often with high beams at night) hoping to force you into giving them a reason to pull you over. I was once stopped for looking at an officer sheepishly(I was actually checking out the new squads/paint scheme). It didn't help that I was driving a car owned by a person with a revoked license. I have been pulled over for having a 4 inch piece of 1/4" air line hanging from my rear bumper(the cop claimed it might get caught in my brakes although it was several feet short of reaching them. I got stopped for rolling a stop sign when in reality, I had stopped long enough to let cars from both directions pass. I had one cop tell me that my car exhaust couldn't be louder than my engine(wh8ch makes absolutely no sense at all.

In all these situations, I realized that it wasn't worth the fight and cooperated with law enforcement. If the officer asked me to put out my cigarette, I did so(I realize the concern here that an officer is worried about with a lit cig that can be flicked in their face). It is SOP to request that. If they request that I get out of the car, I complied. I walked away from all the events without going to jail.

I did stand up to them in other cases. I had them come onto my property demanding that I break up a party. I asked why. They said that they might get a complaint. I told them to come back when they had one. I knew they had no legal justification to be there and I call them on it.

We also went after one of the cops that often engaged in the behavior mentioned above. We caught him in a minor infraction(illegal u-turn) and went to the court house a gave him a ticket. The sheriff called us at home and told us he gets a warning this time. Eventually enough complaints came in and this officer was relegated to office work. It wasn't the only one. One officer was relegated to jail duty and one cop even got sent to prison.

[bravenak]

192. Why should anybody have to be at work not to die because they are black?

[Mnpaul]

193. If they are at work earning money legally

the cops have no reason to bother them. It doesn't mean that they won't but it does reduce the chances. Cops also love to target those that don't have the resources to fight back. It happens quite often in drug cases. They usually only go so far up the chain. After they get to a certain point, it costs them more to prosecute than what they gain.

[bravenak]

194. So after the 8 hour shift is up they should hide because racism instead of fixing racism?

[Mnpaul]

195. after the 8 hour shift

they could enjoy the fruits of their labor by engaging in other legal behavior(hobbies or whatever). Some kids enjoy video games. The cops aren't going to bother them if they are home doing that. They could be doing what we are doing here. He could be online advocating for racial justice as you are.

[bravenak]

196. So no driving around. No going to the store. No hanging out. No partying. No pool parties.

Black people should never expect the same quality of life and freedoms as whites. And that should be okay with us? This answer? Seperate but equal lives, where we MUST be at work or home so as to not get harassed by white cops and not have to deal with white supremacy. Your solotion is to be at work or home, never in the public space where cops can single you out for your color. That sounds like jim crow. You know that you just described Jim Crow?

[Mnpaul]

197. Driving around would be included in the entertainment of their choice

In which case are they more likely to be targeted by police, hanging around on a street corner engaging in illegal activity or doing some of the things you listed above?

[bravenak]

199. Which does allow for cops pulling you over and killing you. We want THAT to stop.

Sandra Bland was driving down to START her new job. Dead. What was illegal about that?

[Mnpaul]

200. and if she had cooperated with the police

she probably would have left with a minor ticket. She did break the law, although a minor infraction. She did refuse a reasonable request by the officer. Why on such a minor offense?

Do you think the situation with Michael Brown would have been different if had a job(and a car) and he told the officer he was on his way home from work?

One, I believe he would have a better self esteem and would be less likely to lash out at authorities.

Two. If he had a car he probably wouldn't be harassed for jaywalking.

Three. If the event still happened, the reaction from the public would have been totally different and the court case as well.

[bravenak]

201. Wow. We can just decide not to speak anymore.

[Number23]

95. And what exactly do these two sentences in this context mean to you?

And how does the context of unemployment explain the totality of what happened in Ferguson? Did the black people in Ferguson have guns pointed at them and get shot at by cops because they were unemployed? Michael Brown was on his way to college that fall. Did that make any difference to Darren Wilson?

And how does that explain the number of black people that get turned down for jobs because of their names? How does that affect black unemployment? Or what about the reality that black men with no criminal record are denied jobs at higher rates than white men WITH criminal records? How does that affect black unemployment?

Is "unemployment" the only thing we should be talking about here?

[Cheese Sandwich]

102. Violent, abusive police are needed to control the poor in a system of extreme inequality

The root of racism is economic exploitation, going back to slavery.

Black communities suffer at the hands of cops because they are on the bottom of the pyramid of capitalist society. Give black communities economic power and this will give them the means to fight back against the system of oppression.

Bernie Sanders does not go far enough. He should be talking about community control of businesses and also of the police forces.

But he is headed in the right direction when talking about economic inequality and racism as very linked. Even though they are not totally linked, they are still very linked. This is what he is getting at when he says unemployment is off the charts.

As far as people being denied jobs because of their names or race, that kind of discrimination is something I'm sure Bernie Sanders is against and would support the same enforcement measures as Hillary Clinton, wouldn't you think?

I wanted to share this video because it relates to the subject.

[Number23]

103. Your subject heading is a perfect illustration of what's going on around here

People are in this thread and all over DU doing the "it's not race it's class" BS. And how middle class and wealthier blacks don't have to deal with the same thing that our poorer brothers and sisters have to deal with.

But in your post, in your SUBJECT HEADER (I haven't even read the rest of your post) you talk about "police controlling the poor."

What in hell makes you think that the cops knew those people in Ferguson were poor?

[Cheese Sandwich]

105. Sorry you didn't like what I wrote. I hope some day you will read it.

[Number23]

107. Didn't like it or not like it. Subject header said it all.

[Cheese Sandwich]

108. Actually there was quite a bit more there beyond the title

[Number23]

109. I'm sure there was.

[AuntPatsy]

118. Perfect response.....I've seen that reaction myself ,wealth status has little to do with

How people are treated with such disrespect, look at how our president is treated, says quite a bit about reality in today's world like it or not....

[Number23]

119. Eggzactly. Race trumps everything else. I have seen black folks dressed to the nines and with PhDs

get treated like crap.

We're in this thread talking about Ferguson, which was precipitated by the murder of a young black man by a cop. When that cop accosted Mike Brown, he had no idea what his income or educational level was and I truly can't believe that anyone thinks it would matter. They interviewed several of the children that were getting harassed by cops in Texas where that young black woman in a bikini was thrown around like a dishrag. Every last child they spoke to was educated and incredibly articulate and seemed to come from solid homes. Who here genuinely believes that makes a difference to those cops???

When my husband and I were house hunting, in certain neighborhoods, I had to let him go and look at the house by himself because every time I'd show up, we'd get The Look from the rental agent/realtor. And yeah, after two kids, I'm not as little as I used to be but I am the furthest thing in the world from unkempt. None of that matters.

My employment status, education, income, whatever other BS criteria some here are trying to pretend trumps my skin color are secondary. That's the reality of racism.

[AuntPatsy]

121. I'm honestly surprised anyone is even arguing the truth of what you speak....

Ive been here long enough to have witnessed the look any POC was met with stepping outside of a certain contained area, yes we've come a long way, but the truth and reality as I personally see it is that if the fear and distrust existed once in a persons mind it has a hard time going away, in my opinion the majority of white people have learned to hide what they truly feel much better than they once did...

Until such personalities are weeded out as a bad genetic disorder which must find a cure the more things change the more they are bound to remain the same....

[raouldukelives]

137. I truly believe education is the only way to fight racism.

Honest, critical thinking, open minded, liberal educations.

I've always felt racism was taught. That the only thing that ever really trickled down from Reaganomics was the hate & ethics of the wealthiest and the worlds corporate elite.

I also truly believe the last thing corporations want is a more informed electorate hence the attacks on public education.

The elimination of public schools and the boom of charters. The changing of history textbooks to fit the parameters of what those trickle down racists believe, or want others to believe.

Bush once said when asked about his legacy "Let history be the judge." I think he knew very well just what he meant when he said that. Let the new and improved corporate history that will be written be the judge.

Whoever stands strongest with Wall St, stands strongest with the merchants of ignorance.

We must reverse the tide of celebrating ignorance and embracing fear.

[azmom]

183. I had the great privilege to keep my

Daughter away from the public school system. She is open minded, liberal and smart as a whip. She got accepted to some of the top colleges in the nation.

So I definitely agree with your assessment.

[heaven05]

160. thank you

for reality. Bernie's jobs will just generate more of "The Look". Jobs help but are far and away not going to solve racial injustice in this society/culture that has had generations to embed in this country's people of privilege.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

122. Also on Al Sharpton MSNBC

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128022113

[Stellar]

141. Well, that's a start...

Although Bernie has always been a civil rights advocate, he's got to get and keep his word out there. Perhaps go on black radio stations and other venues across the country the way Obama did.

[Betty Karlson]

134. Yes! Thank you Mr Sanders for that broader picture.

Systemic change is needed, and those communities that suffer most from the current system will benefit most from the change.

[madokie]

143. Bernie not only points out where the problems are

he also gives us the hows and whys of fixing them. People who won't or don't listen or read what he says are the ones who question him. Hardly giving him a fair shake if you ask me. then they pass it all off as concern. The hell with that noise

[Sancho]

158. Is Bernie planning to pass Ameriworks (House of Cards)?

http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/02/news/economy/frank-underwood-house-of-cards-economy/

[Adrahil]

159. Like most socialists, Bernie ties most everything back to class.

I more or less agree with him, though in America, I think it's more complicated than that when talking about systemic racism. Bernie, like most socialists, assumes that despair and violence is the result of economic conditions. He right (mostly), but the problem is, he then thinks the problem can be solved by simply promoting the economic interests of the working and middle classes. I think that's inadequate in America. I think race holds a unique position in the equation in this country.

Having said that, I don't think Bernie "doesn't care" about race. I think that argument is very spurious.

[Diremoon]

167. Unemployment/Poverty

Almost all ills of our society are caused by poverty. That includes educational problems. I am sure that Bernie is aware of that, he is smart man.