We have to unite ourselves around Black Lives Matter.
Because they do. And because just because many of us and Bernie are white does not mean that we don't understand that fact.
We who are white may not fully understand the suffering that Black people experience in their lives. That is especially true of those of us who are older (me) and who may not have had, as our children do, close relationships, even family relationships with people of color when we were children.
But we can read the news. We do hear and say the names. We do care. We do have compassion. And Black people need to distinguish between friend and foe. Because right now, when it comes to police oppression, Black people need friends. And so do white people, but we just don't realize that fact yet.
Black people are the ready scapegoat. But once the police state mentality finishes subjugating people in Black and Hispanic and Asian communities, it will move on to minority groups within the white community. Because that is what the police state mentality does.
Black Lives Matter. But that issue is too important for its advocates to pick fights with their friends. Their imperfect friends, but their friends.
Hey, to have a friend like Bernie Sanders who speaks eloquently and forthrightly about race issues and who backs up his speech with stubborn advocacy for what he believes in is really worth a lot. I hope that the BLM recognizes what Bernie is about and what a strong friend he is and will be and get on board with his campaign.
The Black Lives Matter movement would do well to take advantage of Bernie's long and steady support of the cause of people of color and his moral integrity which is unmatched by any other candidate for the presidency.
Thanks to Cornel West for speaking out.
We can deal both with the economic issues and the Black Lives Matter issues. In fact we must. But we must be united to do it.
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