Joe Biden Doubles Down On A Racist Myth About Black Parents

[totodeinhere]

In a long and often rambling interview with The New York Times published Friday, former Vice President Joe Biden responded to a question about the legacy of racism by blaming Black parents for the racial achievement gap.

In the third 2020 Democratic presidential debate, held in September, Biden had said that one way America could address the legacy of slavery and segregation was by bridging the “word gap” between white and Black children. “A kid coming from a very poor school, a very poor background, will hear 4 million words fewer spoken by the time we get there,” Biden said. He then recommended that Black parents play records at night to “make sure that kids hear words.”

The New York Times editorial board pressed Biden on these claims and asked him to elaborate on how solving the word gap would address the legacy of slavery. Biden began his answer by noting that former President Barack Obama had also been criticized for advising Black parents to take more responsibility for raising children. He then suggested that America could do more to help minority parents “provide more guidance and better guidance for themselves and their families.”

Finally, he suggested that Black parents may not participate in their children’s schooling due to embarrassment about their own lack of education. Biden said he’d learned from his wife, a former school teacher, that poor parents “don’t show up because they’re embarrassed. They’re embarrassed the teacher’s going to say — and it’s hard to say, ‘Well, I can’t read.’”

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-racist-myth-black-parents_n_5e2215a9c5b674e44b980327

I just thought I would throw this out there for discussion. I don't necessarily always agree with HuffPost and IMO they aren't always the progressive voice that they make themselves out to be. But this is an important topic.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

1. Embarrassing, outdated and harmful.

[Demsrule86]

14. No it is not...there is still a big gap between inner city schools and suburban schools...Biden is

right. And kids are showing up for school not prepared...can't afford Pre-K...the schools should do more to help kids but unfortunately that won't happen anytime soon...so until then try everything...and not for nothing, I believe very little of what New York Time says about Biden...after what they did to Hillary and their previous attacks on Biden.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

20. The issue is that Biden routinely uses "poor" and "black" interchangeably, and frames a systemic

as one that individuals can solve. Both ideas are damaging.

[Demsrule86]

25. That is untrue...and just another attack. Biden has a big civil rights records...what has Sanders

done since he marched with MLK...heck those AA leaders in Vermont are routinely ignored by him.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

26. Saying black parents need to try harder is an individual solution to a systemic problem.

[Demsrule86]

68. Only he didn't say that Huff took out the part that blows your argument out of the water...

From the New York Times interview...Huff has conveniently left out the part that destroys their racist charge...didn't you look at it before posting?

"My wife has taught for the last — my deceased wife taught grade school. My present wife of 47 years now has taught in high school and grade school, I mean, junior high, high school, and now she’s a college professor, a community college professor.Mr. Biden lost his first wife, Neilia, and their daughter in a car accident in 1972. And the people who don’t show up on the nights when there’s a parent-teacher meeting are not people who in fact don’t care, but folks from poor backgrounds. They don’t show up because they’re embarrassed. They’re embarrassed the teacher’s going to say — and it’s hard to say, “Well, I can’t read,” or “I don’t …”

I’m talking about not just people of color, but poor folks. And so there’s this about being able to give people a kind of help they desperately want without being embarrassed in getting the help, without being embarrassed that they’re seeking the help."'

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/17/opinion/joe-biden-nytimes-interview.html

[Demsrule86]

69. You should have read the NYT article...

Your arguments don't work when you see what Biden actually said...I posted it to you in the last post.

[pfeiffer]

16. Oh yeah?

Did you see Bernie's interview with the board about racism? Did u see the looks on those reporter's faces?

Talk about embarrassing, outdated and harmful.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

18. Agreed, also terrible! But I thought this was a thread about Biden.

Lol at "Oh yeah?"

[Demsrule86]

28. The point is with Sander's record on civil rights or lack there of by what right does he or those

in his campaign attempt question Joe Biden's record of civil rights...he has actual accomplishments.

[pfeiffer]

33. Oh yeah!

Excellent point!

[totodeinhere]

34. This was an article in HuffPost. It was not put out by the Sanders campaign.

But anyone has every right to discuss this topic. I say lets talk about it and let the chips fall where they may.

[emmaverybo]

51. HuffPost is extremely biased in favor of Bernie. They also posted an extreme attack on Liz

Warren which tried to make a case against her through guilt by association with her white ancestors from centuries ago and which ascribed sinister motives to her recounting of a family narrative proven to be true. They published this Warren bashing article as she was picking up steam. I will not read HuffPost. It is no longer a credible source.

I began questioning it during Obama’s first run. The more likely it looked that he would win the nomination, the more doubt about him HuffPost attempted to raise. And after he’d won as well. Something terribly wrong with their editorial decisions. I got the feeling they did not want a Dem victory then. I still wonder.

[totodeinhere]

56. No, maybe you are the one who is biased against HuffPost.

No offense intended. But HuffPost has published articles critical of just about every candidate, including Bernie at one time or another. This article just appeared today.

Bernie Sanders Called The Democratic Party ‘Intellectually Bankrupt’ In 1985 Letter

This article is very critical of Bernie.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-democratic-party-independent_n_5e21e4f8c5b632117612f412

If you want more examples of criticisms of Bernie in HuffPost I can research it and provide it.

As I said in my OP, I don't always agree with HuffPost but I was throwing this out for discussion. I don't understand the anger and the snark that this has elicited from some Biden supporters.

[Demsrule86]

62. Complete part of this excerpt of the NYT interview which Huffpo left off purposefully.

From the New York Times interview...Huff has conveniently left out the part that destroys their racist charge...didn't you look at it before posting?

"My wife has taught for the last — my deceased wife taught grade school. My present wife of 47 years now has taught in high school and grade school, I mean, junior high, high school, and now she’s a college professor, a community college professor.Mr. Biden lost his first wife, Neilia, and their daughter in a car accident in 1972. And the people who don’t show up on the nights when there’s a parent-teacher meeting are not people who in fact don’t care, but folks from poor backgrounds. They don’t show up because they’re embarrassed. They’re embarrassed the teacher’s going to say — and it’s hard to say, “Well, I can’t read,” or “I don’t …”

I’m talking about not just people of color, but poor folks. And so there’s this about being able to give people a kind of help they desperately want without being embarrassed in getting the help, without being embarrassed that they’re seeking the help."'

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/17/opinion/joe-biden-nytimes-interview.html

[totodeinhere]

63. I don't know if leaving that part out was an editorial decision or was simply editing for space.

But be that as it may, what do you think of articles critical of Sanders that are appearing in HuffPost? Doesn't that contradict your contention that they are biased against Biden?

[Demsrule86]

65. They are biased against Biden...don't know about Sanders but they could be for sure.

Funny how they leave out the part that blows their thesis out of the water isn't it? It destroys their argument.

[totodeinhere]

66. Actually I appreciated your bringing this up and it's a relevant part of the discussion.

As I said in my OP, I am throwing this out there for discussion. I always try to approach things like this with an open mind. And I think we all should be open minded.

[Demsrule86]

67. Fair enough...and let me say, I do think that both Biden and Sander have had their share of unfair

media coverage. I have seen media some practically sneer at both.

[Demsrule86]

61. It was an excerpt deliberately put out by Huffpo...that cut off the part I posted where Biden says

he is talking about poor people so I stand by what I say...and honestly the article should contain part which which was deleted by Huffpo...in their attack on Biden. I posted it.

[pfeiffer]

38. Lol!

I know...I was thinking I could add some strength to my retort. Lol

[Hassin Bin Sober]

72. Disqualifying

[Blue_true]

73. Not really. The education attainment gap between Black and White students

trace in a significant way to parental involvement in the kids' educations. It is a problem that must be tackled, but before that can take place we must admit that it is a problem.

[jalan48]

2. Very weird. Why is he doing this?

[totodeinhere]

4. I don't know. In his heart Joe Biden is no racist.

The last thing we need is another racist president after what we have now. And Joe Biden would not be a racist president. Thank God for that. But I think that someone needs to sit down with him and have a thoughtful discussion on this topic.

[jalan48]

6. I don't think he is either. Did he go off script?

[pfeiffer]

12. Not as off-script as Bernie went...

during his interview with the board about about racism.

Good governor.

[jalan48]

27. When did that happen?

[hedda_foil]

41. He's not. This is a rehash of his bizarre September debate comments and nothing more.

[jalan48]

46. It was during an interview December 16, 2019, not September.

[hedda_foil]

54. You're absolutely right. Thanks for the correction, jalan48.

[jalan48]

57. No Problem hedda. Been there myself several times.

[Thekaspervote]

3. Blah blah blah

[pfeiffer]

9. Yep...

Huff Post sometimes is just blah blah blah.

Gosh...everyone you can imagine always tries to drive a wedge between Biden and his gigantic number of black supporters.

Not gonna work.

[totodeinhere]

37. Do you really think that the purpose of this article was to drive a wedge?

Or could the author really care about this issue? I don't think that we need to apply the most cynical interpretation.

[vsrazdem]

5. "They don't show up". Wow.

[pfeiffer]

7. Ummm...

Did you hear Bernie's discussion with their editorial board about racism?

Talk about "Wow".

Good governor.

[vsrazdem]

15. Yes, and it was on point.

[pfeiffer]

22. Really?

Tell that to the reporters in the room.

They sure didn't think he was "on point".

[melman]

30. +1

[thesquanderer]

21. The Huffpo paragraph is misleading

Here's the full quote:

the people who don’t show up on the nights when there’s a parent-teacher meeting are not people who in fact don’t care, but folks from poor backgrounds. They don’t show up because they’re embarrassed. They’re embarrassed the teacher’s going to say — and it’s hard to say, “Well, I can’t read,” or “I don’t …”
I’m talking about not just people of color, but poor folks

Agree or disagree, it wasn't really about black parents, it was about poor parents.

[MarcA]

31. Poor Folks. Unlike the Rich Folks such as the trumps. n/t

[thesquanderer]

36. I suppose it's possible that Trump didn't show up for parent-teacher night because he can't read...

...though I'd be more inclined to believe it was because he didn't care.

[Demsrule86]

8. I taught in inner city schools...where parents work two or three jobs to put food on the table...

and kids come home alone or are in substandard day care...it is not a bad idea to play music or records...in fact during my last pregnancy, my 'birthing adviser and Lamaze coach suggested we should be playing classical music and reading great works of literature to our unborn children and when they arrived to keep it up. And it is not just AA parents, When I lived in Southbury CT, social workers came out with similar advice for poor parents. Of course everyone should do this, but there is no question, there is a gap between inner city schools and suburban schools.

[OKNancy]

13. ha! didn't see your post before I commented

Anyone who has actually taught in public schools knows the validity of what the Bidens are talking about.

[Demsrule86]

32. It was an eye opener...let me tell you.

Most parents want to do their best for kids...and I have always thought that one size education doesn't work...we need to send additional help to poor areas ...and we need to allow parents to stay home by financial support if they choose until their kids are five...it would make such a difference.

[LuvNewcastle]

50. I agree.

Kids need a family member with them in their early years. A close friend would be all right too, but I think it would be best if a parent was able to stay with them. If we can afford to help with daycare, I guess we could afford to help a parent who wants to stay home with their young child. It would reap a lot of dividends in the future, especially considering the amount we have to spend on corrections.

[Demsrule86]

60. No one is better to raise a young child than a loving parent.

[OKNancy]

10. Anyone commenting in this thread ever been a teacher?

Jill Biden is right. I've been there, I've seen it.

[Dave in VA]

17. Me too!

37 years as a special needs teacher in an inner city middle school. Dr. Biden is absolutely correct.

[Turin_C3PO]

24. Minority parents

are just as good as white parents at exposing their children to words. Biden wasn’t saying otherwise. He was talking about poverty.

[Demsrule86]

35. I saw it in a couple of states, and it is heartbreaking.

[melman]

11. Holy shit

“don’t show up because they’re embarrassed. They’re embarrassed the teacher’s going to say — and it’s hard to say, ‘Well, I can’t read.’”

[Demsrule86]

43. There are parents who can't read you know. That is true.

I have taught adult education classes.

[Tipperary]

19. Record players?

Is he still on that?

[thesquanderer]

23. The interviewer brought it up. (n/t)

[Polybius]

29. I guess it sounds better than 8-tracks

But yeah, saying record players won't help him with 18-30 year olds.

[Demsrule86]

44. The kids are crazy for 'vinyl' now...bought a record player for my Generation Z kid Christmas and

the Nintendo Switch...what a combination.

[Polybius]

71. Wow, I didn't know they came back in style

I think some DJ's still use them too.

[UniteFightBack]

70. He shouldn't be and I don't know why his advisers are not taking care of this. nt

[left-of-center2012]

39. Trying to split off AA voters from Biden

[totodeinhere]

40. Is that really the motivation of this article?

Or could the author really care about this issue and disagree with Joe's comments?

[Demsrule86]

45. Yes that is the motivation and anyone who read the article which makes the case he is

talking about poor kids would not doubt that...and if you ever taught too.

[totodeinhere]

52. I guess you're a better mind reader than I am. n/t

[Demsrule86]

59. I read the article and original at the NYT's so no need for mind reading.

[Politicub]

42. None of the candidates should expound upon subjects that they aren't qualified to talk about

Biden isn't a developmental psychologist, yet he makes it sound like he is an authority on the root causes of systemic educational inequality.

The NEA has studied this issue extensively. Here's its list of factors that contribute to educational achievement gaps; "Shame" doesn't appear on the list. http://www.nea.org/home/17413.htm

[Demsrule86]

47. This post is deceptive because later in the article...he says he is talking about poor kids.

Shameful. From the New York Times interview...Huff has conveniently left out the part that destroys their racist charge...didn't you look at it before posting?

"My wife has taught for the last — my deceased wife taught grade school. My present wife of 47 years now has taught in high school and grade school, I mean, junior high, high school, and now she’s a college professor, a community college professor.Mr. Biden lost his first wife, Neilia, and their daughter in a car accident in 1972. And the people who don’t show up on the nights when there’s a parent-teacher meeting are not people who in fact don’t care, but folks from poor backgrounds. They don’t show up because they’re embarrassed. They’re embarrassed the teacher’s going to say — and it’s hard to say, “Well, I can’t read,” or “I don’t …”

I’m talking about not just people of color, but poor folks. And so there’s this about being able to give people a kind of help they desperately want without being embarrassed in getting the help, without being embarrassed that they’re seeking the help."

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/01/17/opinion/joe-biden-nytimes-interview.html

[Afromania]

48. Can I go a day without some new dumb shit from him or Bernie on the topic of black people?

[boomer_wv]

49. This line of attack didn't work over the summer when

you guys first tried it. Why not dig it up now?

[DarthDem]

53. Not Going to Work

No one cares about this attempted wedge.

[Mike Nelson]

55. Grrrrr...

... I get what he is trying to say, but does he know it's not color? Poor or immigrants parents can be verbally guarded, but it has nothing to do with their parenting skills. Conversely, a very wealthy parent can totally neglect their children - it hurts theses kids, too... Also, kids are embarrassed by parents at a certain age, because they are parents! Parents show interest, love, and support across the board. I've taught, and I have not found race/color has a negative effect on parents participating in the education of their children. Jill taught - she can help Joe!

[David__77]

58. He points to the news for more social guarantees.

Child care, preschool, higher education, jobs- guaranteed.

[UniteFightBack]

64. Well if I were advising Joe I would tell him these points can be made in a much better way and then

we are going to go over the new spiel. I have a lot of friends who are teachers and family who work in the school system. Some of these points have validity but the wording and way it is phrased is poor and sounds outdated.

He needs to fix this, not repeat it. He is still getting my vote, nobody is perfect and nobody says everything perfectly always. Nobody is always right.

But his heart and sentiment are in the right place. THE END.