General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: This message was self-deleted by its author [View all]Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)is inextricably linked with social justice. What I'm getting here is that while I take for granted the ways in which I think his vision for America helps PoC, not everyone takes his point. I do think it is on him to correct that. I think he will. Mostly, I think he needs to better and more vividly support his thesis. Going forward as a Sander's supporter, I'm going to work to understand the ways in which anti-poverty policy makes social justice possible. I know this. I love what Bernie is saying. It speaks to me. I think it should speak to others, but perhaps I am living in my own white-bread world. A poster here in another thread said "They are the group most affected by economic inequality, but it's not what they are most affected by." I think these words need to be considered.
I think the perceived disconnect here is that Bernie recognizes that there is a divide, he is trying to refocus and redefine the perceived divide from where those with power desperately want it to be - a divide between ethnicities - to a divide that is more all encompassing between regular people and those who wall themselves off in gated communities while shipping opportunity offshore and away from regular Americans. I think Bernie sees class divide as a more appropriate framework than he sees ethnic divide. At the end of the day, I believe regular black folks want what regular white folks want - equality of opportunity, clean water and air, a voice in all matters political, safe communities, good schools, the freedom to practice our religious and cultural traditions, etc. I think he truly believes the fight is not with one another, but against those who pit us against each other in order to maintain their money, power, and influence.
I think that cultural and ethnic division is the only way they maintain their power and advantages. I think Bernie likely believes that once we acknowledge we are all on the same team, all people will rise up together against social injustices. I don't feel that Bernie doesn't speak AA issues, I think he thinks African American issues are a product of our failure to recognize who really stands to gain by perpetuating ethnic division. I think Bernie is hoping to strike at the root cause of the issue, and that cause is cynical rich and powerful people clinging to power at the expense of everybody else.
I hope you give Bernie and his supporters another chance and work to help him to understand that the way you see it, if I understand you correctly, that AA issues need some triage first so that everyone has their hierarchy of needs addressed. I think that is a legit perspective and I hope it is recognized and rectified so that we can group up and take this fight to the real oppressors.
Hopefully this isn't tldr material. I hope you give this Sanders supporter another chance.