Young Black Democrats of Western New York will endorse Bernie.

[Luminous Animal]

BLM: “Bernie, come to Buffalo”
THE NEWS DESK DECEMBER 30, 2015 ONE COMMENT
DSCN7840
Katrinna Martin-Bordeaux is the region’s highest profile advocate of the Black Lives Matter movement and is the Chairperson of Young Black Democrats of Western New York, a coalition of activists that has mobilized the minority community around education and economic justice issues in recent years.

Her organization, Young Black Democrats of Western New York, is planning to endorse Bernie Sanders for President of the United States of America.

Martin-Bordeaux is extending an invitation to the Presidential candidate to come to Buffalo to accept the endorsement before New York’s Super Tuesday primary “at an Eastside rally that will include hundreds of minority youth activists.”

Observers think it may even happen before the South Carolina primary.

“We want the national spotlight to be put on Hillary Clinton’s treatment of the Black community during her eight years as our United States Senator, during which she ignored the Eastside of Buffalo,” explains Martin-Bordeaux.

http://buffalochronicle.com/2015/12/30/blm-bernie-come-to-buffalo/

[Live and Learn]

1. K&R nt

[CorporatistNation]

94. Hailing Originally From Buffalo NY, I Applaud LOUDLY! Kicked And Recommended!

Setting the Pace for 2016!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

2. Good news!

[Live and Learn]

3. The truth about Hillary and her treatment of minorities is finally coming to light. nt

[Empowerer]

5. Or maybe black voters make up their minds based on the issues-just like white voters do

And this particular group of voters happens to prefer Bernie Sanders . . .

[Live and Learn]

6. Of course they do. I have always said so. What does that have to do with what I stated in my post?

[wildeyed]

9. That maybe it is not about Hillary's treatment of anyone.

Maybe that particular group of AA voters prefers Bernie because they feel his stance on the issues better reflects their own. That would not be a bad thing.

[Autumn]

13. Did you read the article?

We want the national spotlight to be put on Hillary Clinton’s treatment of the Black community during her eight years as our United States Senator, during which she ignored the Eastside of Buffalo,” explains Martin-Bord

[Empowerer]

14. Interesting that the piece doesn't offer any reason for the group's endorsement of Sanders other

than their dissatisfaction with Clinton. Perhaps the group did elaborate and it just didn't make it into the story. But it would be interesting to hear why they are FOR Sanders beyond being AGAINST Clinton.

[Live and Learn]

20. It says she ignored them which is what she does. Most, if not all, of the

African Americans I talk to agree. Many of the Clintons' policies have hit African Americans particularly hard economically.

[Empowerer]

23. Some may feel that way, many others do not

I am quite certain that I know and talk to many, many more African Americans than you do and that is not the sentiment of most of them. And that is borne out by the polls, which not only show that Hillary Clinton is overwhelmingly popular among blacks, but also that Bernie Sanders has not made significant inroads into that demographic.

[Live and Learn]

25. I am quite certain that there is no way you could have any idea if that is true about me.

And I obviously am having a vastly different experience than you because I haven't witnessed what you are stating at all. In fact, quite the opposite.

[99Forever]

96. Could I borrow that crystal ball of yours?

I'd love to have the ability to know what other people's experiences are without knowing or ever meeting them.


Thanks.

[1StrongBlackMan]

127. "Young Black Democrats of Western New York" ...

Who?

They are a: "coalition of activists that has mobilized the minority community around education and economic justice issues in recent years" without a website or a facebook page? ... That doesn't show up in a google search (except for the instant thread)?

While social media presence is not dispositive of legitimacy, or even existence beyond a few people calling themselves a group ... it does seem to follow the pattern!

[840high]

118. My friends agree with you.

[nyabingi]

28. I'm guessing that those extending the invitation to Bernie

know what his stances are pretty well, but would like to have him there to spell it out for others.

[Empowerer]

12. I re-read the full piece and see that you were echoing Martin-Bordeaux's comment

While I disagree with you and with her, you were not saying what I thought you were. My apologies.

[roguevalley]

29. lovely manners so nice to see

[JRLeft]

8. Black people are individuals, we make decisions for a multitude of reasons.

[Live and Learn]

19. Nobody said you didn't. Please try to keep up. nt

[onehandle]

4. Hillary is massively ahead of Senator Sanders in his home state of New York.

So... Meh?

[JonLeibowitz]

7. Agreed. Keep complacent.

But FYI, New York is not Sanders home state, just where he was born and grew up. He has been in Vermont for many decades now.

Unlike Hillary who is actually a carpetbagger with respect to NY.

[onehandle]

10. Senator Sanders doesn't have a chance in 48 of the most populous states.

Hillary has a 94% chance of winning the primary with just over 4 weeks before it starts.

Complacently doesn't even apply.

[JonLeibowitz]

15. I agree. Where do I send the "Congratulations on your confirmed victory" cards?

[beam me up scottie]

16. Why even bother fighting it? Shut up and get in line!

[JonLeibowitz]

22. Exactly.

[roguevalley]

31. amazing how the coronation mania extends

To everyone on her side. Why have elections.

[SCantiGOP]

51. This thread is very revealing

Can you imagine a post touting "Old White Democrats in Northern South Dakota to endorse Hillary"? Off course not.

It shows how lopsided BOTH SIDES see this race that you keep seeing these regional endorsements, and the ubiquitous "I saw three Bernie stickers today at the mall."

[Betty Karlson]

88. One way or another, there is a bubble about to pop in four weeks time.

My guess is the Inevitability bubble will vanish, and Clinton's limited appeal will for the first time be front at centre at the MSM news.

[BeanMusical]

37. Resistance is futile.

You will be assimilated.

[RoccoR5955]

112. I love it!

I am stealing it too!

[BeanMusical]

39. Hey, I saw the movie yesterday!

[beam me up scottie]

41. Love that movie! Saw it in Montreal when it first came out.

I should have stayed in Europe a little longer and caught their show at the Berlin wall in 1990.

Regrets.

[LovingA2andMI]

64. It Was a Sequel....

From January 2008, when this happened.....

A series of comments from Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, her husband and her supporters are spurring a racial backlash and adding a divisive edge to the presidential primary as the candidates head south to heavily African-American South Carolina.

The comments, which ranged from the New York senator appearing to diminish the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the civil rights movement — an aide later said she misspoke — to Bill Clinton dismissing Sen. Barack Obama’s image in the media as a “fairy tale” — generated outrage on black radio, black blogs and cable television. And now they've drawn the attention of prominent African-American politicians.

“A cross-section of voters are alarmed at the tenor of some of these statements,” said Obama spokeswoman Candice Tolliver, who said that Clinton would have to decide whether she owed anyone an apology.

“There’s a groundswell of reaction to these comments — and not just these latest comments but really a pattern, or a series of comments that we’ve heard for several months,” she said. “Folks are beginning to wonder: Is this really an isolated situation, or is there something bigger behind all of this?”

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2008/01/racial-tensions-roil-democratic-race-007845#ixzz3w9mrgvze

Then a little known guy named Barack Obama won. This time the winner will be Bernie Sanders.

Amazing how LONG African-Americans Memories Are......

[rbrnmw]

66. Did you live in Europe?

Regardless it sounds like you have had an interesting life.

[beam me up scottie]

69. My parents did, in Brussels.

My mom was originally from Romania.

[rbrnmw]

70. Oh that is cool.

So you were there a lot? My sister lived in England I have never been overseas. I have visited Canada quite a few times.

[beam me up scottie]

71. Unfortunately no, I was married and living in Pennsylvania when they moved to Brussels

Otherwise I would have moved there with them. I did get to visit and meet my relatives which was awesome.

I grew up a few miles from the Canadian border and spent a lot of time in the Great White North.

My first real boyfriend was a cute guy from Montreal.

[Live and Learn]

21. LOL nt

[George II]

61. Here:

Hillary for America
Post Office Box 5256
New York, NY 10185
USA

[CorporatistNation]

95. People of Every Socio-economic Group Should Think Long And Hard Before They Vote...

for HRC in the primary...

[pangaia]

114. In the 2004 ALCS, the Red Sox were down 3- zip to the Yankees.

They even got blown away in the 3rd game 19-8.
In the 4th game the Red Sox were down 4-3 going into the bottom of the 9th.. The odds were 82% NYY winning the GAME.. just the game ! 18% BOS win.

The rest is history.
After coming back to take 4 straight, the Sox went on to sweep the Cardinals in 4 games in the World Series.. Their first World Series in 86 years.
This is considered the greatest comeback in sports history.

Next year will be 72 years since the last "Democratic Socialist" won the presidency. :&gt )

Heh, heh, heh !! Get my drift?

[Plucketeer]

47. LOL

Which Home State? Sounds like a John McCain moment!

[RoccoR5955]

111. Really? I didn't know that Bernie's home state had changed

I know that he was born and raised in NY, but I thought that he calls Vermont his home.
Oh and in NY, all I can say, is to wait for the primary. NY is a late primary state, and could go either way.

[sabrina 1]

122. Sanders' home state is NY? Since when? I live in NY would love that to be the case, but last I

heard, he's STILL the Senator from Vt!

[onehandle]

123. He's from Brooklyn. He moved to his 'summer home' in Vermont in the late sixties. nt

[Punkingal]

11. Wow!

[Empowerer]

17. I googled the Young Black Activists of Western NY and other than a few references to Martin-Bordeaux

can't find anything about them. Is anyone here familiar with them?

[Godhumor]

24. I live in Buffalo and am familiar with Katrinna

She is an activist here who tends to invite controversy. She was one of the most outspoken supporters of Black Lives Matter here in Buffalo and involved herself in a number of campaigns around education, income disparity and how different the "black" side of the city is versus where all of the economic development had been steered.

She is considered controversial because she encouraged parents to opt their children out of state testing and for them to go to school and police that opt out students were not being encouraged to take tests on test days. Her biggest recent incident was serving as campaign manager for Joe Mascia, a local candidate caught on tape referring to a number of prominent local politicians by the N-word. The public perception was that she knew about this behavior but decided to ignore it due to her visibility add campaign manager--something she denies.

Truth be told, I have never heard of Young Black Democrats of WNY until this post. I think it is a new organization of hers considering the only actions announced are from this month and only to our local alt-newspaper (The other action is demanding equal access to resources from a new tech incubator to set up a similar program on the East side of Buffalo.).

To be honest, I think this statement was an attempt to counter the announced Clinton delegates for the convention that were released the same day. On that list are a number of people that were referenced by Joe Mascia on the recorded tape. So take that for what it is worth.

[Empowerer]

26. That's very interesting. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

[Godhumor]

27. No problem. n/t

[Godhumor]

32. I should add, in all seriousness, that there is a very real possibility

That She may be along shortly to give you the full run down on her and her organization (She has a history of, uh, responding in forums when her name is mentioned, and right now this thread is on the front page of Google when her name is typed.).

[cherokeeprogressive]

38. Katrinna Martin-Bordeaux. Katrinna Martin-Bordeaux. Katrinna Martin-Bordeaux.

Needs to come to Democratic Underground and talk about Bernie Sanders.

[George II]

58. She should probably talk about herself first.

[Agschmid]

133. Lol.

[hootinholler]

98. That's ok, MIRT will take care of that shit.

We won't be reading anything pro Bernie form any noob!

[nyabingi]

30. What's with the quotations around the word "black" lol? (nt)

[Godhumor]

33. Just thought it was the appropriate way to indicate racial divide in the city

As it is not a black neighborhood in the sense of only black people living there but has become so by income issues, shady real estate dealings, etc.

I've always used quote marks as my preferred way of dealing with perception of city divides (Have no idea if that explanation even makes sense in words).

Edit: The succinct version. It is not a black neighborhood where people are choosing to live. It is the neighborhood that the poor and underserved of Buffalo are being pushed to, the majority of which happen to be minorities. Hence, "black".

[nyabingi]

106. OK I get ya

Sounds like a mix of gentrification and capital flight happening there, similar to what's happening in many cities across the country right now.

I live in Charlotte and it's stunning how many low-income, majority Black neighborhoods (especially around downtown) are being demolished and rebuilt as high-rent condos for the banking industry here. You can see it slowly creeping down some of the streets here as lived-in but run-down houses are being remodeled and bought up. It makes you wonder where the people are going once they lose their homes.

[wildeyed]

35. So fair to say that just Katrinna Martin-Bordeaux

has endorsed Bernie Sanders? I googled too, and couldn't find any reference to YBDWNY. I guess they are not actually affiliated with the local Democratic Party. Because party affiliated groups are not supposed to officially endorse either candidate until after the primary is over, correct?

[Godhumor]

36. Maybe, not really sure how big it is

My guess is that if I ask around, she has probably been recruiting recently at local colleges and the University at Buffalo. So not sure if YBD is bigger than her at this point or not.

[Uncle Joe]

18. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Luminous Animal.

[George II]

34. Interesting, I googled "Young Black Democrats of Western New York" and here is the first hit:

http://www.buffalonews.com/feed/local-democrats-tapped-for-delegation-to-democratic-national-convention-20151230

Local Democrats tapped for delegation to Democratic National Convention

on December 30, 2015 - 1:13 PM, updated December 30, 2015 at 8:12 PM

Seven local Democrats, led by Erie County Democratic Committee Chairman Jeremy Zellner, have been tapped for a delegation supporting Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 in Philadelphia.

Aside from Zellner, the others from the 26th Congressional District are: Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples-Stokes of Buffalo; Common Council President Darius Pridgen; Leecia Eve, a former Clinton aide and Verizon’s regional vice president; George Kennedy, executive vice president of 1199 SEIU; Bryan Ball, president of the Stonewall Democrats of Western New York and a Democratic zone chair in Buffalo; and Jennifer Dunning, also a party zone chairwoman in Buffalo and a board member of the Pride Center of Western New York.

Four Erie County Democrats in the 27th Congressional District have also been put forth as Clinton delegates: Craig Bucki, a partner at the law firm of Phillips Lytle; Terrance Melvin, president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; Margaret Murphy, a partner at the law firm of Murphy Meyers; and Amherst Town Council member Ramona Popowich.

In the months ahead, they will collect signatures from registered Democrats to secure their places on the primary ballot for the delegate spots.

(more)

[BeanMusical]

40. Fascinating.

[Luminous Animal]

48. Indeed. Fascinating. How the machine attempts to take down a committed activist by innuendo.

And so sweet to see Hillary supporters dissing a Black Lives Matter activist.

Living through the 2008 racist whisper campaign, I expect nothing better from Hillary 2016.

[BeanMusical]

49. +1 Totally agree.

[Godhumor]

53. I gave the background on someone who is a local figure

Both what she had done and what controversies she had been involved in. Mind if I ask, what's your connection to Buffalo (Serious question, don't know if you're a relocated WNYer)?

[Luminous Animal]

56. Yes you did. How kind of you to post rumor and innuendo.

Looking forward to further insights from you from the "black" side of Buffalo.

[Godhumor]

60. Will take that as a no, you're not familiar with the Buffalo scene then

But, sure, feel free to dismiss it when she decided to announce the same day some of the major players in what happened were presented as Clinton delegates to the Convention.

[artislife]

54. ^^^This.

And it is some of the regulars...and now new players...so very fascinating.

[George II]

57. So tell us, specifically....how has anyone attempted to "take down a committed activist....

....by innuendo"? After you explain that, please tell us how has anyone "dissed" a Black Lives Matter activist?

[Luminous Animal]

59. Promoting rumors that she KNEW the candidate she was managing was using the N word and said

nothing.

[Godhumor]

42. Yup, just posted that. Announced the same day she made her announcement

And a number of names in there are those who were called the N-word by a candidate she was campaign manager for. That race turned nasty, real nasty, and she ended up in the middle of it. In other words, not a coincidence.

[Luminous Animal]

50. She resigned when she found out. She did not end up in the middle of anything though people

tried to put her there using baseless accusations. And by baseless, I mean not one shred of proof.

White people LOVED the controversy and were more than happy to pit black against black to discredit Black Lives Matter.

[Godhumor]

52. She was very much in the middle of it

Starting with the back and forth with Darius Pridgen and somehow got worse from there.

[Luminous Animal]

63. She was forced into the middle of it because Darius made unsubstantiated accusations against her.

And he was a piece of shit for doing so. And the local white media ate it up. And you are promoting it here.

[Agony]

113. Mr. Tar Sands/Hillary promoter Warren Buffett owns the BuffaloNews

lets see how the self censorship proceeds or no?

Jan 2nd BN reported on the Sanders delegate slate for CD26.
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/sanders-delegate-slate-from-buffalo-area-named-for-democratic-national-convention-20160102

so there's that

[AzDar]

43. Yassss!

[Sequinn]

44. Have you heard of them before?

Honestly.

[Luminous Animal]

46. I've heard of her before. I've been following her on Facebook for a while which I how heard of her

endorsement.

[artislife]

55. I haven't heard of you before. Honestly. nt

[cui bono]

85. So many new posters jumping right into the mix

at the same time so many Hillary supporters are on time outs.

.

[artislife]

93. And so mad and snarky

like they have been abused for months...and yet only ...days.

[Number23]

104. That person did nothing but ask a question. If anyone is responding with "mad and snarky"

it's you and not them.

[SMC22307]

101. Who checks on that... MIRT or the Admins?

Don't they run IP addresses or something?

[cui bono]

103. Not sure. MIRT is supposed to catch people who are trolls

but we have known trolls on MIRT, so who knows how that can work properly.

.

[SMC22307]

105. Good point. (n/t)

[SMC22307]

100. What's her nickname? (n/t)

[Paka]

45. K&R

Great news. It's hard to believe minorities won't come over to Bernie as the campaign proceeds.

[LovingA2andMI]

65. They Are And They Will...

Many of us have YET to forget about South Carolina -- 2008 and have no problem telling as many others as we can about it.

Bernie is gaining traction in our African-American Circles -- and we LIKE it!! -- Independent Underground News & Talk

[Paka]

67. Thanks for that link.

[LovingA2andMI]

68. No Problem!!

[Le Taz Hot]

109. We're getting LOTS of support

from Mexican-Americans here in California's Central Valley.

[stevenleser]

73. Not bad for a Hillary Shill organization funded by Soros who is determined to take down Bernie

So is BLM officially a good organization again or do the following OPs by Sanders supporters here still apply?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251504529 - "
Is the Hillary campaign using BLM to take down Bernie?"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027060303 - "
"I had a Sarah Palin button on backpack" Who is BLMS's Marissa "Johnson" Jenae?"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251502198 - "BlackLivesMatter was given million$ by Soros after Ferguson. soros=Hillary Benefactor.

Begs the question: are BLM only targetting Bernie to swiftboat him for hillary?"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251505858 - "
Holy, are there people here seriously defending BLM Seattle's actions!?? What's wrong with you?"

and note many very virulently anti-BLM comments by Sanders supporters under those OPs.

[BlueCaliDem]

74. *crickets*

[stevenleser]

75. And that's four links. I could easily have posted dozens. nt

[BlueCaliDem]

76. Those four are enough to make their eyes sting as it is.

Those posts were written out of pure envy that Hillary Clinton's popularity with the African American community remains strong and Sanders was getting NO traction. Now that there might be a sliver of hope that maybe, just maybe, the all important base of the Democratic Party - Black voters - the demographic a Democrat needs in order to win elections, just might want to take a second look at Sanders...BLM is suddenly a-ok again. Funny how that works.

[Luminous Animal]

77. Not one of your links has a whit to do with me. Journalist Steve Leser.

In fact, the only comment I made in all four of your links was in defense of Black Lives Matter activists.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251505858#post135

[stevenleser]

78. Did I say it did? 330 Sanders supporters here recced one of those nasty OPs.

Tons of nasty comments about BLM. And now, thanks to the prominent member of one BLM organization in western NY endorsing Bernie, all is well with BLM again in the world of Sanders supporters.

What a turnaround in, what was it, five months?

I'm curious to hear your defense of that since in at least one other case 8 years isnt enough time to change your mind about something.

[Luminous Animal]

79. I don't presume to speak for others. And you didn't change your mind. You changed your affiliation.

[stevenleser]

80. LOL, you dont presume to speak for others and then just presumed to speak for me.

So you do presume to speak for others. So lets hear your defense of fellow Sanders supporters denigrating BLM and now reversing.

[Luminous Animal]

81. Question them yourself, journalist Leser. And I didn't speak for you. You spoke for yourself.

[stevenleser]

82. Yes you did. And it is completely different from what I said about my opinion

So not only do you speak for people who haven't spoken for themselves, you distort what was said by people who have spoken for themselves.

So let's make a list:

1. You attacked me for changing my mind eight years ago, but it's ok for Bernie to change his mind about guns and it's ok for fellow Sanders supporters to change their mind from virulently slandering BLM 5 months ago to celebrating one chapter of BLM endorsing Bernie.

2. You claim to not speak for other people in order to try to avoid having to comment on fellow Sanders supporters awful behavior toward BLM and their whiplash-inducing 180 degree turn 5 months later, and in the same sentence you spoke for me distorting my statement.

What about this, DU poster Luminous Animal?

[Kentonio]

99. In two of the links you posted, people were not 'virulently slandering BLM'

They were criticizing the actions of one or several people who had taken on the mantle of BLM and acted in a way that many found deeply problematic, including a number of people within BLM.

Although the eventual outcome (huge press coverage for BLM) was probably positive, grabbing the mike at someone elses event and telling a crowd of progressive people that they are racists was something some of us still take issue with. She didn't know those people, what they believed in or what they had done in the past, and to judge them purely on the color of THEIR skin was wildly hypocritical. When someones actions risk causing divisions amongst carefully built progressive coalitions, its not unreasonable for people to ask questions about their motivations.

[stevenleser]

107. How many more links do you want then?

Think about this. Are you sure you really want to go there?

[Kentonio]

115. Sanders supporters got pissed about what were seen as unfair attacks.

Some of the reactions were tone deaf and in on couple of occasions really distasteful. What really rankles though is when people like yourself (who not only should but do know better) try and use those incidents to create a narrative about Sanders supporters as a group. It's cheap and nasty.

[stevenleser]

117. Hundreds of recs and comments by various folks. Sorry, your whine about narrative doesnt work.

The only narrative was created by the hundreds of folks who recced and made nasty comments of the scores of OPs only four of which I linked.

They did it, they own it. And it was the overwhelming majority of the Sanders supporters here.

They own it.

[Kentonio]

119. My 'whine'? Interesting to see your professional side coming out.

My point was that two of your four links were referring to the Seattle incident and were not direct attacks on BLM as a group, but on the actions of a small group of individuals. Actions which received an extremely mixed reception from people across the progressive spectrum including BLM itself.

Your attempt to package it all together into a single 'Most Sanders supporters attacked BLM' narrative is either lazy, dishonest or stupid. Which of those three I will leave to others to decide.

[stevenleser]

124. Your various desperate attempts to deny what is apparent in the links will not work.

Neither your excuses nor your ad hominems will explain away what was said and what is plainly evident in the links.

I and many others warned Sanders supporters here that there will come a time where they will regret the things they said about BLM. It looks like that time is here.

None of your spinning will work. It's all there in black and white.

[Kentonio]

125. Tells someone else they are whining. Then accuses them of ad hominems.

You're a funny guy Steven.

[randys1]

120. Thank you for once again shedding light on what really goes on around here.

There is no question, at all, what the mindset is of many around here.

But as this is not a safe place for liberals to talk, that is all I will say.

[Kentonio]

126. I'm getting so tired of hearing this faux-victim nonsense

If you have an argument to make or a position to state, then do so. There has been far too much stupid alert stalking going on on both sides, but the vast majority of groundless alerts still result in Leave results from the juries.

Not a safe place indeed..

[randys1]

128. Silly. 3 hides in one day confronting racism on DU, not safe, not at all.

[Kentonio]

129. Have you considered perhaps its the way you're saying it, rather than what you're saying?

It's not like DU is a bastion of racism.

[randys1]

130. Bastion? Let's take a look at that word

1.
Fortification. a projecting portion of a rampart or fortification that forms an irregular pentagon attached at the base to the main work.
2.
a fortified place.
3.
anything seen as preserving or protecting some quality, condition, etc.:
a bastion of solitude; a bastion of democracy.

I will save us both some time and assume you mean DU is NOT a place with a lot of racists.

I disagree.

Personally I think ALL white Americans are by default, racist, the same way I think ALL American males (maybe all on the planet but have to research that) are by default, to some degree, misogynists (and for the same reasons).

But lets focus on racism, shall we, as I dont want to argue the other one right now.


We are not born racist, but we become so even if against our will when we enter a society where our group has the power over another. Passive racists are usually white liberals who say they are against racism, who dont say or do racist things, who support all the right politics and causes, but by definition, being part of the power group, effectively live lives of a racist in that their existence provides them with white privilege and benefits that the non whites dont have.

I put myself in the passive category, and I am FAR behind where I should be in being proactive to do away with racism.

Then there are the moderate racists, which is a LARGE percentage of the non rightwing. These people are everywhere, and you can figure out who they are within just a few words.

Then there are the racist racists/bigots; teaparty, republicans, etc. Overt fear and hatred of others based on skin color or any of the other qualifiers we are all too familiar with.

So yes, I contend there are racists everywhere, of different stripes and degree.

I also believe that if justice was an actual thing, there would be no white people in America at all, or for that matter nobody other than NA.

I guess you could argue that if you go way way way back, nobody should be in North America.

But I digress.

My 3 hides in one day came from calling out the attacks of Bravenak. I left a comma out between the words So and many but I dont think that is what got me in trouble. I think what got me in trouble was making an allegation that she was the victim of racism on DU. Same post, I copy and pasted 3 times, all 3 hidden.

Pfft, would NEVER happen on a board where passive racists are the majority...NONE of it would happen, I wouldn't have been defending her in the first place, if you get my drift.

Here is the deeply sick part of all this, while I type this I know I am risking my ability to post here.

A liberal, calling out racism, is at risk....on a board called Democratic Underground




Are MANY (not all) white people SO full of privilege they cant handle being called what they are? I can, I can handle it. But when I am silenced it is the epitome of white privilege silencing me.

See how I have to say MANY, not all? ABSURD

Yet ANOTHER example of white privilege, isnt it. Black people dont get that same consideration, do they? When a Black person does something they are a thug, right?

I could go on but...

[Kentonio]

131. I used bastion because you were complaining about hides resulting from you speaking up about racism.

As for your wider point though, ok you have those beliefs but lots of people don't. I think every person has some inherent bias towards people who closely resemble them, but I certainly don't extend that out into some self-flagellation, I just try and keep it in mind and ensure I'm not letting it color my thoughts or how I express myself.

I had numerous arguments with Bravenak, not because she is black but because I believe she was wrong on numerous occasions and also prone to aggressive outbursts and personal attacks on people. Should I not argue with her just because she is black? Wouldn't that be the very essense of racism, treating someone differently just because of the color of their skin?

If you call me a racist just because I'm white, then that is going to piss me off quite frankly. I respect your own personal opinion, and you are of course welcome to it, but when you express that opinion by insulting others its hardly a surprise when they get annoyed and you start seeing hides.

[randys1]

132. If I told you that because you are white you have white privilege, and every area of your life,

every moment of your day, is different from non whites because of this privilege?

Could you accept that fact?

What did Bravenak do that got you so upset?

[Kentonio]

134. I already do accept that, it should be apparent to anyone who takes the time to look at the world.

But that fact can be misused in ways that minimize the hardship that other people go through. Say you have a dirt poor white family living in the butt end of nowhere. They live in basically a shack, with very few utilities and are generally hungry and just finding work where they can. Now I've heard people like that told 'well African Americans have it worse, because you have white privilege!'. They do have white privilege of course, but that one advantage doesn't change the fact they're living in conditions that 95% of Americans of any color would find completely unacceptable.

There are many advantages and disadvantages in life with color, class, sexuality, family wealth and much much more. Color is a particularly difficult one because its immutable and largely unmistakable, so when its used as a form of prejudice there is no escape from it. That however also became something that caused ructions with the gay community in the past, with gays being told that 'at least you can hide it'. All those hurt feelings and why? White privilege, straight privilege, male privilege, all real and all important to remember, yet if you're born black, gay and female to a millionaire family, you'll almost certainly still have a much happier, healthier and more content life than if you were white, male, straight and born to a broke family in an inner city ghetto.

So yes, I certainly do accept white privilege is real, and I absolutely think that institutional racism across America (not just in law enforcement) is very real indeed. I wouldn't support any candidate that didn't have a strong racial justice policy to try and right the incredible wrongs happening in America today. What I won't do however is debate differently with someone on the basis of their skin color.

What Bravenak did that annoyed me, was on numerous occasions she got into arguments with people and then said some variation of 'you're just trying to silence me because I'm a strong black woman' regardless of whether race was even an element in the discussion. That kind of thing really pisses me off because its just another way of trying to demean another human being by falsely accusing them of something they find horrible.

[stevenleser]

83. And your completely inadequate attempts to stick up for BLM against fellow Sanders supporters

Is noted again.

[Luminous Animal]

84. I am not opposed to Black Lives Matter and I am not opposed to my sisters who support Sanders.

That you seek to divide us is duly noted.

[99Forever]

97. Perfect!

[Ken Burch]

108. That would be the same BLM that is deeply hostile to HRC?

[William769]

87. Love your smackdown Steve.

You tell it like it is and they can't handle it.

[stevenleser]

116. They were disgusting with their comments about BLM and now they own it.

[George II]

90. Hmmm.....

I thought the CLINTON campaign was "Camp Weathervane"!

[romanic]

86. Kind of makes the #berniesoblack people

look like shitbrains don't it? :lol

[KeepItReal]

92. "during her eight years as our United States Senator, during which she ignored..."

“We want the national spotlight to be put on Hillary Clinton’s treatment of the Black community during her eight years as our United States Senator, during which she ignored the Eastside of Buffalo,” explains Martin-Bordeaux.

...

Given Buffalo’s national reputation as a hard fallen rust belt city that is a ruin of its former self, the event would also draw scrutiny of the Clinton’s for their passage of NAFTA and other free trade policies that decimated American industry in cities like Buffalo, so that Wall Street bankers could make more money.

“The event would profoundly undermine the Clintons’ claim that they are supportive of unions, working families, or the minority community — with the backdrop of powerful visuals of massive abandoned industrial structures,” says a local operative.

Sec. Clinton said she represented Wall Street and had to help them rebuild after 9/11. Just not the rest of her state in the aftermath of NAFTA.

[Fawke Em]

102. Was coming into GD-P to post this!

Thanks for being on top of it, Luminous!



Here's a kick and a rec.

[RoccoR5955]

110. When Clinton was senator she forgot about them

Because she was too busy telling the folks on Wall St. to stop it. She also forgot about folks in the South Bronx, Brownsville, and other places that could not contribute to her campaign.

[sabrina 1]

121. As predicted, Bernie's only problem with minorities was they did not know who he was.