Can Bernie Sanders make reparations? His personal reboot on racial justice may not be enough

[WeekiWater]

Bernie Sanders’ presidential reboot features some notable changes from his 2016 run.

This time around, Sanders has elevated a new, more diverse senior campaign staff and has incorporated more of his personal narrative into his policy-driven stump speech. After holding his first official campaign rally of this cycle in front of a diverse crowd of Brooklyn supporters, alongside at least three featured African-American speakers, Sanders traveled Sunday to Selma, Alabama, to take part in commemorations for the anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” the 1965 demonstration on the Edmund Pettus Bridge where civil rights activists were beaten by Alabama state troopers.

He then went to the University of Chicago, where he noted that as a student activist he took part in civil rights protests. But on one particular issue of racial justice, Bernie Sanders’ personalized reboot is still lacking.

Generations of leaders have called for a national conversation on race as necessary for true racial justice and equity in this country. (That didn't start with Barack Obama.) But an unwillingness to discuss reparations -- at least as a general avenue for redress to historic and systemic racism -- is a way to shut down that conversation. Bernie Sanders needs a better answer on reparations for the black descendants of slavery in the United States, and he needs it soon.

Salon

[MineralMan]

1. Bernie Sanders is old enough to have been there in 1965.

He's older than I am, and I was there as a 19-year-old white boy from California who had dropped out of college and driven a 1953 Chrysler New Yorker cross-country. Sadly, I was a day too late for the march, but was there in the crowd to hear Dr. King give his "How Long? Not Long." speech in Montgomery.

Why did I go? Well, civil rights issues were in the news. My road led to Selma. I was about to drop out of school anyhow, because I had decided not to become an electronics engineer and had no idea what to do next. So, I bought that Chrysler from another student for $100, took a few hundred dollars out of my savings account and set out on the road, headed for something that looked to be historical and important. In some ways, it was a youthful whim, but it became much, much more serious as I learned more.

I didn't make it to the commemorative event 50 years later, but I was there for the actual one. It was my introduction into the world of social justice activism. Bernie could have been there, too. He was young, then, like I was. The whole thing changed my life forever.

[RandySF]

2. The problem with Sander's message

is that it takes a blanket approach to poverty without acknowledging the disparate impacts on people of color, especially the systemic barriers to upward mobility.

[WeekiWater]

3. This is spot on.

It is an equal and all encompassing approach with limited recognition of systemic oppression.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=15700

[NurseJackie]

7. Nailed it.

[MH1]

13. Very well said.

But, he does seem to get the gist of the "opportunity ladder" and that it harms the disadvantaged American when we outsource jobs, even at the higher rungs of the ladder.

A concept at least 1 or 2 "Democratic" candidates (and maybe more) don't get, or think they can slide by with anyway so they can get those big tech company donations.

[brooklynite]

4. Depends; does he want to lose?

[crazytown]

5. "Reparations" is RW read meat

It’s not as big a target as the word ‘socialist’ Sanders has glued on his back, but for the love of god why go there now?

I agree with Sen Sanders on this point - what does it mean? Opening a committee to discuss how reparation can be allocated - who is deserving and who is not? Lunacy.

[BannonsLiver]

6. obama knew it was a bad idea in 2008

Hopefully whoever our nominee is will understand that, too.

the entire excercise is completely pointless. when the Japanese internment camp detainees were paid by St. Ronnie it made sense because so many of them were, oh I don’t know, ALIVE. There were also thorough and intact records.

With slavery reparations everyone involved has been dead for decades and records are not intact or thorough.

Besides the fact that it’s political suicide there’s no way practical way to do it.

[crazytown]

8. "No practical way to do it" Double Suicide

Those who feeling they are being unfairly tested will complain bitterly, and have their cases picked over by the MSM. My great grang pappy knew Chicken George. Gather round the water cooler folks.

But the dumbest idea of all has got to be Native American reparations as proposed by Elizabeth Warren. So who qualifies as a Native American? Only the Tribes? Someone with Indian DNA ... or who has listed Native American as their race. WTF? Liz is a smart women but this her suicide.

[peggysue2]

9. Elizabeth Warren is a very smart woman but . . .

I think she's still trying to make amends for the clumsy DNA debacle that turned against her. Calling for Native American reparations will not turn that around. In fact, it just brings the whole mess back up again. She was lured by Trump's ugly, classless taunts. She'd been better off ignoring him, letting him continue to make an ass out of himself. Because he's so-o-o good at it.

As for reparations per se? It's an absolute vote loser.

[LuvNewcastle]

10. Any candidate who wants to give out a 'Cuz Slavery' check is going to lose.

They might win the nomination but even Trump would beat them in the general election. That issue polarizes people as bad as abortion, and it really needs to be put to bed.

[LexVegas]

11. No...he can't. nt

[David__77]

12. Perhaps then his opponents will benefit by advocating reparations.

Perhaps in that case Sanders would be politically devastated. I doubt it.