While I most certainly agree with this oversight and analysis and yes, indeed, institutional white power especially against black Americans are front-and-center in our American politics, there is a wildcard in this race: Bernie Sanders. Bernie Sanders has not only discussed issues, but has worked tirelessly on the front lines to fight for race-specific issues for all people of color, nuanced as their individual differences may be, from Black Americans to Native Americans. But, this isn’t a Bernie Sanders ad, here, this is also about Kamala Harris and the rest. One of the first things to note is the fact that Donald Trump is dominating a lot of the discourse, which is exactly where he wants to be running up to this election. The Moderate Democrats still have absolutely no spine and are taking the bait hook, line, and sinker.
Kamala? I’ve got a few people I know in the Twitterverse especially who are in love with her. Personally, I grew up in an almost entirely black neighborhood, being the only white person in several square miles, and every time one of them starts in on how great Kamala Harris is, I silently think to myself, “How could you do that to the black community after everything they’ve been through? Supporting a somewhat crooked DA who’s been fullsail complicit in the criminal justice system that’s destroyed so many black lives?” I simply couldn’t bring myself to vote for her because of this alone. But, voting isn’t — and shouldn’t be — solely about identity.
What’s good for some of us is good for all of us, nuanced issues aside. Women are facing the very real possibility of losing their reproductive health being taken from them in some places; so what’s that got to do with me, a white man? Well, for starters, it’s about so much more than just abortion, it’s about bodily autonomy and Republicans being able to strip us of fundamental rights on a whim. Reproductive health is just where it starts. Pay equality is good for everyone. A living wage is good for everyone. An economy that works for everyone and not just the rich is good for, well, everyone…you catch my drift. Personally, I’m ready to see something done about healthcare, big tech (which usurped black movements via Russian interference in 2016 and is posed to do it again in 2020) being dealt with, I’m ready to see some serious challenges to the criminal justice system and a total revamping of how we treat underprivileged people in this country. I think the best person to do that is Bernie Sanders. I think the second best person to do that is Elizabeth Warren. Race need not apply because results are what I’m looking for. Nobody else is even proposing anything I’d want to live under.
The criminal justice system disproportionately effects black people but it doesn’t only effect black people, us poor whites, too, can’t afford lawyers and get lost in the behemoth that is the prison industrial complex with cash bail systems and public defenders taking plea bargains on our behalf that aren’t what’s best for us. Start teasing out these issues one-by-one and soon enough, you’ll see that they affect everyone, though some people obviously more than others. You’re entitled to your vote and your opinions, I just see in Sanders a man who’s dedicted his entire life to fighting for the underprivileged and don’t see him stopping anytime soon. I’m looking for the candidate who’s going to make these white power structures you speak of afraid and the two candidates I mentioned are posed to do that the best. Let’s hope that moderate democrats can grow a spine. I recently wrote an open letter to them on here and took it down because too many angry white liberals exploded over me calling out their very real callousness in discussing how they’re going to leave out large, poor, usually people of color to save the world against Trump. Sad.
