Should The Black Community Press Candidates For A Black Agenda? (Discussion and Poll)

[spicysista]

Last edited Tue Jan 29, 2019, 01:48 PM - Edit history (1)

In a word, yes!

What is that agenda and whose responsibility is it to lay this out? Candidate or community? Should candidates lean into it (offering a black agenda) with the same gusto of laying out other agenda items (gay rights, environmental protections, worker's rights, women's rights, etc.)? Or, should they follow the model of President Obama and use the "rising tide lifts us all" model? (Just so you know, I am not making a critique of the former president. Just talking about strategy, here.)

This is a dinner table level discussion for kin folks. I think a healthy discussion occurred on Roland's show. If you have a moment, take a look. Let's discuss down below. Fair warning, there is some salty language in the clip. Please be advised if viewing at work.

6 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	I think the candidate(s) should clearly lay out a black agenda.
	4 (67%)
	I think the black community should hold each candidate to a black agenda of our own choosing.
	0 (0%)
	I think the candidate(s) should follow the Obama model.
	1 (17%)
	Other (please explain down below).
	1 (17%)
	No, candidiates should stay away from topics of race. Period.
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[walkingman]

1. I don't think the "black agenda" is any different than the "American Agenda"

[spicysista]

4. Okay....I'm guessing that you did not watch the clip.

There are many flavorings of life experienced by the black community that are unique to being black. Since we are talking about black people in America, being "American" is not in question.
This response is problematic. Would you say the same response to a person talking about furthering gay/women/worker's rights? Candidates often offer solutions to their various concerns without any hesitance. No one would tell a gay person that gay/trans issues are no different than American issues because it belittles the concerns of the gay community. Why do you think your response is okay in this instance?

[walkingman]

5. I would say that it the black community's responsibility to communicate their priorities.

Understanding that when someone runs for POTUS they indeed do represent all people (or should). Two important considerations - (1) in most cases the "black agenda" is not a lot different than most working people's agenda. They have and do suffer specific problems - most have to do with racism (lack of opportunity due to race, a totally skewed justice system because of race, etc) and lack of representation due to white privilege and supremacy (2) even if the candidate does not specifically address the black agenda, it is very important to support a candidate that is more likely to support their causes and VOTE even if it is not a perfect candidate.

The choice is clear - enthusiastically support the Democratic candidate. The lack of voter turnout by Bernie voters is one of the major factors that gave us TRUMP.

[spicysista]

6. Blacks are among the most pragmatic voters in America.

We vote like our lives depend upon it. Since perfection is an impossibility, black people in general do not look for it. Voter suppression was the most measurable factor with the greatest impact on the election. See the work of Stacey Abrams in Georgia or the studies of numerous analysts for further information about that.
You did not address my question. Why did you "all lives matter" my post?

[walkingman]

8. Good point - agreed voter suppression is one of the main tools of the right.

However, I do not think anyone should take the black vote for granted - although there really isn't a lt of choice, is there? Why did I "all lives matter" you? Maybe simply because as a white person I don't clearly understand the black agenda. I am privileged and have been since birth. I do have eyes though and recognise wrong when I see it. I like Kamala Harris in some ways because she is of mixed race and also because I would like to see a woman as our next President. I also agree with some of Bernie's message and also Elizabeth Warrens. I view myself as progressive and do not really like Republican Lite. I voted on Hillary and I think that she represented more of the moderate Dem. I do not want under any circumstance to have to deal with another 4 years of Trump or just another version of the same.

[spicysista]

10. Cool, walkingman.

This is a place of open discussion and I appreciate you taking the time to join in the conversation. Getting black people to vote is really more about making sure that they can vote and those votes are counted. The gutting of the Voting Right's Act has been devastating. Unfortunately, it's not a sexy topic for most.
There are some really thorough articles that have been posted online. I'll link a few for you to consider.

http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2016/04/pragmatic-tradition-of-black-voters.html

https://www.salon.com/2016/11/10/the-real-reason-black-voters-didnt-turn-out-for-hillary-clinton-and-how-to-fix-it/

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/democracy/reports/2016/11/11/292322/voter-suppression-laws-cost-americans-their-voices-at-the-polls/

https://www.thenation.com/article/wisconsins-voter-id-law-suppressed-200000-votes-trump-won-by-23000/

[qwlauren35]

14. Don't think General, think Primaries.

We're not saying don't vote for the Democrat in the General Election.

Right now, we're talking about the Primaries. And whether presidential candidates who are running in the primaries should have us and our issues in mind.

"Driving While Black" is not a class issue. Unequal incarceration rates are not a class issue. Job and housing discrimination, inequality in credit applications - not class issues.

One of the things that is hard for black people to deal with is the amount of ILLEGAL sh*t that white people get away with that black people get locked up for. And then a black person has a criminal record that the white person, who did the exact same thing, does not have. The playing field is not level.

As for Bernie... black people supported Hillary. Don't lay that Bernie crap on us.

[walkingman]

17. My point about Bernie was that regardless of who in the Dem nominee - support them.

Of course everyone should support their preference in the Primaries but don't get so offended that you don't vote for the Dem simply because your choice didn't get the win. It can and did lead to disastrous consequences. As far as clas issues - no doubt the black community is and has dealt with a uneven and unfair justice system. The retarded "war on drugs" and "three strikes" is no doubt targeted at blacks. It is shameful and the GOP in no way gives a shit.

[violetpastille]

7. Welcome to DU!

Nor am I black, but I voted YES! We should ALL press our candidates to set a Black Agenda.

What benefits POC also tends to benefit me (a white woman). In example, "Affirmative Action".

But what has tended to benefit me does not always benefit POC.
In example ,"The New Deal" or Women's Suffrage.

Prison Reform and Police Brutality are American issues, but they are most urgent for Black Americans who are affected out of scale to population.

[nycbos]

2. I am not black.

But it seems to be a little odd to imply "African American" community thinks one way. I am sure this is a large diversity of opinions on many subjects.

[spicysista]

3. In the clip, this is discussed.

There are many aspects of the black community, indeed. However, there are some key challenges that cut across the full diaspora of blackness.

[JustAnotherGen]

9. Yes - and not just the candidates

But other voters -example?

Every time someone at DU mentions a new 'new deal' I ask for a 5% tax break for 36 years (time frame of the raw deal for black Americans).

Everyone someone IRL, online, etc. etc. cries about Opioids - I point out that there was no empathy black folks and crack when I came of age - so no empathy for rich white kids.

Then I pivot to medical racism.


And my number one agenda point? The end of the Electoral College.

I can't remember a time in my life where I was only 2/3 of a person- why must I vote like one?

[spicysista]

11. Let the church say..."yes"!

Ending the electoral college....



Addressing the ravishes of law enforcement during the crack years and everything else you raised....

[JustAnotherGen]

12. You know that Buttigieg guy in Indiana?

I don't think he will go the distance - but he has some AWESOME ideas on electoral reform.

The party needs to listen to him and make sure his ideas are integrated in the platform. I see him as the 'future' of the Democratic Party.

[spicysista]

13. Don't know much about him.

I've only seen him on a MSNBC show (maybe "All In"?). I've also read an article about him posted on TheAtlantic.com. I like some of the things he's saying.

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/01/buttigieg-announces-his-run-presidency/580984/

[rogue emissary]

16. His Wikipedia pages gives the impression that he's

not that great with incedence between African American and law enforcement.

It's interesting that Harris is being attacked for her time as a DA. Yet, I haven't heard about the multiple case of Buttigieg siding with law enforcement in civil right cases as mayor.

[rogue emissary]

15. Yes they should have a specific agenda for African Americans.

It should be a combination of their policy ideas and community desires. Like many of the campaign zero platform ideas.

[spicysista]

18. Love campaign zero and the work they are doing!

https://www.joincampaignzero.org/solutions/#solutionsoverview

I really hope that campaign zero will get a chance to speak with the candidates in a forum or some other platform.