"I Can't Believe Black People Might Actually Vote for Michael Bloomberg"

[emmaverybo]

Snip———————————————————

By Michael Harriot

First, you try to get free.

Margaret Garner tried to get free.

On January 28, 1856, Margaret, her husband, their four children and 11 of their fellow enslaved freedom-seekers stole their master’s horse, sleigh and gun and absconded from their Boone County, Ky. plantation owner, Archibald K. Gaines. The family crossed the frozen Ohio River and split up. The other escapees eventually made it to freedom via the Underground Railroad while the Garners hid out at their uncle Joe Kite’s house.

When fugitive slave catchers discovered the family’s location, they surrounded Uncle Kite’s house; 22-year-old Margaret knew they were done for. Described as a mulatto who was always “cross tempered,” Margaret was probably the product of a slavemaster raping her mother. Historians say at least two of her own children had been conceived from the same rampant slavemaster’s sexual assault. Knowing the horrors that would undoubtedly befall her daughters, rather than see them suffer the same fate, Margaret grabbed a butcher knife and slit her 2-year-old daughter’s throat.

To sacrifice the fruit borne of one’s own womb is a decision that only oppressed people can know. When contemplating the choice between the proverbial lesser of two evils, there can be no solace; only desperation-fueled practicality informed by an anguish with which we have become all-too-familiar.

We are always forced to choose, to lay our children on an altar in a desperate plea for future freedom. We gave them to the policemen’s batons and terrorist bombs in Birmingham. We subjected them to unfiltered hate in Louisiana and Little Rock.


https://www.theroot.com/i-cant-believe-black-people-might-actually-vote-for-mic-1841611802

[W_HAMILTON]

1. This guy isn't reputable.

Isn't he the one that made a stink about Biden's Corn Pop story and then it turned out that Biden was telling the truth?

Who does this guy -- who apparently thinks he speaks for all black people -- think black people should actually be voting FOR?

[Skya Rhen]

5. He speaks for me and millions of other African Americans. The racial injustice that we experience

is not a myth. I have different political views from him but we share the same skin color and face the same prejudices.

[W_HAMILTON]

17. No one said racial injustice is a myth.

I said this particular writer has proven to not be a reputable commentator on race-related issues in the past.

[Skya Rhen]

18. The Corn Pop story was a myth - he's speaking real life here. That's why I used the word "myth"

[W_HAMILTON]

22. No, it wasn't.

The fact that you think that Biden's story was a "myth" makes it clear you should read other writers than this dubious one.

PS:

Link to tweet

[Gravitycollapse]

2. Seems many at DU want to forget who Bloomberg actually is.

[jcmaine72]

8. Yep. Sadly, that seems so. n/t

[StarfishSaver]

11. We don't forget

We just know where our interests lie and are willing to look past our own individual concerns and preferences and consider the bigger picture. That's something black people have always had to do. We don't have the same luxury of expecting candidates to be perfect or completely to our liking in every way that some other voters do.

And we have been burned too many times by white allies and we know, as Harriot says, how many white people think and behave when we're not watching and listening. The fact that many black people are willing to consider Bloomberg has nothing to do with weakness or confusion or ignorance or selling out on our part but is based on our knowledge of our how eagerly and quickly many white people will throw us under the bus and why it's critical for us to hedge that behavior, even if it means voting for someone we have problems with in order to prevent someone even worse from getting in office and destroying us.

[42bambi]

21. Honestly, sometimes I'm embarrassed to be white! I'm sickened by what has

happened to my black friends and family over the years. To some extent, it seems like we're still living in slow motion for what should be over and done with. It's frustrating to many of us who want fairness and equality for everyone, all the time! And by God we better all keep up the good fight because at this moment in time we must remove this monster that sits in our white house!

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. I can't believe some of the excuses I've seen for Bloomberg on here.

[Garrett78]

7. Same. A lot of folks should be deeply embarrassed. It's deplorable.

[Nanjeanne]

9. Sad isn't it?

[hlthe2b]

4. Charles Blow, I listen to. Harriot? You've got to be kidding. Do you not remember his anti-Biden

spews?

[Sloumeau]

6. I'd vote for Bloomberg over Trump, but boy, is that a low bar. :) nt

[LenaBaby61]

14. "I'd vote for Bloomberg over Trump."

IF by chance Bloomberg does get the Dem nomination, I'll have no choice but to vote for the lesser of two evils.

I'm sure as hell not going to stay home and let tReasonous tRump stay in there and turn this country into ru$$ia and worse. I'm sure as hell not going to help tRump finish slitting my throat.

[jimfields33]

16. Yeah no kidding

How is this guy going to excite the youth? From the little I’ve seen of him in interviews and a few speeches. He’s a bore!!!!!!!

[StarfishSaver]

10. Harriot is speaking the straight-up truth, as uncomfortable as it may be to some people

One of the biggest factors in a large number of black people’s primary voting criterion is who they think white people will vote for when the curtain closes behind them in the voting booth. We know Bernie has better policy plans. We know Elizabeth Warren is a better communicator. We have seen Buttigieg’s Douglass plan.

But we also know white people.

Donald Trump is proof of what they will do.

For many black people, the prospect of an unchecked, second-term white supremacist outweighs the choice between Medicare for All and a public option. It’s heavier than student loan forgiveness or foreign policy. It’s bigger than all of the economic proposals and tax plans combined. It’s not even that people don’t think the other Democratic candidates can defeat Donald Trump. We just don’t know if they can defeat the overwhelming self-interests of white people.

[wisteria]

12. He is running the disengenuous ad with Pres.Obama

The ad make it appear Obama is endorsing a Bloomberg. But, that said, I believe Black voters will not be fooled by this.

[oldsoftie]

13. Pres Obama also has the choice to ask him to stop. He hasnt. Maybe for a reason.

And I guess his words in the commercial also count for something.

Edit: I agree that its made to look like an endorsement & really shouldnt be. But its been running for some time now & Obama hasnt stopped it

[Skya Rhen]

20. My blood boils every time I see that ad. Like a slap in the face. And, no, we won't be fooled.

[ibegurpard]

15. black people are on the front lines of the hatred

emboldened by these fascists. They will vote for whoever the Democratic nominee ends up being. In higher percentages than ever I suspect.

[ecstatic]

19. I feel disrespected.

As demonstrated with Margaret's story and the horrific choice she felt forced into making, there's nothing more brutal than what occurred during the 400+ years of slavery (and the period after).

I have some concerns about Bloomberg, but WHY is Mr. Harriot suggesting that voting for Bloomberg is akin to voting for a slave catcher? I wholly reject that over the top manipulative nonsense.

Who exactly does Mr. Harriot support or is his goal to keep turnout low?

[StarfishSaver]

23. I think you missed his point

[ecstatic]

25. If the point you're referring to is that

black voters are pragmatic, then yes, that's true. But he took it to extreme levels when he literally compared voting for Bloomberg to voting for a slave catcher.

And just when you thought it was over, you’re forced to choose between an unabashed white supremacist and a billionaire fugitive slave catcher who submitted a sealed bid for the presidency of the United States.

This is offensive. One of my red lines is when *anyone* trivializes the horrors of slavery. Harriot did that and insulted my intelligence at the same time. Not cool. Just my opinion, of course.

[Awsi Dooger]

24. I'll worry about stuff like this when defeating an incumbent is easy

Did anyone believe Trump wasn't going to govern like a Republican if elected?

Why would anyone have similar questions about Bloomberg governing as a Democrat?

It's like everyone is so desperate to scramble for fright night material from the candidate's past they lose all sight of situational reality.

Deplorable is failing to understand how a fall general election plays out if your nominee is a socialist. Donald Trump no longer exists. That is what happens. Bernie Sanders is on the defensive 24/7