AFRICAN-AMERICAN GROUP: Dear white progressives: Stop telling black people how to vote

[Number23]

16. Holey moley. I freaking love this post.

FYI steve (the OP) is not black. He is a white guy, Sanders supporter and one of the many friends of and supporters of this forum and the handful of AA members that are still here.

It is wrong to propose black voters "owe" anything to Sanders. All we should be proposing is that black voters take a good look at Sanders, his record, his early involvement with civil rights, his commitment to social and economic justice, etc. It is, or should be, a plea for consideration, not a harangue. Sanders has been trying very hard to understand the BLM issues, and it appears to be a sincere effort to incorporate social justice issues into what has been mostly an economic justice platform. But nobody should suggest this establishes any kind of debt, obligation, etc. Clinton has a strong emotional connection to many black voters, and that's perfectly legitimate. We (Sanders supporters) have no business suggesting that connection is somehow overcome by anything Bernie did, or is doing now. We need to state our case to black voters without lecturing them about why they're wrong to support Clinton over Sanders, as if they're deluding themselves or something.

Sweet Jesus, it is so wonderful to read this. I cannot thank you enough for this post. Welcome to the AA forum, HassleCat.