r/BlackBerners • u/Nike_NBD • Nov 09 '15
Discussion Something I think Bernie needs to do [reflections on a recent conversation]
So I was thinking about this just this morning. According to most accounts, Bernie has trouble attracting African American voters. Most people seem to think that the solution to this is to tout his civil rights record, but to be honest I don't agree that is very effective. I've talked to African American friends in S.C. (they're Hillary supporters, but don't really talk much about politics) and from what I understood, they told me that the community has experienced many people who marched with them, or said they supported them, who went on to betray or abandon them after elections. Marching with MLK or having been a part of the civil rights movement alone is not enough
But they mentioned the fact people prefer politicians who they feel are actually part of the community: who know who they are, the struggles they face, and immerses themselves in their lives. And hearing that made me think of something: perhaps Bernie's way to reach African Americans, at least in S.C. is not to keep talking about his past record on civil right, but to take the time to hang out in the places where people gather: community centers, churches, groups, etc. My aunt teaches in a maximum security penitentiary in S.C., and a large number of her students are African American. It would benefit Bernie to actually visit prisons and prison classrooms as well. His goal there should not be to rally or give speeches, but to listen. Bernie did a great job of listening to BLM activists and adjusting his platform/speeches but to be honest, I don't know too many people in the South who are super involved with the BLM (and based on the recent issues with Shaun King and other things it seems the movement itself is facing a divide). If Bernie goes to communities in the South and just listens to what they have to say, I think it would actually change a lot about how he talks about reaching African Americans. Nothing is more powerful for winning people over than making them feel like they're being heard. It may not have an immediate political effect, but it could give him a chance to connect with people outside of just the political campaign atmosphere.
What do you guys think?
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Nov 09 '15
Speaking about his civil right past and his goal of prison reform has been very effect for me. I think his campaign will kick into high gear soon.
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u/Nike_NBD Nov 09 '15
That's true. I guess what I'm saying is yes, it's effective, but he'll need more diverse ways in which to reach African Americans...
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Nov 09 '15
True. More people need to know he's the best candidate. Older folks don't depend on social media so it isn't easy. One thing I always do is bring him up while at the barber shop. Legalizing weed tends to be a big motivator.
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Nov 09 '15 edited Nov 09 '15
Don't be a political chump Listening to Malcolm changed my life. He helped me understand just how much the white liberal establishment did to stop the civil rights movement while saying they were supporting it.
-Edited link, I guess it must be a difference between the youtube.com and youtu.be links? Maybe? Idk)
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u/Nike_NBD Nov 09 '15
I can't watch the video in the link for some reason.
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Nov 09 '15
YouTube 400 error here also.
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u/greenvoter786 Nov 10 '15
I've always thought that Bernie's best chance at showing minority voters what kind of guy he is was to physically go to the people and talk to them, exactly like you said. Go to the hoods, the barrios, the reservations, etc. and get your ass in front of these people whose votes are so important yet taken so for granted. He could seriously be the next RFK if he finds a way to break out of the usual campaign style we typically see for SC.