Yes, its a big title and in anyone has suggestions on how to paraphrase or condense it, please. I am a Bernie Sanders supporter (New Paltz Chapter) I am a supporter of Black Lives Matter Contrary to the media hype,they are not diametrically opposites.The problem we have two groups with two agenda items of equal importance: Economic Injustice and Institutional Racism
We have two issues that have come to the top of Progressive Politics:Institutional Racism and Economic Injustice. Many embrace one topic and ignore the other. Many of my Progressive friends and colleagues hold a view that all problems are class based and not based race. If we address Economic injustices (increased investment in infrastructure, affordable housing and college education, improvements to the tax code etc) racism will disappear. The "Black Lives Matter'(BLM) movement proclaims that Institutional Racism is a separate issue that must be acknowledged and addressed before any of the Progressive Economic Reforms can be enacted. We are seeing skepticism from many African Americans (and other minorities ) towards Sanders and the policies he advocates. Why, many progressives are confused and anger. I have observed vitriol towards BLM from many white progressives , accusing them of being pawns from the George Sorros and the Koch Brothers (I have not seen any evidence that those allegations, are true at least at this time) May I remind everyone that the tactics used by BLM are no different that those used by Act-UP,Code Pink, Moveon.org. I don't recall any widespread criticism towards those groups from Progressives.
We must acknowledge the skepticism by African Americans towards Bernie Sanders platform has a historical prospective.
Allow me to go back and study The "New Deal" Programs enacted by FDR. I am going to use studies published by the Miller Institute as evidence
http://millercenter.org/...
Did the New Deal improve the lot of African Americans? The record is mixed. The aid provided by the New Deal to America's poor—black and white—was insufficient. Racism reared its head in the New Deal, often because federal programs were administered through local authorities or community leaders who brought their own racial biases to the table. The Agricultural Adjustment Administration (AAA) offered white landowners cash for leaving their fields fallow, which they happily accepted; they, however, did not pass on their governmeecks to the black sharecroppers and tenant farmers who actually worked the land. Even inner cities, the North, blacks found that New Deal programs did not always treat them as well as whites.
Basically, institutional racism prevented the reforms to effect African Americans in the ways it was meant to. While 2015 is not 1935, institutional racism persists (to whatever degree we can debate) How can we convince African Americans , as well as other minorities, we will not see a repeat of the same scenario. This is not Bernie Sanders problem, its our problem/challenge. We need to develop strategies, Policies and Procedures, appoint administrators to ensure that whatever we enact will reach everyone!
But above all, we have to have this conversation. Bernie needs to reach out to the African American(and Latino)communities.That means (yes) going to Churches and meeting with clergy. Tell what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. Invite them to the meetings and participate in Focus Groups. Bernie Sander will not win enough delegates without African American Support. None of use want to chose between voting for Hillary or staying home The stakes are too high for all of us.