There is an interesting story out from The Hill magazine, in which Senate Democrats appear to be running away from the issue of reparations for the descendants of America slavery. Here’s just a sample:
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), the senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said she understands why some thought leaders, such as author Ta-Nehisi Coates, are calling for reparations, but warned the issue is divisive.
“I understand why. I also understand the wound that it opens and the trials and tribulations it’s going to bring about. Some things are just better left alone and I think that’s one of those things,” she said.
“This is a major blemish on American democracy that has lasted for over 100 years now,” she said of slavery and discriminatory laws that followed the Civil War. “It’s not going to change and we have to learn from it and I think we have.”
The piece goes on to quote several other Senators by name, including Jack Reed, Ron Wyden, and Pat Leahy. It’s pretty short but everyone should check it out. For far too long the Dems have had a policy of benign neglect. That policy was on display at yesterday’s debate, and my educated guess is that it will continue tonight. Black America needs particular and specific policy directed at our communities. Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, updated immigration policies are all great ideas and goals. However, they do not, and cannot, address the specific harms, intentionally afflicted upon citizens who come from slaves. We need specific policy proposals, aimed at our community exclusively. I believe the time has come for the party to choose: Black votes or obscurity.
The party, of which I am a dues paying member, will no longer be able to give vague platitudes about studies or commissions. Younger voters, especially Black Millennial's and Gen X’ers, will not be satisfied will policies that help everyone at the expense of Black communities. The LIFT Act, school loan forgiveness and baby bonds are such policies. While they have admirable aims, their specific target is not Black Americans exclusively and that’s the problem. Hopefully I am proved wrong and tonight the candidates will talk about Black voters’ issues specifically, similarly to how issues affecting the Latinx and the LGBT community we’re discussed last night. But I’ll be honest, I don’t have confidence that will happen. None of the candidates that I am aware of in tonight’s debate support cash reparations, with the exception of Marianne Williamson, and I am sure they will not be asked.