Bernie Sanders Be Like: Only Black People Are Poor

Poverty More than a Matter of Black and White | Inequality.org

Blacks have a higher representation among the poor proportionally, but given that non-hispanic whites are 60% of the population, white poverty wins. Poverty is poverty....dividing it up by race(and feeding into the idea that blacks are poor and whites are not) just makes whites see it as a 'black issue' and actually may deter efforts to fight income inequality overall. Being poor does not have a black face or a white face, but a human face, and more people need to see it that way.

Maybe his next stop should be in Eastern Kentucky or West Virginia? Or maybe some of those incredible poor colonias along the Rio Grande in Texas? Maybe PIne Ridge Reservation in South Dakota?

*I am not discounting that blacks have it bad in this area

 

I believe Senator Sanders has the best intentions, but this statement, as well as other misstatements and actions are the result of a lack of constant, consistent interaction with black people. This statement taken as it is seems to be an effort to sympathize with the flight of the black community, but it reached too far. Bernie should also be ashamed he said that, considering that the word originated with his people.

This statement and all the other missteps are also, imo, a reflection of what seems to be a lack of seasoned, black political operatives working for Bernie who can advise him on what to say, what not to say, what to do, not do, etc. I do not fault him to some degree. He's just a typical white person in America who represents white people and have not had to really "deal" with race as much. Interestingly, though, I'll have to do some digging to find out when the last time a Democratic presidential candidate's black outreach was so scrutinized.