African American
In reply to the discussion: Open letter to progressives: You’re doing it wrong and it’ll cost the Democratic Party [View all]gwheezie
(3,580 posts)1st I'll start from my opinion this is a white supremacist country. The structure of our country has been set up to give the edge to white folks and white straighr men. I'm not angry about this because I think this is how the world works but we can move forward.
I'm not mad at liberals but I see the effect of liberal policies that have not benefitted PoC, gay and women because look at the state we're in. Yes on paper great strides have been made but in the daily life of people it has not stopped threats on their lives.
I talk to liberals because that's who I know and they are closest to the power to effect change. They vote. They organize. They have some political power. I talk to white liberals because they can identify with me. I'm an old white woman who became politically aware because of Shirley Chisolm but it wasn't until I had a black grandson that I began to understand what kind of special fear there is in raising a black child. He takes after his dad, quiet, good natured, smart but he's also a big kid, he's 10 and already taller than me. His dad is 6'5". And I wish he was a little boy because he thinks like a little boy but every day he looks older than he is even to me. He's been taken for 14_15.
My friends are black and white, most are liberal, my conservative friends are black. A few of my white friends and family are big Bernie supporters. 2 nephews have been to rallys and donate regularly. Both are going to the rally in DC
My black friends generally are not that enthused about anyone running for president. I don't think it's up to them to fix racism so I talk to my white liberal friends because we need to understand issues of the AA community. I think if anyone wants the AA vote, they need to make a convincing case and frankly whether it's Bernie or Hillary or OMalley the people I talk to point to them, all have been politicians for decades and want to know what have they done for me lately. No one is owed the AA vote. White supporters would do well to listen to what people are saying and not be defensive.