The Trouble with Biden’s “You Ain’t Black” Remark

Robert Crohan/Staff Writer

Last week proved once again that America is still more divided than ever.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, ran into a heap of trouble when he went on “The Breakfast Club,” a popular radio show among black Millennials. Host Charlamagne tha God pressed Biden on his record with the black community, leading the Vice President to suggest that black voters still considering Trump “ain’t black,” with a chuckle.

Although Biden has a long history with the African American community and won the overwhelming majority of black votes during the primaries, he seemed to not have thought before he spoke. 

While I am white and therefore cannot rightfully claim racism when I see it, I view Biden’s remarks as very troubling and this will no doubt cause Americans some harm. I still plan to vote for him, but I will not shy from calling out my party when it makes a mistake.

The comments, above anything else, reveal the long and complicated history of race relations in America, especially in the world of politics. Over the weekend, I read a slew of op-eds and social media posts giving thoughts on what happened. The incredibly varied responses to the incident are more surprising and eye-opening than I would expect.

White Democrats are perfectly capable of offending POC and should not get a free pass because they vote how most POC do.

Some black columnists suggested that the reaction to the remarks was worse than the remarks themselves, as Biden felt comfortable enough to make a joke to a community he has long worked with. Others questioned Biden’s fitness to represent a party that prides itself on diversity and tolerance. One said that Biden’s remarks were justified, because of Trump being detrimental to black Americans.

Still others said that this represents the Democratic Party’s tendency to mistreat its constituencies out of desperation, and that someone like President Trump is better for communities of color. John James, a businessman running for Senate in Michigan responded with a video telling Biden that no white man can assume his blackness.

An overwhelming consensus among the columnists was that the Democratic Party has been taking black voters for granted. Indeed, little progress has been made in terms of issues the black community faces: affordable housing, incarceration, health care, climate change and systemic racism, despite how deep-seated these issues are.

It can be assumed that Biden was well-meaning and trying to compare his record with that of the President, but that is not for me to decide. And he certainly isn’t owed any black votes. At the same time, it is unnerving to see outlets like Breitbart, which have said disgusting things about people of color, weaponize the incident. But again, voters of color must decide what to think of it.

Indeed, I still have a lot to learn as a white man. One reason I voted for Biden over Sanders was because he was winning most of the black vote, and I was inspired by his campaign and vice presidency.

All are valid points worth reading and thinking long and hard about, but what outraged me were reactions from white people that rushed to Biden’s defense while ignoring the concerns of black respondents. Although there were relatively few, they nonetheless are out of place in context.

White Democrats are perfectly capable of offending POC and should not get a free pass because they vote how most POC do. Joe Biden is certainly no exception, and the fact that he was the first black president’s right-hand man is no excuse for being a “wise guy.”

I get very upset when black people are lectured about politics from non-black people. Back in March, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio suggested that black people in the south are too ill-informed to not vote for Biden. Not to mention the plethora of attacks faced by black Republicans, from activist Candace Owens to Secretary Ben Carson. And many I know in the Black community remember the onslaught of attacks directed at President Obama from racist White America.

As a country, we must embrace all of our perspectives if we are to make America the best it can possibly be.

This comes even as black voters are arguably the most important demographic in elections: 1% higher turnout in Detroit, Philadelphia and Milwaukee would have won Hillary Clinton the presidency, and even a slight swing towards Donald Trump—a very real possibility—will re-elect him. Black voters are driving the liberalization of Georgia, Texas and North Carolina, all swing states this year.

As a country, we must embrace all of our perspectives if we are to make America the best it can possibly be. For white Democrats, that means listening to Republicans of color. For white Republicans, that means listening to Democrats of color.

Biden’s comments may force us to acknowledge harsh realities.

Hopefully, this election will inspire debate on both sides. Joe Biden helped pass historic tax increases on the wealthy and worked with Barack Obama to give health care to millions of black Americans, although his 1994 crime bill is questioned. President Trump helped pass the First Step Act to ease the pain from the crime bill, no doubt a step in the right direction, though some black journalists have called it “propaganda.”

As it stands today, black voters are overwhelmingly Democratic, some loyal and others on the fence. The last Republican presidential nominee to receive over 10% of the black vote was George W. Bush in 2004. Biden’s comments are unlikely to hurt his election chances as most voters have made up their minds, but they may hurt turnout and enthusiasm.

Ultimately, the political system must reassess its priorities. Black Americans must decide what will work best for the black community, and if it means voting in droves for Democrats, if it means voting in droves for Republicans, if it means a new third-party meant to lift up black America, then so be it.

If Biden becomes the 46th President of the United States, he still has a lot of work to do if he wants to truly help Black America.

Featured image by Gage Skidmore on Flickr.

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