Black Lives Matter gave Hillary Clinton her Sista Souljah moment
I was extremely irate after watching the videos that were released of the meeting between Hillary Clinton and representatives of Black Lives Matter. It achieved nothing other than being a Hillary Clinton’s Sister Souljah moment. Her husband, Bill Clinton must be proud. After-all, he was the creator of that political passive attack construct.
To be clear, I am an unabashed supporter of Black Lives Matter. They are bringing to the forefront an existential problem that afflicts blacks in particular and people of color in general.
Black Lives Matter are demanding that presidential candidates explain and codify within their platforms what they will do to solve the bias within the justice system and law enforcement system that materially affect people of color. This bias at best many times colors the success one can have because of contact with the unjust system. At worst, like Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, and John Crawford among hundreds, it can be fatal.
I understand the reason why Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders were disrupted at Netroots Nation 2015. It was an action designed to get attention for the above mentioned existential issue. While I think the manner in which Black Lives Matter disrupted Bernie Sanders at the Social Security Forum in Seattle was ill-advised, it brought much to light. Firstly, it made it clear that the pressure for demanding action would remain. It unfortunately also demonstrated that many progressives who should be allies were ready to throw an entire movement under the bus when they disagreed with one act, in other words, shallow support, support that was not even skin deep.
It would be presumptuous for me to tell any movement what to do. As a black man who have been at times terrified of the police, as a black man who does everything to avoid the justice system, I would be reminisced if I did not do it anyway.
Hillary Clinton used a few mistakes in the narrative by the young man to tell some truths in a manner that many Americans not living the reality of people of color, to them seem like a very plausible understanding of the problem and quasi-path to a solution. Hillary Clinton came across looking strong as she sort of castigated the young man. She stood up to Black Lives Matter unlike any other candidate, the classic Bill Clinton move.
The Black Lives Matter movement has been successful beyond anything I thought would have been accomplished in a very short amount of time. That may have been a detriment in that it left little time to consolidate into a more organized structure that would create specific demands. In that light I would humbly suggest that Black Lives Matter keep the pressure on all non-responsive politicians including Hillary Clinton who only gave a semblance of a response. At the same time it should come up with a list of demands that only requires yes or no answers that address the justice system and the law enforcement system. Every leader in every action should have it and be versed in it. Lastly, it should work with the media that will relay the Black Lives Matter narrative and not one that suits either the corporate media or the nonconforming politicians.