Thread by @thisniss

Here is a simple explanation for the difference between @BernieSanders and @KamalaHarris on reparations.

The Sanders position: Whatever helps society as a whole also helps black people.

The Harris position: Whatever helps black people also helps society as a whole.

1/

Harris’s is the better approach to address systemic inequality.

For example, school desegregation was meant to address systemic racial inequalities in education. We now have decades of evidence that shows that ALL students benefit from classroom diversity. 2/

By contrast, voucher systems and charter schools are aimed at addressing widescale problems in education. Not only have they frequently failed to do that, the “benefits” have disproportionately gone to wealthier white students. 3/

“Trickle down” doesn’t work as a method to address systemic racial inequities. Identifying the needs of black communities and focusing on those DOES work, AND it benefits non-black people, too.

This is why “free childcare” is redistributive, while “free college” isn’t. 4/

Anyway, I’m not arguing whether either of these candidates’ approaches is “enough.” It’s not my place to say.

I’m just trying to explain that one approach has historically worked better. Start with the community you want to help, not with society in general. /end

Just want to throw in here to add that I chose to contrast Sanders and Harris because theirs are the positions I’ve heard the most, and the two candidates most criticized at the moment on these issues.

As I understand it, Warren and Castro are both taking the “Harris” approach.

I will try to read up more and do a better job contrasting all the candidates. Just wanted to note that there are other candidates in the field giving reparations serious attention.