On Super Tuesday, Biden’s largest margins over Sanders among Black voters were with Southern voters (and older voters). For example, Biden beat Sanders by 62 points in Alabama and 43 points in SC compared to 7 points in MA and 4 points in MN, according to CNN exit polls. 1/
To specify that Biden’s Black support is primarily older and southern is not to belittle older Black southerners—it is to speak from the available data. 2/
To claim Sanders has a problem with Black people—as if Biden’s mostly southern and older Black primary voters are representative of Black people nationwide (young and old, voters and non-voters)—is to not speak from the available data. 3/
It is to ignore Sanders strength with young Black people. It is to claim, in racist fashion, that Black people are a monolith. 4/
But to recognize Black people are not a monolith and then to claim older Black southerners are voting for Biden because of low information is to belittle them in racist fashion. There is nothing wrong with older Blacks and southern Blacks and older Black southerners. 5/
It seems as if progressives spend their time shaming older Black southerners for voting for moderate candidates in primaries. And moderates spend their time shaming young Blacks for not voting for moderate candidates in the general. Instead of shame, why not use persuasion? 6/
But then again, I understand. It’s campaign season so it’s the season of not speaking from the data. It’s campaign season so it’s the season for racist ideas.
