Advertisement

Black Lives Matter And The 2016 Election

46:40
Download Audio
Resume

With guest host Sacha Pfeiffer.

Black Lives Matter protesters have confronted Democratic candidates over attitudes on race and criminal justice. We’ll hear them out, and look at African-Americans and the Democratic Party.

Mara Jacqueline Willaford, left, holds her fist overhead as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., waves to greet the crowd before speaking at a rally Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in downtown Seattle.  (AP)
Mara Jacqueline Willaford, left, holds her fist overhead as Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., waves to greet the crowd before speaking at a rally Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015, in downtown Seattle. (AP)

For decades, black Americans and the Democratic Party have gone hand-in-hand. Loyal supporters of one another. But the Black Lives Matter movement has been publicly confronting Democratic presidential candidates over their attitudes on race and racial inequality. Not even ultra-progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has been spared. Protesters say they want to hear specific policy plans, not vague promises. And they’re putting the Democratic candidates on the spot. Is this clash creating a rift between blacks and the Democrats that could benefit the GOP? Or is it making their relationship stronger? This hour, On Point: African-Americans challenge the Democratic Party.
-- Sacha Pfeiffer

Guests

Janell Ross, race, gender, immigration and inequality reporter at the Washington Post. (@janellross)

Charlton McIlwain, professor of media, culture and communication at New York University's Steinhardt School fo Culture, Education and Human Development. Co-author of "Race Appeal." (@cmcilwain)

DeRay Mckesson, civil rights activist and Black Lives Matter organizer. (@deray)

From The Reading List

Washington Post: Why we shouldn’t link ‘Straight Outta Compton’ to Black Lives Matter — "Black Lives Matter is a political movement that began with an online hashtag in the hours after a nearly all-white jury acquitted neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman on all charges in connection with the shooting death of unarmed black teenager (Martin). The women behind the hashtag have told reporters they were profoundly disturbed by the fact that Zimmerman's lawyers could so deftly exploit long-running stereotypes about black criminality, who poses a danger and who must contend with it to liberate their client."

The Guardian: The Clinton campaign could use a public disruption from Black Lives Matter — "As the presumptive nominee, Hillary Clinton should be pushed and challenged publicly too, especially since her views may not align with the rights agenda Black Lives Matter is pushing. The enemies of Black Lives Matter are racism, sexism, homo/transphobia and capitalist exploitation."

TIME: Why Democrats are Struggling With Black Lives Matter — "The uneasy relationship between the potential Democratic standard-bearers and a pillar of the party’s electoral coalition carries significant consequences. A linchpin of the Democratic blueprint for holding the White House is repeating the success Barack Obama enjoyed with black voters."

Civil Rights Icon Julian Bond

Phyllis Leffler, professor of history at the University of Virginia.  Author of the book "Black Leaders on Leadership: Conversations With Julian Bond," among others.

NPR News: Julian Bond, Civil Rights Leader And Longtime NAACP Chair, Dies At 75 — "Julian Bond, a key civil rights activist and anti-war campaigner who helped found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and later served for years as the chairman of the NAACP, has died at age 75."

This program aired on August 17, 2015.

Advertisement

More from On Point

Listen Live
Close