On Tuesday, Ta-Nehisi Coates published a typically thoughtful critique of “how the left prioritizes its various radicalisms,” in this case Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders’ response to a question about reparations for slavery.
When asked about the subject, Sanders said that “first of all, its likelihood of getting through Congress is nil. Second of all, I think it would be very divisive. The real issue is when we look at the poverty rate among the African American community, when we look at the high unemployment rate within the African American community, we have a lot of work to do.” It’s an argument that’s typical of Sanders’ class-first approach, as Coates acknowledged.
Coates also noted that Sanders “is a lot of things, many of them good,” but noted that his radicalism had its limitations. “One of the great functions of radical candidates is to war against equivocators and opportunists who conflate these two things. Radicals expand the political imagination and, hopefully, prevent incrementalism from becoming a virtue,” Coates argued.
“Unfortunately, Sanders’s radicalism has failed in the ancient fight against white supremacy.”
Coates noted that he reached out to the Sanders campaign, so he could question the candidate himself, but received no response — however, his article did receive a response from a prominent Sanders supporter, Killer Mike, who took to Twitter to refute the premises of Coates’ argument:
I love the writings of @tanehisicoates. I am very curious why every one thinks his critique of Sanders of some kind of death nail.
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) January 20, 2016
The fact that blacks have to even justify the case for reparations is shameful. The fact that only 1 candidate is being called to task is
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) January 20, 2016
Bullshit. Especially when that candidate is the only one with policy proposal that directly effects the black community if elected.
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) January 20, 2016
Candidate that I think wud be most sensitive to the very accomplishable goal and the other things that can/will help Black people is Sanders
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) January 20, 2016
Unless u are talking Rose Clemente & Cynthia McKinney don't know if any American Politician will every day Reparations but I will hold out
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) January 20, 2016
Hope. Until that happens I will and encourage other blacks that are concerned with our poor, working class & middle class to vote Sanders.
— Killer Mike (@KillerMike) January 20, 2016
