Biden Speaks an Unequivocal Truth
Joe Biden is not my ideal candidate.
He’s too soft on progressive ideology, too hard on old-school politics, and a bit mushy when it comes to delivering inspiring, soaring oratory.
But what I like about Joe Biden is, well, he’s Joe Biden and what you see and hear is what you get, like it or not.
Biden doesn’t mince his words.
He’s blunt, not so much in an arrogant way, but in a concise, direct, square shooter manner.
It sometimes gets him into trouble, as his remarks during a recent radio interview prove.
While speaking with Charlamagne Tha God, the host of a popular radio show called “The Breakfast Club,” Biden said: “If you have a problem figuring out if you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black.”
Republicans immediately chalked Biden up as being gut-shot, brayed that he was insensitive, implied racism.
It was political mumbo-jumbo, with a dash of self-righteous posturing.
First, Biden has never been and never will be gut-shot by any remarks he has made. The fact is, he could have played that line out even farther, adding that if you have a problem figuring out if you are for Biden or the president, well, then you ain’t a person of color, you ain’t a female, and you ain’t poor. And, if you happen to check the Evangelical box on your resume, better pick up the Good Book again and brush up on the teachings of Christ.
The charges of Biden being insensitive? Well, the truth can be a difficult pill to swallow. It can be ugly. But the truth is truth, regardless. While nowhere near as insensitive as the many foul things spewing from the president’s lips, Biden’s comments, at worst, should be described as awkward.
Finally, and most importantly, anybody who would connect Biden with racism is a fool, plain and simple. I refer you to Barack Obama for further evidence.
Not that it really matters in Utah, which most certainly “ain’t black.”
Utah is about as lily-white as it can be with 90.7 percent of its residents identifying as white, 14.2 percent Hispanic or Latino, and 1.4 percent African-American, according to the latest U.S. Census numbers.
There are reasons for that, to be sure, ranging from religious to cultural to political.
There are also reasons why the president is polling so poorly among African-Americans – particularly African-American women.
If you don’t know those reasons, well, you just ain’t paying attention.
Most of my life I’ve lived in places where I was in the minority, whether ethnic or religious. You quickly learn if you are absorbed into that community or considered an outsider, or, as one of my Utah friends referred to it, as a “move-in.” I learned the hard way that unless you’ve been in that certain place physically, emotionally, and mentally, you cannot relate to it.
Have you ever been pulled over by the cops and shaken down because of your skin color?
Ever had them pull up behind you in traffic and punch in your license plate because you look out of place?
Ever been the punchline to some ignorant ethnic joke that everybody else thought was funny because it played to the stereotype of a certain race?
Ever been a woman trapped in a “me, too” moment?
Then you ain’t gonna get it.
The problem is that if you don’t get it, or at least try to, you become part of the problem by allowing such behavior to not only exist but continue to grow.
In a way, I am happy that Biden said what he did because it gives us a moment to reflect on some truly egregious lapses of humanity that have taken place over the last couple years – from embracing white nationalist thugs to giving a nudge and wink and a “boys will be boys” nod to bragging about grabbing a woman’s crotch because you happen to be wealthy and a minor celebrity.
But, the painful thing is that Biden’s comment, however awkward it may have played, had teeth to it. To be honest, I often wonder the same thing: How can a person of color or a female vote for a guy who would build walls, not bridges, and relegates women to their most subservient level?
Biden made his compulsory apologies shortly after the conservatives started trying to blow him up. He was accused of race-baiting. He was accused of aggregating African-Americans. The thing is, this is the way of the world. We are, whether we like it or not, in a world where these aggregations of different blocs based on political, social, ethnic, and religious ideology matter. The complexity of unifying these blocs into a majority strong enough to win not only the popular vote but in the Electoral College as well, which has come strongly into play in modern America where we have seen the winners lose twice in the last 20 years, is not lost on the politicos.
There’s much more analysis, much more science, much more math used these days to carve out the winner’s niche.
As far as the African-American vote is concerned, I’m pretty sure Biden has that covered. His numbers there are strong and resilient and unlikely to change, even with awkward gaffes. If he has any concerns it should be with the youth vote, which can be fickle and cost Hilary Clinton the election last time around because of Bernie Sanders fallout.
But, that doesn’t mean we should not use Biden’s words as a learning experience, especially when the scales are so tipped along racial lines.
It could serve us to have a better understanding of each other, create greater respect, break down sociological and cultural barriers that, despite claims to the contrary, are still deeply rooted.
It might help us create a better place, where things such as equality and liberty and freedom and justice are more than just words.
The globe is a rich palette of colors and ideas and customs that can enrich us all.
But, that can never happen unless the guy at the top gets it.
If he doesn’t?
It just ain’t right.
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