Bernie Sanders gave a brief yet dramatic answer when he was asked if he would apologize for slavery if elected president stating simply, “Yes.”
Sanders made his remarks at an event held by the Tindley Temple United Methodist Church in Philadelphia Wednesday evening.
A member of the audience asked the Democratic presidential candidate if he would issue a “presidential – level” apology once in office. Sanders told the audience he believed the nation should issue an apology that was “necessary and overdue.”
Bernie also thinks the “slate should be wiped clean” by acknowledging the effects slavery has on the African – American community in particular, and on society in general.
He doesn’t believe in monetary reparations but does endorse investing in economic development for poorer communities.
Sanders has long maintained that the impact slavery has on society goes further than the black community. His philosophy seems to be that the United States has not realized what long-term damage to the country’s psyche such injustice has produced.
Bernie has spoken about the issue of slavery and the need to apologize before Wednesday night
Appearing on “The Black Eagle,” a satellite radio program hosted by Joe Madison, Sanders gave this reply when the radio host pressed him on this issue: ” As a nation we have got to apologize for slavery, and of course, the President is the leader of our nation.”
Even though these comments made by Sanders have raised eyebrows in some sections of this society, they seem to be drawing from his overall populist themes of railing against corporate greed and a fair break for the working class which can only happen if citizens have a political revolution.
Sanders is also demonstrating that there are still people out there who vote Democrat but are weary of being overlooked and taken for granted as the Hillary Clinton campaign rolls toward the nomination.
By using the subject of slavery to pull his audience in and then pivot to a “war on poverty” stump speech, Sanders has shown the ability to allow those people who feel left out and ignored to have a platform that addresses their needs also – much to the dismay of Camp Hillary.
Featured image by William Thomas Cain/Getty.
