What the White Debate Stage Says About Racial Equity

My response to Cory Booker鈥攖he last self-identified person of color with real potential to win the nomination鈥攄ropping out of the presidential race is proof positive that I am an idealist. I forget sometimes that I and those who are on the journey to racial equity and anti-racism are but a few. The rest of the people in this country either don鈥檛 know they should be on that journey, don鈥檛 want or care to be, or both.

People in the United States complain daily about their government and the conditions in which they live, but when they have the opportunity to do something about it, well, they just don鈥檛! Maybe for some, it鈥檚 fear of the unknown鈥斺€渢he devil you know,鈥� right? But if we really wanted change, even if for our own selfish gain, why not do something differently?

How did we go from 20 candidates鈥攊ncluding four people of color, and one White candidate whose platform spotlighted reparations and historical injustices鈥攖o聽; four of them men. Kamala Harris was a strong鈥攏ot perfect, but strong鈥攃andidate who had to drop out because she ran out of money. Juli谩n Castro, just as strong. Cory Booker had name recognition as a progressive Democrat. He has been strong on聽, supported a signature policy鈥�baby bonds鈥攖o close the racial wealth gap, and sponsored the companion to HR 40 in the Senate鈥攖he only聽reparations bill聽ever to be introduced in the post-Reconstruction U.S. Senate. Each of these candidates of color were at least as strong鈥攕ome arguably stronger鈥攖han those who remain in the race.

Where was the money?

The termination of their campaigns shows that for most people in this country, diversity and inclusion are nothing but lip service, buzzwords. If self-proclaimed progressives truly believed in the values of diversity, inclusion, and welcoming people historically excluded from such leadership, they鈥檇 put their money where their mouths are. They鈥檇 back campaigns from strong candidates whose own experiences would return fresh momentum to anti-racism work in the Oval Office.

Instead we鈥檙e left with Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Tom Steyer, and Amy Klobuchar on the debate stage. Of the six, Sanders and Warren are the only ones who鈥檝e introduced policies aimed at addressing racial inequity, but many folks of color are skeptical of their commitment to those policies.

For good reason. Joblessness. Homelessness. Illness. Mass incarceration at an all-time high.

Poverty is pervasive in this country鈥攖he land of plenty. A third of the nearly 40 million people in poverty in the U.S. in 2017 were children. Our children are the poorest group in the nation. And although the numbers declined slightly for Black and Brown children over the last several years, the numbers of Black, Indigenous, and children of color in poverty 鈥攖hat of White children.

Global disasters abound, and the United States has much to do with that.

Immigrants and refugees are being criminalized, and their families separated. We have no provisions in place to help those fleeing war-torn, or climate-devastated countries. We鈥檙e experiencing our own environmental and climate violence. No oversight in place to hold those accountable for the dangerous conditions in which many of our citizens live鈥攁 reminder that Flint, Michigan’s water crisis is still, well, 鈥�.鈥�

And yet, we continue to maintain the status quo. When will those who have the money step up to help make change? Grassroots efforts are plentiful. Organizers and activists are doing their part. We publish these amazing stories daily.

If those with the resources to assist, say they are really about anti-racism, anti-sexism, anti-gender violence, really invested in climate and environmental justice, actual legal justice, and economic equity, then why isn鈥檛 that showing up for the candidates entering the presidential race, and more importantly for the ones who get to stay?

Whether we like it or not, it takes capital鈥攁nd not just the human kind, or mere social media support, but 尘辞苍别测鈥�to have longevity in these races. And it may be that way for awhile, especially with decisions like Citizens United blocking meaningful campaign finance reform. In the meantime, surely, we can choose the strongest candidate and hold that person accountable to the progressive policies we know can change our country鈥攁nd the world鈥攆or the better.

But we aren鈥檛 doing that.

Even if the sole goal is to get Trump out of the White House, how many of us believe that will happen with Biden or Sanders as the Democratic nominee? Or with Warren? Surely not the others. I鈥檓 by no means questioning either candidate鈥檚 capability, because certainly they could颅鈥攖hey鈥檙e far more experienced and, hell, just smarter than the current president. But what is the likelihood of that happening? We鈥檙e right back where we were in 2016, debating 鈥渆lectability鈥� and who can most appeal to the 鈥渇orgotten鈥� White working class voters.

This may not be the 鈥�Yes we can鈥� message that some may be looking for. But it is the reality for people working toward racial justice. There鈥檚 no doubt we鈥檙e capable. We absolutely can! Unless we start to back up our talk about diversity, equity, and inclusion with action, and our money, this is the rabbit hole we鈥檒l continue to spiral down: just more of the same.

Zenobia Jeffries Warfield is the former executive editor at 精东影业, where she directed editorial coverage for 精东影业 Magazine, 精东影业 Media鈥檚 editorial partnerships, and served as chair of the 精东影业 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee. A Detroit native, Zenobia is an award-winning journalist who joined 精东影业 in 2016 to build and grow 精东影业鈥檚 racial justice beat, and continues to write columns on racial justice. In addition to writing and editing, she has produced, directed, and edited a variety of short documentaries spotlighting community movements to international democracy. Zenobia earned a BA in Mass Communication from Rochester College in Rochester, Michigan, and an MA in Communication with an emphasis in media studies from Wayne State University in Detroit. Zenobia has also taught the college course 鈥淭he Effects of Media on 精东影业,鈥� as an adjunct professor in Detroit. Zenobia is a member of NABJ, SABJ, SPJ, and the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting. She lives in Seattle, and speaks English and AAVE.

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