Why "Bernie was arrested in '63" is an inappropriate answer to criticism of his civil rights record

[EffieBlack]

143. "What he did was far more than an average liberal white man or woman in that time frame did"

As I said, you are woefully ill-informed.

Certainly, Bernie did more 55 years ago than the white liberals who didn’t do anything. I haven’t done a calculation of how many white liberals participated - and, I’m sure, neither have you - so I can't say whether he did more than MOST white liberals of that time - and neither can you.

But among those white liberals who did participate in the movement during that time, Bernie’s participation was very limited, minimal and temporary and came with very little risk. Again, that’s not a criticism - it’s good that he participated - but that’s just a fact. And in my experience, most white liberals who participated during that time - including those who worked harder, longer and at much greater risk to their education, careers, status, relationships, safety and lives than Bernie did - don’t wear their participation as a lifetime civil rights merit badge.

I’m sure you’re well-meaning, but here’s the problem: when someone you revere is a part, however small, of something you know little about, and that person is one of the only references or connections you have to that thing, there can be a tendency to exaggerate that person’s role vis-a-vis other people into something far beyond what he or she actually did.

Your conclusion is understandable, but it’s still very inaccurate.

If you’re truly interested in the movement beyond how it can be framed to advance Bernie Sanders, I urge you to do some research to learn more about it before trying to characterize it or the nature and content of anyone’s involvement therein.

One good starting point is Taylor Branch’s “Parting the Waters” trilogy.