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The President of “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion” spent decades opposing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
"I do not buy the concept, popular in the '60s, which said, 'We have suppressed the black man for 300 years and the white man is now far ahead in the race for everything our society offers. In order to even the score, we must now give the black man a head start, or even hold the white man back, to even the race.' I don't buy that." -Joe Biden, 1975
Joe Biden's historical opposition to desegregation and affirmative action appears to be at odds with the principles of modern Critical Race Theory (CRT), which advocates for a woke understanding of how structural racism and inequality operate in society.
CRT proponents argue that the effects of systemic racism are deeply ingrained in society and must be actively addressed through policies that center on racial equity. This may include targeted programs designed to provide a "head start" to individuals and communities that have historically faced systemic barriers to success, such as Black Americans.
Biden's track record suggests that he may not have embraced this perspective before 2020. Most famously, in 1977, Biden spoke out against busing as a tool for desegregating schools.
"Unless we do something about this, my children are going to grow up in a jungle, the jungle being a racial jungle with tensions having built so high that it is going to explode at some point." - Joe Biden, 1977
"Joe Biden had the opportunity to lead the way in the fight for justice for Black people, but instead he chose to oppose busing and other critical civil rights policies. He was on the wrong side of history then, and he is on the wrong side of history now." - Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter.
Similarly, in 1986, Biden voted in favor of a measure that would have effectively prohibited affirmative action in college admissions, arguing that such policies amounted to reverse discrimination.
Biden's support for quotas rather than affirmative action programs has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates who argued that such programs were necessary to combat the effects of past discrimination.
"Joe Biden is a symbol of the old guard in politics, and his record on issues of race and civil rights is a reflection of that. He has consistently opposed policies that would help level the playing field for people of color, and his rhetoric has often been coded in ways that are deeply offensive and harmful." - Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change.
CRT generally supports affirmative action “as a way to address systemic inequalities and promote greater diversity and equity in higher education and employment.”
Proponents of CRT argue that affirmative action is necessary to counteract the effects of past discrimination and systemic racism, which have created barriers to equal access and opportunity for people of color. By considering race as one factor among many in admissions and hiring decisions, affirmative action can help create a more level playing field for underrepresented groups.
“Biden's record and his comments about working with segregationists... are deeply concerning. The impact of segregationists on our country's history is still felt and this should not be something that we continue to celebrate or condone by supporting candidates who continue to espouse such views." - Symone Sanders, former national press secretary for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign
In the late 70’s, Joe Biden supported a number of measures that would have limited the power of the federal government to enforce civil rights laws, including a proposal that would have replaced the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and required a two-thirds majority in Congress to pass further civil rights legislation.
Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Biden's record on civil rights is his support for the 1984 Comprehensive Crime Control Act. This law established mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses and expanded the use of civil asset forfeiture, which allowed law enforcement to seize assets from people suspected of involvement in drug crimes even if they were not convicted. Critics argue that these provisions disproportionately affected communities of color.
"We must take back our streets from the punks and the drug dealers. We need more prisons, more jails, more courts, more prosecutors." -Joe Biden, 1984
"Joe Biden was an architect of mass incarceration and helped fuel our current system of mass deportation. He championed policies that decimated Black and Brown communities across the country, and his legacy continues to harm us today." - Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter.
Critical Race Theory teaches us that racial equality continues to play a significant role in shaping opportunities and outcomes in society. However, Joe Biden’s past statements prove he himself does not believe this.
This contradictory stance on civil rights should be subject to close scrutiny. Why did he flip stances? Why isn’t he held accountable for his “racist” past by today’s standards?
As we examine Joe Biden's record on civil rights before 1990, a clear pattern emerges of someone who was more concerned with protecting the interests of the white elite than ensuring equality and justice for all Americans.
Biden was willing to sacrifice the educational opportunities of minority students in order to placate white voters. And his willingness to work with segregationist senators only underscores his lack of commitment to the cause of civil rights.
His record on affirmative action and voting rights should have his base up in arms, as he consistently worked to undermine CRT programs that were designed to correct past injustices and ensure equal access to opportunities for all Americans.
These historical facts display a disturbing lack of commitment to the principles of equality and justice that are supposed to be at the heart of the American dream. Even if Biden may have evolved on some of these issues over time, it is important to remember that his earlier positions had real and lasting consequences for millions of Americans.
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The Black people, know full well what Joe Biden and other Democrats have said in the past, and still push the big button on their voting machines for the jackasses represented by a mule! Even knowing that the democrat party WAS the KKK, they STILL give the party that brought them Jim Crow laws, their loyal votes. Who are these people? Sounds like pawns, treated like idiots for 3.5 years then treated like royalty until the election happens, then back to the usual treatment of low expectation.
Black people, you can do better than shit like Joe Biden in your lives. I’ll just leave it here for now but, y’all need to think about how you want your lives to be then stop voting for people who only pander to your sensibilities every three and a half years! Stop the Democrat Party from treating you like red headed step children. This may come to you as a surprise but the so called democrat leaders don’t really like you and as you can see on evening television, they are letting in foreign nationals to take your place! Before long, your votes will no longer be needed as you can see how many immigrants they are letting come into our United States. Mainly, to supplement Black folks votes that may be smarter than the normal and have moved on to other parties that don’t have KKK or Jim Crow laws in their past.
So true. His wife went to the heart of Hispanic country and actually stood at the mic and made fun of the people who discovered this continent and without whom she would be here.
The Black people, know full well what Joe Biden and other Democrats have said in the past, and still push the big button on their voting machines for the jackasses represented by a mule! Even knowing that the democrat party WAS the KKK, they STILL give the party that brought them Jim Crow laws, their loyal votes. Who are these people? Sounds like pawns, treated like idiots for 3.5 years then treated like royalty until the election happens, then back to the usual treatment of low expectation.
Black people, you can do better than shit like Joe Biden in your lives. I’ll just leave it here for now but, y’all need to think about how you want your lives to be then stop voting for people who only pander to your sensibilities every three and a half years! Stop the Democrat Party from treating you like red headed step children. This may come to you as a surprise but the so called democrat leaders don’t really like you and as you can see on evening television, they are letting in foreign nationals to take your place! Before long, your votes will no longer be needed as you can see how many immigrants they are letting come into our United States. Mainly, to supplement Black folks votes that may be smarter than the normal and have moved on to other parties that don’t have KKK or Jim Crow laws in their past.
So true. His wife went to the heart of Hispanic country and actually stood at the mic and made fun of the people who discovered this continent and without whom she would be here.