This week the incoming administration was on your minds. We share your letters for “Freedom Rider: Black Demands for the Biden Administration” and “Biden and Trump Not That Different on the Issues.”
In “Freedom Rider: Black Demands for the Biden Administration” Margaret Kimberley argues that while black misleaders are giving the public impression of making demands on the incoming Biden administration, they are only promoting themselves.
Reg Callaway writes:
“The CARES Act which passed in March provided $10B in funds for Native tribes across the U.S. It called for housing, educations, food, etc. support. Naturally, of course, Team Trump held up a lot of the appropriations through litigation and red tape which prevented it from getting to where it was needed most. Countless people died because of his callousness.
“The next round of financial support also calls for direct financial support to Native Nations. Since Native Nations were able to lobby for direct aid It begs to question: Where is direct relief for African Americans? Where is the CBC (Congressional Black Caucus)?
“African Americans and Native Americans are the most impoverished groups and have been equally dealt a heavy blow by Covid-19. Both groups have lower health status than the rest of the population. They have higher rates of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, etc. The result of these poor health outcomes has raised the infection risk of contracting the virus.
“Native and Black Americans are also exposed to substandard infrastructure which inhibits them from fighting disease and the virus. However, when resources were allocated Black Americans were left out. While Native Nations are able to get appropriated resources for the pandemic, Black Americans do not have direct legislative support. This is no accident. The CBC misleaders are there to ensure millions of us are erased from discussions on obtaining direct federal resources so that our suffering is the most extreme.”
Kennis Henry writes:
“Thank you for your article. However, I hope you will be willing to do a part II and speak to the over 35 year struggle to get HR 40 passed and reparations for our people! Reparations is not on their agenda and they do everything possible to be counterproductive to the plight of the people, the same people they pay lip service to and swear that when they meet they are lobbying the interests of the people! Were this true, why would it would take 35 years and counting to pass simple Study Bill Legislation? Were this true the NAACP would have included Reparations on their agenda and actually at the top. This includes those sell outs who claim to be the CBC, the conscience of Congress!”
In the radio segment “Biden and Trump Not That Different on the Issues” Dr. Margaret Flowers, director of Popular Resistance, argues that the incoming administration will not be very distinct from the outgoing one in terms of policy and priorities.
Wallace Nixon writes:
“Since the Clintons founded the Democratic Leadership Council about 30 years ago and abandoned the New Deal priorities they basically stand for nothing but seeking public offices for power. They are really nothing but cross-dressing Republicans playing trick or treat. Their new strategy was designed to win back the white workers who left the party and voted for Reagan. They have no intention of being different. Most foreign observers have seen no difference in the American political parties for many years.
“P.S. If Susan Rice as domestic policy advisor does for blacks in the United States what she did for them in Africa we might see the repeal of the 13th,14th and 15th amendments.”
Under the guise of liberal diversity politics, the new administration has the potential to be the most reactionary in history. The struggle against the incoming administration must be on all fronts.
Jahan Choudhry is Comments Editor for Black Agenda Report. He is an organizer with the Saturday Free School based in Philadelphia, PA.
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