That’s very well put. I actually think we’re largely in agreement on this matter.

And while I certainly do think Michelle Alexander is a stone cold bad ass, I hope my repeated references to her undeniable credibility and experience came through as well.

I suppose where we disagreed is on latitude of importance of a “CBC endorsement” of the Clinton campaign.

I agree - Clinton’s use of “well the CBC endorsed me so black people should just jump on the wagon too!” platform is garbage politicking. I also agree the CBC is by no means the comprehensive voice of African Americans at large.

I follow legislators pretty individually. So I guess when I think “CBC” I think “Oh well Carol Moseley Braun, and Mo Cowan and others who’ve been supported or have worked with Deval Patrick.” I don’t think of the CBC as a unified voice of the black community, I break it down by the individuals, some of whom I think are pretty damn incredible.

So perhaps you’re looking at it in the more realistic way - as disingenuous and unrealistically presented - because it can be used as a “hey look they like me you should too,” while “they” is used by Clinton as more of an “it” in the public discourse and mainstream media.

When I see Deval Patrick and Carol Moseley Braun endorse someone, and Michelle Alexander speak out against someone, I wanna know why they feel the way they do, because I respect the hell out of those people. I guess I just don’t see any individual as being more of an appropriate, comprehensive “voice” of the black community in America. But having lived in the Southwest, Southern Louisiana, Michigan, and now the Pacific Northwest, I personally know lots of black, hispanic, and asian folks from all over the country who are all over the political spectrum.

However, I don’t like black-and-white categorizations, and I do feel justified calling it out as unproductive and shortsighted when I see it. Right or wrong, that’s what I thought I noticed in your comment(s). I apologize if that’s not your intention.

I just think the opinions, life work, and political allegiances of people like Michelle Alexander, Carol Moseley Braun, and Deval Patrick should be evaluated individually by voters, despite the disagreement on a democratic candidate. As I believe they (individually) have well-earned the right to be assumed to have legitimate civil rights in their motivations.

I also think that their perpetual marriage to a bill (that has long been accepted as flawed until recently I guess) is not at all a reasonable way to characterize their commitment to the black community and civil rights. Their decisions are their decisions, but I think claiming “one right one wrong” and “one is the real voice of black community and one isn’t” is really unproductive.