Why People of Color Should Vote for Bernie Sanders Over Hillary Clinton

With the Democratic nomination for presidency tightening between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, and with a few weeks to go before the February caucuses, I would like to pitch in my 2 cents. 

Related Dough: Democratic Presidents Result in Better Outcomes for Blacks, Latin@s, and Asians

Hot Dough: 7 Reasons Why Asian Men Should Date Black Women

Hot Dough: 19 Dark Skinned Women That Will Make You Crave For More!

Hot Dough: Hollywood: Take Notes From The Walking Dead

Imagine that you are a person of color (POC). You reside in a home located in the backdoor to a large factory that spews nitrogen and sulfur oxides, arsenic, and lead, among other pollutants. You put on your work shoes, finish your last bite of a home-made peanut butter jelly sandwich, and rush out the door to your 1993 used Honda Civic. Once outside, you immediately breathe in the air pollutants, not because you want to, but because you have no other option. You pull out of the driveway, and head on your way to work. Suddenly, you see flashing lights in your rear view mirror, to see a cop car signaling you to pull over. So, you pull over. 2 cops step out of their Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor. From your side mirrors, you identify both cops as white males. Both have their hands on their gun holsters, ready to draw their Glocks at any moment's notice. They arrive at your car, and demand to see registration and license. You show it to one of the cops, who heads back to the cop car to run some checks. The other cop tells you to step out the car, put your hands on the hood of the car, and starts to handcuff you. Your heart starts to race. You have no idea what is going on. You have a squeaky clean record. You ask, quivering, "What's going on?! Why are you arresting me?!" The cop tells you aggressively to "shut up!!" The other cop comes back from the squad car, and begins "searching" through your vehicle. The cop then pulls out a small plastic zipped bag from his pocket that appears to have some sort of white powder nearly filled to the top. You scream, "That's not mine!! I don't even do drugs!!" With nobody around to videotape and witness the arrest, you have no legitimate recourse. Instead of going to work to punch in your hours, you get booked. Instead of coming home from work and enjoying a home-cooked meal, you do jail time. When you come out of jail, no one will hire you because of your criminal record. You have been forced into a systemic cycle of oppression. 

Given Hillary Clinton's plans on tackling gun violence prevention and criminal justice reform, along with her voting history, and her accepting donations from corporations, I can clearly picture the above scenario to occur habitually to POC with a 2016 Hillary Clinton presidency. It appears that Hillary Clinton does not support the end of civil asset forfeiture, civilian oversight of police departments, feedback and contribution from civil rights activists and leaders, laws on allowable use of force, and reducing funding to police departments that do not make progress toward policing reform. Truth be told, Clinton's proposed policies seem to very well make an impact, but may only put a dent in the system. Due to her stances on these aforementioned issues (and more), Clinton's policies, to me, seem to be more and more band-aids on a never-healing wound.   

Now, imagine again, that you are a POC. You live in a neighborhood, sharing the same block with a diverse group of individuals. You step out of the front door of your house, and take a heaping breath of fresh air. You smell the fresh grass, you see one butterfly courting another butterfly, and you smile happily as you trot towards your 1993 used Honda Civic. Absent are the polluting factories. In place of them are sources of renewable energy. As you drive off to work, you wave to your community police, Alex Doe, who is riding along on a bike. Alex Doe has been a neighborhood police for the last 5 years, and knows the history and inner-workings of the neighborhood. As you see Alex fading into the distance, you can't help but feel safe that you are in good hands.

Given Bernie Sanders' plans on tackling racial justice issues (including supporting the aforementioned policies that Hillary Clinton seem to not support), along with his voting history, and his civil rights activism and morally consistent actions since the 1950's, I can vividly picture the above scenario to happen in neighborhoods across the nation with a 2016 Bernie Sanders presidency. Bernie Sanders' proposed policies may very well be the beginning of the break down of institutional racism, systemic oppression, and white supremacy. If his civil rights policies do not produce desired results, I feel confident that Bernie Sanders will work with civil rights activists and leaders to enact policy changes that will uplift POC and intrinsically heal broken wounds.

Beyond Bernie Sanders' racial justice platform, the following are Bernie's other policies that may benefit many POC's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. As you read the following, think about how each of these policies might affect you as a POC and your community.

• Bridge the income and wealth inequality
• raise the minimum wage to $15/hour (including enacting paid family and medical leave, and universal childcare) 
• ensure the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share in taxes (including closing tax loopholes, imposing the estate tax, and tax on Wall Street speculation)
• bring outsourced jobs back to America
• invest in youth jobs program to help the youth climb the economic ladder
• expand social security
• strengthen unions
• Make public college education tuition-free, so we can afford higher education and move up in the economic ladder
• Reform the way the political process works by reforming campaign financing, so each and every one of us has a voice and a vote that can be heard
• Instill Voting Rights Act and make voting easier (including making election day a national holiday)
• Combat climate change, so that people do not have to succumb to living near environmental hazards
• Create fair and humane immigration policies, so families can stay together 
• Fight for equal pay for women
• Fight for LGBTQ rights
• Ensure healthcare for all (including more affordable prescription drug prices) 
• Break up big banks
• Support organic farming 

Bernie Sanders' vision of America is a near-identical embodiment of that of Martin Luther King Jr. Bernie Sanders is instilling massive enthusiasm in the American people and is surging in momentum every single day. We may only have one chance in 2016 to elect a president who will fight for POC, who is committed to righting the wrongs for the past 200 plus years, and who will work hard to make America work for everyone. 

Don't just take my word for it. Do your research. Be politically educated. And engage in the political process. 

How you can help
If this post resonates with you, please, share it with your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and strangers. Also, with the February caucuses coming up, please go to Bernie Sanders' website to find out how you can help the early caucus states nominate Bernie Sanders. After all, a presidential candidate like Bernie Sanders may come and go like a flicker of light. 


Who will you vote for, and why?

Asian Fathers Value Their Darker Skinned Daughters

My insides do flips and somersaults when I see Asian dads with their darker skinned children. One time, Brooke and I were shopping at Walmart, and I saw an Asian man in his 30's pushing a shopping cart with his dark skinned, coily haired daughter in the flip-up child seat. He was like Dwayne Johnson in The Pacifier on a mission - he couldn't care less of what you thought of him and his daughter. Another time, I saw a Black girl ranging from 5-8 years old holding hands with her Asian father in his late 30's to 40's, looking at clearance toys at Target. The father was engaged with his daughter in their quest to find the perfect toy. Another time, I saw an Asian dad holding hands with his 5-6 year old daughter, strolling through the streets.

Hot Dough: 7 Reasons Why Asian Men Should Date Black Women
Hot Dough: 19 Dark Skinned Women That Will Make You Crave For More!
Hot Dough: Michelle Obama and Black Girls Rock! - Asian Guy Supports You!

My emotions had urged me to go up to the father and salute him, and tell his daughter, "You're in good hands." But my brain was telling me, "Don't be a creep and move right along." Knowing that I did not want to come across as a weirdo, I high-fived the fathers and daughters in my head as I walked on by, smiling. 

Now, you might ask, "Why are you so happy about seeing Asian fathers with darker skinned children?!"

Because day in and day out, I keep seeing photos, ads, and movies that keep stuffing my mouth with corn pop cereals with whole milk for breakfast, potato salad mushed between 2 white Wonderbread slices for lunch, fettuccine alfredo for dinner, and vanilla ice cream with marshmallows, white chocolate, and whipped cream on top for dessert. Media loves light skinned females, and works incredibly hard to make everyone else desire them as well. 

I am sorry, media, but this Asian fell in love at a young age with Cocoa Puff cereal with chocolate milk, Nutella spread smeared between 2 dark rye bread slices, black rice supplemented with cooked black beans, and dark chocolate ice cream with magic shell chocolate, blackberries, brownie bits, and Hershey kisses on top. I love women with skin tones covering all colors of the rainbow, and would be totally fine with my children looking darker skinned. 

So, it warms my heart when I see other Asian men who are like me - we value and appreciate melanin-rich skin color of our women and children, and do not blindly succumb to the white-washing from the media.

By saying no apology necessary for 'all lives matter', Jeb Bush in effect supports institutional and systematic racism.

 

Jeb Bush said, "We're so uptight and politically correct now that you apologize for saying lives matter."   

Hot Dough: 7 Reasons Why Asian Men Should Date Black Women

Hot Dough: 19 Dark Skinned Women That Will Make You Crave For More!

Hot Dough: Hollywood: Take Notes From The Walking Dead

Jeb, imagine your kind:

• getting shot and killed for running from the police, for being stalked after leaving a store having purchased a bag of skittles and a drink

• wrongfully targeted and threatened with a gun at a pool party that was legitimately held

• killed at 12 years old for holding a toy gun, after only a split second encounter with the police

• consistently ignored at the awards ceremony despite comparable winning performances

• incarcerated at record levels compared to the rest of society

• denied mortgages and rental housing despite having qualifying numbers

• overlooked for jobs and promotions in statistically significant numbers

• constantly reminded that your hair, lips, and body are "ugly", unattractive, and abnormal

• prevented from furthering your education due to financial barriers

• forced into cycles of poverty due to the above scenarios and discrimination since the day you were born

• and, to sum it all up, to live in cycles of slavery.

So, you're saying that someone shouldn't apologize to your people for saying, "all lives matter" when your people are constantly being denied the freedom to live their lives in a fair, just, and dignified manner?

What you're doing, then, is looking the other way, away from the VERY problem that America faces. You're walking away from dismantling and destroying the INSTITUTIONAL AND SYSTEMATIC RACISM that keeps certain groups of people down while elevating others. 

This is what you value; this is what you espouse. JEB, are far out of reach from America. You do not CARE for the disadvantaged, the vulnerable, the impoverished, and the people who have been wrongfully wronged. 

And for that, I do not endorse you. I do not support you. And, I will NOT vote for you.

Dylann Storm Roof is a Racist, White Supremacist, and a Domestic Terrorist. White Extremists are too. End of Discussion.

 

Fox News, conservatives, white supremacists, and extremists who refuse to label Dylann Roof as a terrorist need some serious schooling. Seriously. Maybe they think terrorism only applies to Muslims. Or they think terrorism and white don't belong in the same sentence. Well, think again, you ignorant pieces of denials.

Hot Dough: 7 Reasons Why Asian Men Should Date Black Women

Hot Dough: 19 Dark Skinned Women That Will Make You Crave For More!

Hot Dough: Hollywood: Take Notes From The Walking Dead

Let's review the word "terrorism".

Terrorism, according to Merriam-Webster, means: "the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal".

Let's break this down...

"the use of violent acts" - The pulling of a trigger to kill 9 innocent people constitutes the "use of violent act". Plain and simple. Period.

"to frighten the people in an area" - Ask the surviving victims of the church shooting to see if they were frightened by Dylan Roof's acts. I swear, on Dylann's racist, white supremacist pale ass, that the people at the church were indeed frightened for their lives. No question about that. None. Nada.

"as a way of trying to achieve a political goal" - A political goal is "the way power is achieved and used in a country". Power can be achieved by the oppression, disenfranchisement, and disempowerment of group(s) of people. Dylann acted as part of a larger organization whose intent is to oppress Blacks. In fact, Dylann clearly stated that he wanted to start a "race war" so that whites can take back "their" country. His statement serves as sufficient evidence of his political goal.

Given that all three parts are met, we need to label Dylann Storm Roof accordingly - as a terrorist. More specifically, he is a RACIST, WHITE SUPREMACIST, DOMESTIC TERRORIST.

Fortunately, the term "terrorism" sees no color.

So, extremist denials, if you don't label white adult Dylann Roof as a terrorist, don't you DARE label the people who collapsed the Twin Towers and killed thousands of people on 9-11 as terrorists. Don't you DARE slap on your headlines that the two gunmen who injured the security guard in Garland, Texas are terrorists. And, don't you EVER DARE use the word and any derivative of the word "terrorism" in your vocabulary. 'Cause clearly, you cheated your way past high school.

P.S. - If you extend this discussion a bit further...

Ever since whites stepped off the Mayflower onto Native Americans' land, we see acts of white terrorism. Whites nearly decimated Native Americans in the takeover of current day America. Whites lynched, raped, shot, and assaulted Blacks from living free and peaceful lives more than 100 years ago. Current day America is no different - extremist whites kill innocent Walter Scott's, Tamir Rice's, and Trayvon Martin's, to the point where Blacks feel the need to ALWAYS watch their backs. Whites harassed, violently assaulted, and forced Asians into internment camps during World War II. And extremist whites kill unarmed Antonio Zambrano Montes's.

If you want to be granted the permission to use the word "terrorism", start by labeling these extremist whites as what they are - terrorists.

Democratic Presidents Result in Better Outcomes for Blacks, Latin@s, and Asians

 

Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and Rick Santorum - what policies do you guys support that make Earl Holt III (the racist, white supremacist, and leader of a terrorist group) drool so much so that he's willing to part ways with his Benjamins in the amount of $65,000 to have your Republican backs? Is it your passion to repeal Obamacare? Your insistence on loosening gun control? Your itching desire to lower taxes on the 1%?

Hot Dough: 7 Reasons Why Asian Men Should Date Black Women

Hot Dough: 19 Dark Skinned Women That Will Make You Crave For More!

Hot Dough: Hollywood: Take Notes From The Walking Dead

Regardless of your stance on policies, the secret is out: you guys have been funded by a white supremacist - an anti-Black, racist terrorist.

And that begs the question: are Republicans, and in particular, these presidential candidates who received donations from Earl Holt III, in bed with white supremacists? In other words, are Republicans aiding white supremacy ideologies, ways of life, and culture?

History shows us that when the nation is governed by Democrats, as compared to Republicans, Black lives fare better. Black incomes grew $1,000 faster yearly, "Black poverty rate declined 2.6 points faster and Black unemployment rate fell almost one point faster" when under Democratic leadership versus Republican leadership. Similar results hold true for Latin@s and Asians. 

With Republicans' current positions on issues like voter ID laws, immigration reform, abortion, and discrimination against LGBT folks, Republican hopefuls seem to err on the side of history.

So, let's revisit the question: are Republicans in bed with white supremacists? It's a loaded question that would take a Ph.D. thesis paper to hash out. But it's a question worth asking. And it's a question I want to pose to you, to get you thinking about how politics influence outcomes for groups of certain "races".

When a candidate brings up issues about education, immigration, taxes, gun control, the economy, and health care, among many other issues, ask yourself, "how does this candidate's stance on (plug in an issue) affect (plug in a "racial" group)?" There are many factors at play with any given issue, but I will conclude by saying that "race" plays an important role in politics, in more ways than people think.

So, with the upcoming 2016 presidential election looming around the corner, start asking yourselves. 

Michelle Obama and Black Girls Rock! - Asian Guy Supports You!

First Lady Michelle Obama, I love your support for the "Black Girls Rock!" event! For far too long, Black females have been devalued, ridiculed, and shunned. From being told that their natural hair is messy and unprofessional, that their melanin-dense skin looks unattractive, and that they are undesirable partners, it's time that we flip the script.

Hot Dough: 7 Reasons Why Asian Men Should Date Black Women

Hot Dough: 19 Dark Skinned Women That Will Make You Crave For More!

Hot Dough: Asian Fathers Value Their Darker Skinned Daughters

To the haters...

...who say Michelle Obama is racist - It is NOT AT ALL RACIST for Michelle Obama to declare that Black girls rock. She was merely empowering a group of people who have been systematically and institutionally robbed of their opportunities to be regular girls and women. She did not say "Black girls are better than White girls." 

...who say #whitegirlsrock, #allgirlsrock, and anything with the intent of taking away the positive focus on Black girls - Your talking shit about #blackgirlsrock really shows the 6-year old in you. You're that 6-year old kid who has all the toys, but when you see a kid sitting next to you getting a toy, just ONE TOY, you shit your diapers, throw a fuss, and call the kid out for having one toy.

REALLY?!? How ignorant, uneducated, and selfish are you?!

Please, take off your Nikes and put yourself in Black girls' shoes. Really examine your #nonblackprivilege or your #nonblackgirlprivilege, and juxtapose that with the Black girl experience. What difference do you see?

If America hadn't oppressed Black girls and women, we wouldn't need to hold a "Black Girls Rock!" event, because Black girls would be treated comparably to that of White girls.

Nellie Andreeva and Deadline: Take Your White Fragility Elsewhere

REALLY, Nellie?! As co-editor-in-chief of Deadline, you should be ashamed of yourself for even considering writing how "ethnic castings" could be "too much of [a] good thing".

Hot Dough: 7 Reasons Why Asian Men Should Date Black Women

Hot Dough: 19 Dark Skinned Women That Will Make You Crave For More!

Hot Dough: Hollywood: Take Notes From The Walking Dead

Instead of touting the ethnic casting decisions in TV shows nowadays...

Instead of supporting the fact that the casting of non-Whites are slowly inching towards the current non-White demographic make-up of America...

Instead of exposing how casting in 2014 and before has not been "color-blind" AT ALL...

Instead of examining the non-White makeup of top positions in the media industry...

Instead of commenting on how non-Whites CAN and SHOULD lead projects... 

Instead of reflecting on how non-Whites relate to experiences they see on screen...

Instead of analyzing ways in which behind-the-scenes staff could accommodate the changing diversity makeup of their casts...

Instead of analyzing how these TV shows with non-White leads and casts defy traditional stereotypes assigned to marginalized non-White folks...

Instead...

You, Nellie Andreeva, and Deadline, denounce (although faintly) the rise in the castings of non-White talents that have been LOOONG overdue. 

It's like saying, "Universities nationwide had a 90% student population consisting of Whites up to now, but this past year, it's dwindled down to 80%. There are too many non-Whites attending Universities!! I think having 20% of non-Whites making up the student population might be too much!!"

"There are too many ethnic people!! I can't breeeaathe!!"

You, among other like-minded folks, seem to feel stressed that your White privilege, your entitlement, your White supremacy thinking, is being challenged. 

We don't tolerate ignorance. Please take your White fragility elsewhere - preferably not anywhere near communities and allies of ethnic people. 

P.S. - Read this: Dear Nellie Andreeva and Deadline, About Your Piece on Too Much “Ethnic Casting” on TV

Hollywood: Take Notes From The Walking Dead

Dear Hollywood:

AMC's The Walking Dead (TWD) is "walking" in the right direction by taking a large leap towards diversity representation. It earned a cable record-breaking 17.3 million viewers for its 5th season premiere (best for a non-sports program). It started its 4th season with 16.11 million viewers and sealed itself as "the highest rated hour of cable television ever". It became the highest rated cable television show in its third season. And it set records with the 18-49 year olds going as far back as Season 2. Converting viewership to dollars, this means TWD can charge premium ad rates per slot. TWD's ad rate of $600,000/slot stirs up envy in the NFL, as its top games warrants it to charge $570,000/slot.

This is no accident either. According to Dr. Darnell Hunt's 2015 Hollywood Diversity Report, global box office revenue brought in $130.5 million for films that cast 31-40% of minorities, versus only $50.7 million for films that cast no more than 10% of minorities. Casting a number of minorities that, when combined, closely resembles the non-white demographic make-up of America translates to a nearly $80 million revenue difference!

Hot Dough: 7 Reasons Why Asian Men Should Date Black Women

Hot Dough: 19 Dark Skinned Women That Will Make You Crave For More!

Hot Dough: Michelle Obama and Black Girls Rock! - Asian Guy Supports You!

TWD utilizes its cast to showcase diversity in more ways than just "race" - diversity of character roles and character development as they relate to "race", gender, sexual orientation, and age. I'm pretty sure there are many more areas of diversity TWD portrays, so feel free to add your input.

Here are some examples (spoiler alert!):
1. Tyreese is a gentle, sensitive caretaker

2. ...and he shows extreme heroism fighting through a horde of walkers without getting bitten!
 

3. T-Dog is not the first significant character to be killed off the show.

4. Michonne is a heroine - an adept leader with great intuition

5. ...and she was a mommy to her own

6. ...and she is a mommy to Judith

7. ...and she's sensitive. 

8. Sasha is...fierce! She's also a realistic leader

9. ...and she's fine!

10. Gabriel is nonviolent, non-aggressive.

11. Noah is a regular teenager.

12. Rosita (a Hispanic) is a walker killer who led the crew out of Terminus.

13. Daryl is a sensitive caretaker, just like Tyreese.

14. Aaron is an intuitive, tenacious leader...who happens to be gay!

15. Tara is a great team player...who happens to be a lesbian!

16. Carol is a heroine - an independent, strong leader...who is in her 40's.

17. Officer Lenner (above) and Deanna (below) are capable female leaders of their respective groups.

18. Glenn saves Tara on 3 separate occasions.

 

19. Glenn is also a strong leader and a team player...who delivered pizza before walkers became a majority "race"

20. ...and he stands up to bull.

21. Glenn is also a romantic

22. ...sexual

23. ...affectionate

 24. ...caring 

25. ...loving

26. ...romantic

27. ...passionate

28. ...protective survivor.

OK, now I'm done with Glenn.

Long story short, Hollywood, diversity sells. Let me repeat that. DIVERSITY SELLS.


Sincerely,

Not your stereotypical Asian guy