By: Ariyana Griffin

The political climate has been hot, especially in Atlanta the past week. Politicians such as Governor Deval Patrick, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders, have graced the AUC ( Atlanta University Center, Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, and Morehouse College). They have high hopes of casting the African American vote, and there is no other place better to come than in the middle of three, honestly, four because I like to include Morris Brown, Historically Black Universities and Colleges. On November 21, 2019 at Morehouse’s Martin Luther King’s Chapel, we especially felt the Bern. Bernie Sanders delivered a Democratic speech to students as well as citizens of the state of Georgia. And, I would like to add, Bernie came out to Pick up the Phone by Travis Scott which was definitely a moment for the culture.   

      This will be Bernie’s second time running, most people were introduced to his campaign in 2016. This time he is working harder than ever, and people are looking for the best candidate which is almost anyone but Trump. Bernie showing his face at an HBCU meant the world to me because often times I feel as if political figures forget about us. We learned back in 2012 that Black votes mean everything because for the first time African Americans voted more than Whites. When we come out and vote we can truly make a change for our culture because we are influential.

        As many know Robert Smith paid off the class of 2018’s student loan debt for Morehouse. This was a historic move because those students will have a great advantage by stepping into life without the hassle of loan debt, something that thousands even millions of students yearn for. Sanders stated, he wants to “make all public colleges and universities tuition-free” and that he wants to “cancel all student debt in this country.” This will allow students all over to feel the same freedom that Morehouse Class of 2018 was granted. He also wants to free HBCUs from debt and add 5 billion in funding to help produce more Black doctors and dentists. 

Bernie stated that there are “40 million people living in poverty,” yet he brings up that “we are living in the wealthiest country in the history of the world.” It is very disheartening that people can go days without shelter, food, and water in America when “ three people own more wealth than the bottom half of America.” So many people in today’s society struggle because they are living paycheck to paycheck simply because that is the only way for the majority to truly survive. He said, “ tell the billionaire class this country belongs to all of us just not the few.” Many know that Bernie comes from a humble past, he is from Brooklyn, New York and lived in rent-controlled housing. He was arrested for fighting housing segregation in Chicago and he knows what it is like to live from check to check. So, as a result, he speaks from experience. 

        1 out of 4 African American males end up in the criminal justice system, mainly because they are faced with poverty and have to find other means to survive. Many inmates cannot afford cash bail, which is a huge reason why they are not free. Bernie promises to end cash bail, as well as end the War on Drugs. He wants to make, “marijuana legal in every state in this country,” he is also going to “expunge the records of those arrested for possession of  marijuana.” Bernie wants to end private prisons and detention centers, as well as focus on funding education instead of private prisons. He pointed out that big companies get to profit off of marijuana sells, yet young Black men rot in a cell for the exact same thing. 

       Often people ignore the Earth and climate change, they believe that Mother Nature can survive anything. Ma is strong but she’s not indestructible. Damage has already been done, so we need to do what we can to repair what we have left. Bernie stated, “ the fossil fuel industry that your short term profits are not more important than the future of this planet.” He wants to transform the global energy system and move it away from fossil fuel. It is time for the President to care about the Earth. We are living on the Earth that our children will be raised on. 

        Some of Bernie’s main points were adding more funding to public schools, as well as raising teachers wages, ending student loan debt, adding more funding to HBCUs, have free healthcare, prison reform, climate change, as well as legalizing marijuana ad exposing the records or those in jail for selling or having it. His points are valid in my opinion, and I can’t wait to see how this election all lays out. No matter who you vote for just make sure YOU VOTE!!!!!