#BernieMadeMeWhite Creator Calls Erasure of Sanders’ POC Supporters ‘Terrible Strategy’

By Sameer Rao Mar 29, 2016

"Google ‘Sanders + race’ and you’ll get the impression that Bernie Sanders and all his supporters are White nationalists," Leslie Lee III said in a new Raw Story interview that delves into why he created the #BernieMadeMeWhite hashtag with this tweet: 

 

#BernieMadeMeWhite trended on social media this weekend as Bernie Sanders supporters, especially those of color, responded to what they called the mainstream media’s Whitewashing of his recent Democratic caucus wins. Raw Story cites a recent CNN piece that analyzes Sanders’ wins in Hawaii, Alaska and Washington—or as they describe them, "largely White and rural" states, despite Hawaii’s people of color majority

In case you didn’t see it, here are a few emblematic tweets: 

 

Lee, a Louisiana native who currently resides in Japan, spoke with Raw Story about his motivation for creating the hashtag. Here, he discusses mainstream media’s apparent role in erasing Sanders supporters of color: 

If you watch just CNN and MSNBC and read The Washington Post you can create a little bubble for yourself where Bernie Sanders is just some cooky old white guy that a few dumb white guys like. If you encounter something that pierces that bubble, the Jonathan Capeharts and Amanda Marcottes of the world will write a thinkpiece to repair the tear before you log off Facebook.

However, women who support Bernie and POC who support Bernie will remember this in November if Hillary is the nominee. Most will be willing to forgive, but a lot won’t. It’s terrible strategy on the part of Clinton and her surrogates to erase us, because they’re going to need us very soon.

(H/t Raw Story, CNN, Mic