Joe Biden Regrets “You Ain’t Black” Comment

UNITED STATES—On Friday, May 22, Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden appeared on morning radio show The Breakfast Club with host Charlamagne Tha God, where during  the interview the two discussed African Americans who are on the fence about whether they should vote for Biden or Donald Trump. Biden said in a comment, “If you are having trouble trying to figure out if you are for me or for Trump, then you ain’t black.”

Tim Scott a member of the United State Senate for South Carolina has accused Biden m who served as the Vice President for President Barack Obama of “Race-Baiting.” In a statement with NewsWeek, Scott said, “Race-baiting in the 21st century is an ineffective tool to attract one of the most intelligent voting blocks in the nation.”

Last month, Barak Obama endorsed Biden’s presidential campaign. In a Pew Research Center Survey it was reported, “41% of Democratic registered voters say they are bothered that the likely Democratic nominee for the 2020 election is a white man in his 70s. About six-in-ten Democratic voters (59%) say this does not bother them.” The survey also determined that 72 percent of Black voters were not bothered by the age and racial demographics, while 28 percent were. 

On Friday, Ed O’keefe tweeted: “JUST IN: In a call with Black business leaders,@JoeBidenapologizes for his AM comments to @cthagod I should not have been so cavalier. I’ve never, never, ever taken the African American community for granted.”

Politico reported, “The Trump reelection effort immediately moved to take advantage of Biden’s remark. The campaign hosted a press call with adviser Katrina Pierson and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, began selling a “#YouAintBlack” t-shirt, and launched a website highlighting Biden’s comments.

BBC stated “Biden campaign adviser Symone Sanders defended the comments on Friday, saying they were made “in jest. Let’s be clear about what the VP was saying: he was making the distinction that he would put his record with the African American community up against Trump’s any day. Period.”