Presidential Candidate Joe Biden Addresses Comment Many Called Offensive

As the Memorial Day holiday began, Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden defended a comment he made during an urban radio show that many Black Americans found offensive.

“The bottom line is, perhaps, I was much too cavalier,” the former Vice-President said.

During an appearance on “The Breakfast Club”, the 77-year-old said if voters are questioning whether they’re for him or Trump, ‘then you ain’t black.’

Later in the day, Biden appeared on a call with the U.S. Black Chambers of Commerce and was invited to explain his remarks.

He said, “I know the comments have come off like I was taking the African American community for granted. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

African American voters have supported Biden in his bid for the White House and played a crucial role in turning around his campaign in early March. Riding an enduring respect among Black voters for former President Barack Obama, Biden received widespread support in the South, starting with the South Carolina primary and continuing through Super Tuesday.

“I know in order to win the Presidency I need the African American vote,” Biden said during the call.

Mr. Obama’s support of Biden for President became official after Senator Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign due to Biden’s clear lead in the delegate count and the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Since then, President Trump has increased his attacks on the former President which political analysts say is an effort to weaken Biden. Trump falsely claimed the Obama administration did not leave a pandemic playbook.

Biden’s “Lift Every Voice” Initiative

Despite concerns from health experts that reopening the country too soon will trigger a second wave of the virus, Mr. Trump and his supporters have aggressively pushed for a return to business as usual amid disproportionate death rates from the coronavirus among Black Americans.

Biden said, “In a Black majority county, you’re six times as likely to die than if you live in a white-majority county.”

The Biden campaign released its “Lift Every Voice” initiative to address the effects of the pandemic on workers, families, and businesses. Many of the essential workers during the health crisis are Black. Biden described grocery store employees, nurses’ aides, and truck drivers as carrying America “on their backs”.

Funding for entrepreneurs and businesses staffed exclusively by the owner or a handful of employees as well as $70 billion for HBCUS are part of the initiative.