Cornel West: Bernie Sanders Is the New Jesse Jackson

Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has twice run for president, have the same revolutionary streak, liberal activist and author Cornel West says.

West — who worked on Jackson's unsuccessful 1984 and 1988 campaigns and backs Sanders in his challenge of Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination — told The Guardian:

"There are some similarities and elective affinities … [but] the Sanders campaign is even more progressive than Jackson's were, because his critique of Wall Street is more direct."

West said that Sanders still lacks the support of black voters that Jackson commanded. But, he added, "That's what we are going to get — once black people find out who Brother Sanders is."

West also believes that the civil rights group Black Lives Matter, which has been protesting Sanders' campaign, will eventually recognize that "Brother Bernie is much stronger on people, on economic justice, and on racism than any other candidate."

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