'You argued for segregation': Joe Biden slammed over past remarks after addressing Black leaders on 70th anniversary of Brown v Board

WASHINGTON, DC: On Friday, May 17, President Joe Biden spoke at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v Board of Education, which declared the segregation of public schools unconstitutional.

While Biden emphasized his commitment to advancing educational equity and civil rights, he also faced renewed criticism over his historical stance on school desegregation.

Joe Biden's claims spark backlash

In his speech, Biden reflected on the significance of the Brown v Board ruling and its enduring impact on American society. "The work of building a democracy … worthy of our dreams starts with opening the doors of opportunity for everyone, without exception,” he said. “Education is linked to freedom.”

Biden highlighted his administration’s efforts to support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), noting a $16 billion investment in these institutions. Additionally, he mentioned the forgiveness of $160 billion in student loan debt and the Department of Education’s allocation of $50 million towards teacher diversity.

The POTUS complained about political opposition from former President Donald Trump and his allies. “Trump and his allies want to gut our progress and go further by taking away other fundamental freedoms, from the freedom to vote to the freedom to choose,” Biden warned.

He also addressed the current cultural and political climate, claiming efforts to misrepresent historical facts are prevalent. “It’s a really important thing to continue,” Biden asserted. “We have a whole group of people out there trying to rewrite history, trying to erase history.”

Despite his affirmations, Biden faced sharp criticism online for his past comments and actions related to school desegregation. Social media users pointed to his historical remarks that they interpreted as supportive of segregation.

One user on X wrote, "Remember when Joe Biden said segregation would turn schools into racial jungles. Democrats will always be the party of slavery."

Another user referenced Vice President Kamala Harris's critique during a 2019 debate, "And you, Joe Biden, argued for segregation. Don’t believe me? Ask your own VP."

"Joe Biden has been more responsible for the preservation of racial segregation in public schools than any other American president and there is no one else even in the discussion," someone else commented.

"The White House continues to push division in America. Meanwhile, Joe Biden keeps making racist statements and treating black people as if they’re born disadvantaged. That’s why the black community is abandoning Biden and supporting President Trump," another chimed in.

Controversial past remarks

According to Fox News, the backlash is rooted in Biden's political history, where he was once a key figure in the debate over school desegregation. During the 2020 Democratic primaries, Vice President Harris notably criticized Biden for his opposition to busing policies aimed at integrating schools.

"You also worked with them to oppose busing," Harris reminded Biden during a debate. "You know there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate public schools, and she was bussed to school every day. And that little girl was me."

In a 1975 Senate hearing, then-NAACP Legal Defense Fund Director Jack Greenberg condemned Biden for sponsoring a bill that would limit the judiciary’s authority to mandate busing as a tool for desegregation. Greenberg stated that the legislation "heaves a brick through the window of school integration."

Further complicating Biden’s record are comments he made in the 1970s that were perceived as dismissive of the long-standing oppression faced by Black Americans.

"I do not buy the concept, popular in the '60s, which said, 'We have suppressed the Black man for 300 years, and the White man is now far ahead in the race for everything our society offers," Biden was quoted as saying in a 1975 interview with a Delaware newspaper. "In order to even the score, we must now give the Black man a head start, or even hold the White man back, to even the race. I don't buy that."

Biden’s eulogies for segregationists and former KKK members, such as the late West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd and former South Carolina Senator Strom Thurmond, have also drawn scrutiny. He described Thurmond as "a brave man, who, in the end, made his choice and moved to the good side."

In 2019, Biden defended his past comments, stating, "Apologize for what? Not a racist bone in my body. I've been involved in civil rights my whole career. Period. Period. Period."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.