Joe Biden grilled on controversial ‘you ain’t black’ comment

Joe Biden has faced a tough question from an audience member about a controversial comment he made about African-American people back in May.

Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden has faced a tough question during his live town all about a controversial comment he made regarding African-Americans earlier in the year.

A progressive African-American student, Cedric Humphrey, asked Joe Biden about one of his more infamous remarks of the presidential campaign.

“I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black,” Mr Biden said back in May.

The comment sparked a swift backlash, and he apologised.

Young African-American voter to Joe Biden:

"Besides 'you ain't black,' what do you have to say to young black voters who see voting for you as further participation in a system that fails to protect them?" pic.twitter.com/acT4UWxUwe

— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) October 16, 2020

“Many people believe that the true swing demographic in this election will be black voters under the age of 30. Not because they’ll be voting for Trump, but because they won’t vote at all. I myself have had this exact same conflict,” Mr Humphrey said.

“So my question for you then is, besides ‘you ain’t black’, what do you have to say to young black voters who see voting for you as further participation in a system that continually fails to protect them?”

Mr Biden started his answer by playing up his friendship with civil rights icon John Lewis, who died earlier this year.

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Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden participates in an ABC News town hall event at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP

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“Well I say first of all, as my buddy John Lewis said, it’s a sacred opportunity, the right to vote. It can make a difference,” he said.

“If young black men and women vote, you can determine the outcome of this election. Not a joke. You can do that.”

“And the next question is, am I worthy of your vote? Can I earn your vote? And the answer is, there’s two things that I think I’ve demonstrated I care about for my whole career.

“One is, in addition to dealing with our criminal justice system to make it fairer, we have to be able to let African-Americans gain wealth, generate wealth.”

He went on to reel off some policies he supports, such as more funding for disadvantaged schools. Mr Humphrey did not look convinced.

President Donald Trump and Mr Biden appeared in two separate town halls today in place of the second presidential debate.

The decision was made to hold two separate events after Mr Trump refused to participate in a virtual debate due to his COVID-19 diagnosis and to guarantee the safety of attendees.

Mr Trump accused the Commission on Presidential Debates of trying to protect Mr Biden, saying he wasn’t going to “waste his time” on a virtual debate.

This lead to the debate being cancelled and Mr Trump’s town hall appearing on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC and Mr Biden’s event appearing on ABC News.