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Bernie Sanders, the self-described Democratic socialist running against Hillary Clinton and Martin O’Malley for the Democratic Party nomination, is making transparent moves toward further engaging an African American audience and electorate.

With the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primaries looming in February, Sanders’ campaign has begun buying up ads on majority black-listener radio stations, touring historically black colleges and recruiting African American activists as partners.

Well reported, if not slightly presumptuous, the New York Times highlighted these efforts of Sanders’ campaign in a 15 January piece, pointing out that Sanders has dedicated his entire life to civil rights causes, having marched with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Sanders was also the first and most bold in his embrace of the Black Lives Matter movement, stating unequivocally that they do, in fact, matter. He also gave the stage to BLM protestors when they interrupted an August speaking engagement in Seattle. The New York Times forgot to mention this.

Sanders’ populist, progressive message is certainly the best suited to put forward police reforms and bring indictments on racist cops. He, unlike his opponent Hillary Clinton, sees the connection between anger in the African American community and stagnant wages, Wall Street decadence and constant war.

The candidate is persistently equitable in his speeches--he treats black voters as he treats white voters.

Sanders advocates demilitarization of the police force and prison reform.

Hillary Clinton, while she has just recently come around to admitting there are “hard truths” about race and justice in America that should be addressed, her policies are directly in line with President Barack Obama’s--under whose leadership U.S. police fatally shot over 1,000 citizens in 2015.

The Democratic candidates will face off in the fourth debate of the 2015/2016 presidential campaign, this time in Charleston, South Carolina in the NBC News-Youtube debate.

South Carolina’s primary on 27 February will be the first real test of Sanders’ support among black Americans, so tonight’s performance is more important to his electability than ever.

But polls have shown Clinton ahead among black voters with a recent Fox News poll and YouGov of South Carolina Democrats poll giving her 71 percent 80 percent respectively.

The Democratic establishment including African-American leaders Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson as well as former Attorney General Eric Holder are endorsing Clinton. As have over a dozen Congressional Black Caucus members and a good deal of black mayors and state representatives.

Sanders has not received nearly this much institutional support.

It is likely tonight’s debate will be a significant point of departure or ascension for Sanders. As 50-year-old Kevin Williams told the New York Times, Sanders’ early support for a $15 minimum wage has resonated. “People will see,” Kevin said. “He’s starting to connect with African-Americans. They’re feeling Bernie is a progressive we can trust.”