Biden Didn’t Introduce Man in Blackface
The Claim
A video shows Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden introducing a man wearing blackface at a 1985 fundraiser.
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Emerging story
In mid-July 2020, a video purporting to show Biden inviting a man in blackface onstage during a 1985 fundraiser went viral.
Users on social media reposted the video.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar’s investigation found that the video has been manipulated. Singer Jerome Powell’s face was edited to look darker and therefore appear as if it is a person wearing blackface. Jerome Powell is black, and the unedited video shows his actual face.
However, in Biden’s introduction of Powell, he did call the singer “Michael Jackson” and “Prince.” He said: “Now, the next man I would like you to meet. Now, y’all got to sit down for this. We’re going to have some important people coming out in a minute. But there is one more band member that I want you to meet: Ladies and gentlemen, our vocalist tonight, Michael Jackson. Michael, would you please stand? Soon to become Prince, as was just pointed out to me."
The comparisons may be seen as racially insensitive. However, Powell said that he did not feel that way: “I’m a very sensitive person, so my sensitivity would have kicked in when a statement like that was made. It didn’t. I would have commented or responded to it."
The unedited video is below.
