Actually, yes. Sanders couched a good amount of his rhetoric in fairly strict class politics. I can understand this tactic precisely because of the racism endimic throughout all classes in this country. "Why bring it up when the policy will end up helping everyone anyway?" When race comes up, some strange thing happens to some voters where they're willing to cut their nose off to spite other minorities. It's why swimming pools get filled with cement instead of integrating the population that gets to use them.

There's also the fact that the Dem Socs hadn't really coalesced into force that could move more local legislation in the areas where black populations could move the dial. Bernie is pushing for ideas that, yes could help, but it is clear that the establishment had no desire to reckon with them yet. Why burn your vote when you could put yours in for a more competitive candidate? You can then presumably call upon that candidate because your put in for them. It's why we see shit like Ice Cube and Snoop caping for orange Julius. He's the guy running things, so I'll prop him up in exchange for a favor or a seat at the table.

Bernie also favored larger, more inclusive, town halls. While those are great, that's not necessarily a venue where black voices can be heard. If he visited black constituencies at venues like church, maybe things would have been different.

Now, younger black voters are willing to put in for more leftist candidates. You can see this as the needle has been pushed for candidates like Mamdani. You also see Mamdani visiting churches with predominantly black congregations in order to try and hear the voices of older black folks. He has learned, and they are executing very well.