How does that imply that slavery was better? It doesn't. It's an insensitive thing to say, sure, but that's different from saying that slavery was better.
To infer that anything for blacks was better under slavery; the worst form of bondage you can imagine is a serious issue.
The family ties which were a source of strength and resistance too slavery, that probably helped African Americans endure the brutality of slavery and then segregation have been considerably weakened in the last 40 years. Regardless of what politically incorrect context the issue is placed in, the issue still remains. And to ignore it out of political correctness is a far worse injustice to the community, then trying to address it in some manner and draw attention to it.
I am pretty sure civil rights leaders didn't have as their first concern the issue of whether equating the injustices of segregation to those of slavery would be "inappropriate". I don't see how we serve the interests of African Americans or the legacy of the civil rights movement by freezing up the discussion so much regarding issues in the community, that people ignore them and their issues out of fear of what is appropriate.
It's a dumb pledge signed by a dumb candidate. But let's not become so sweeping in grand pronouncements that nothing can be done to advance the AA community's interests at all. That is the end of result of such a statement. I highly doubt anyone sane thinks slavery was good by any measure or comparison and thus I think to focus on those quacks who think otherwise, is a diservice to blacks.
