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Bernie ignited a political movement that's finally taking shape

If the socialist bloc wants to become more than just the party of dissent, they'll need to appeal to some non-white demographics. 

Membership in the Democratic Socialists of America recently reached 25,000. It’s more than tripled in size since Bernie Sanders’ campaign brought the movement in from the fringe.

But if the socialist bloc wants to become more than just the party of dissent, they’ll need to appeal to some non-white demographics.

Midway through this year, a strategy seemed to be taking hold as black leftist candidates won elections in Mississippi and Georgia. In New York, the Democratic Socialists and the Green Party have put forward black candidates as well, including Akeem Browder, the brother of Kalief Browder, who will be running for mayor.

In the rapidly gentrifying 35th district of Brooklyn, Jabari Brisport will be running for a city council seat under the Green Party banner. VICE News met with Brisport to talk about his campaign and how he plans to bolster Democratic Socialism through strategic candidacy.

This segment originally aired August 9, 2017, on VICE News Tonight on HBO.