Controversial Representative Jasmine Crockett from Texas finds herself in trouble once more, primarily due to her outspoken nature. One would expect that serving as a member of Congress, a position regarded with honor, would lead her to approach her role with the necessary care and respect. However, she seems to disregard the long-standing traditions of decorum that have characterized members of the House and Senate since the nation’s inception.
Crockett, as noted by numerous critics, seemed to incite black Americans to engage in violent actions against their adversaries. This controversial statement was made during her commencement speech at Tougaloo College, a historically Black institution located in Jackson, Mississippi. For approximately 20 minutes, she encouraged the graduates to understand how to ‘utilize a chair’ in public life—though not in the conventional manner of merely remaining seated.
There will be individuals who assert that you do not belong, and I am here to repeatedly affirm that you indeed belong,” Crockett stated in a video of her comments shared online. “Some may claim that there is no place for you at the table, but I wish to remind you of Montgomery and those folding chairs. Allow me to emphasize that we are adept at utilizing a chair, whether we are pulling it closer or engaging in other activities with it. Let me be the first to acknowledge that I recognize your readiness to take action.
The reference appeared to refer to a highly publicized altercation in Montgomery, Alabama, in 2023, which involved both black and white men at a boating dock. Although officials stated that the incident was not racially motivated, it attracted national attention due to its visual impact—especially a viral video depicting a black man striking another person with a folding chair.
In her address, Crockett took aim at Republicans in Washington and members of the media for employing the phrase ‘DEI hire’ to rationalize terminations within the federal government—a term she denounced as racially charged and discriminatory. ‘Rather than openly using the n-word, they resort to racist slurs and imply that we are ghetto or unqualified or merely diversity hires, despite the fact that we are often more educated and qualified than they are,’ Crockett stated, as reported by the Daily Caller. ‘Let me inform you: These assaults are not novel, for Jim Crow has not perished; he has merely bided his time.’
Crockett accurately points out that ‘DEI hires’ carry racial implications, which is the fundamental purpose of DEI. However, she insinuates that white individuals and others employ the term as a euphemism for the ‘n’ word, a notion that is both irrational and polarizing. It is important to recognize that the introduction of DEI aimed to provide black men and women with ‘a seat at the table’ not based on their qualifications or abilities, but solely due to their race. Does this not also constitute racism? Indeed, it does.
Do you recall the time when African Americans expressed their discontent regarding that issue, around the era of Martin Luther King Jr.? Furthermore, why do polarizing black politicians such as Jasmine Crockett hesitate to allow black individuals to compete based on their own abilities? Is there a concern that they may not succeed? It certainly appears that way. If that approach fails, then perhaps one should simply ‘take a seat.’
