Six words put Rep. Jasmine Felicia Crockett’s (D-TX) name on everyone’s lips this week, and sparked much needed conversations about civility, decorum, and how Black officials should respond to lowly attacks from their opposition.
Sometimes, the best response is the truth.
Rep. Crockett’s statement came after a verbal assault on both her intelligence and appearance by Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), an infamous MAGA republican who was a fringe outlier before 45 rose to political prominence.
Greene launches into an ad hominem attack against Rep. Crockett.
This is followed by an immediate response by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), after which the Chairman calls for a brief recess. Upon returning, he attempts to give Greene the floor, over the protests of Representatives calling for her incendiary words to be stricken.
This is when Rep. Crockett responds with her now famous one-liner:
– Rep. Jasmine Crockett
When Rep. Crockett responded, the room erupted into heated discussion, and the Chair called for another recess.
By end of day, the entire situation had gone viral, and a much-needed conversation about how Black professionals should respond to unprofessional conduct by others.
With six words, the Congresswoman dealt a satisfying blow to the unspoken hierarchy in the workplace.
For decades, Black women – Black people in general – have bit their tongues in the face of racially-motivated aggression. From slick comments about our hair, to insinuations that we are less competent than our white counterparts, we’re expected to “grin and bear it” for the sake of career advancement.
Jasmine simply said “no more.”
In a room where she and MTG are not only colleagues, but peers, she chose to stand up rather than be a shrinking violet, and the effect was immediate.
Other members of Congress launched into diatribes about decorum, what’s “appropriate” in Committee, and restoring order.
Funny how that always happens when we fight fire with fire.
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