Firebrand Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett Sparks New Controversy with Fiery Commencement Speech
Texas Representative Jasmine Crockett, never one to shy away from controversy, has once again stirred public debate—this time with a commencement speech that critics say strayed far from the tone of unity one might expect at a graduation. Despite the prestige of her congressional seat, Crockett continues to challenge the long-standing norms of decorum and dignity that have traditionally defined public service.
During her remarks at Tougaloo College, a historically Black institution in Jackson, Mississippi, Crockett raised eyebrows with what many interpreted as a call for aggressive confrontation. “There will be individuals who say you don’t belong, but I’m here to tell you—yes, you do,” she declared. “Some may say there’s no seat at the table for you, but remember Montgomery and those folding chairs. We know how to use a chair, whether pulling it up—or otherwise.”
Her reference was widely understood to allude to the viral 2023 brawl at a Montgomery, Alabama boat dock, where a Black man famously wielded a folding chair during a racially charged altercation. Though officials denied racial motivation, the imagery became a symbol of defiant resistance for some and raised concerns about glorifying violence for others.
Crockett didn’t stop there. She turned her attention to Republicans and members of the media, slamming their use of the term “DEI hire” as a thinly veiled racial slur. “Instead of saying the n-word outright, they call us ghetto or unqualified,” she said, adding, “Jim Crow hasn’t died—he’s just been waiting.”
While Crockett’s defenders claim she’s speaking uncomfortable truths, others argue her rhetoric is divisive and dangerously close to endorsing retaliation over reconciliation. She suggests that references to “DEI hires” are coded attacks, equating them to the most vile expressions of racism. But isn’t DEI, by definition, about prioritizing identity over merit? If people are being selected for their race rather than their qualifications, isn’t that also a form of racism?
This tension isn’t new. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once dreamed of a nation where individuals would be judged by the content of their character—not the color of their skin. So why do politicians like Jasmine Crockett appear so reluctant to let Black Americans stand on equal ground and compete based on ability alone? Could it be a fear that, without institutional advantage, the outcome may not be favorable?
If the answer to inequality is to “use a chair”—metaphorically or otherwise—perhaps it’s time to reconsider what kind of leadership is being celebrated. And maybe, just maybe, it’s time to take a different kind of seat—one grounded in respect, merit, and genuine progress.
