Rep Hakeem Jeffries denounces Byron Donalds’ Jim Crow eemarks as ‘outlandish’, ‘Ignorant’

Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a scathing rebuke to Republican Congressman Byron Donalds for his recent comments suggesting that Black people were better off during the era of Jim Crow laws.

Jeffries, known for his passionate defense of civil rights, condemned Donalds’ remarks as factually inaccurate and insensitive, calling them an “outlandish, outrageous, and out of pocket observation” during a session on the floor of Congress.

“Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that a so-called ‘leader’ has made the factually inaccurate statement that Black folks were better off during Jim Crow. That’s an outlandish, outrageous, and out of pocket observation,” Jeffries stated emphatically.

“We were not better off when a young boy named Emmett Till could be brutally murdered without consequence because of Jim Crow,” Jeffries continued. “We were not better off when Black women could be sexually assaulted without consequence because of Jim Crow.”

The House Minority Leader’s voice rose as he listed the atrocities of the Jim Crow era. “We were not better off when people could be systematically lynched without consequence because of Jim Crow. We were not better off when children could be denied a high quality education without consequence because of Jim Crow. We were not better off when people could be denied the right to vote without consequence because of Jim Crow,” he declared.

“How dare you make such an ignorant observation? You better check yourself before you wreck yourself,” Jeffries concluded, his remarks drawing murmurs of agreement and applause from fellow lawmakers.

Donalds, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and a representative of Florida’s 19th congressional district, sparked controversy with his comments made at a recent Black GOP event. He asserted that the “Black family was together” during Jim Crow and implied that more Black people voted conservatively during that time.

“During Jim Crow, more Black people were — not just conservative, because Black people have always been conservative-minded — but more Black people voted conservatively,” Donalds had stated.

Jeffries was not alone in criticizing Donalds’ remarks. Several Democratic and Republican lawmakers have condemned his statements as historically inaccurate and insensitive. They argue that Donalds’ attempt to paint a positive picture of the Jim Crow era ignores the harsh realities of racial segregation and systemic discrimination that plagued the United States for decades.

“Donalds should be ashamed of himself, but given the fact that he’s an avid supporter of the fascist MAGA movement, it’s safe to presume that he’s incapable of shame,” Jeffries remarked, echoing the sentiments of many of his colleagues.

The controversy has reignited debates over the appropriate handling of historical narratives and the impact of such rhetoric on public discourse. As the discussion continues, lawmakers are expected to address the broader implications of Donalds’ comments and reaffirm their commitment to combating racism and promoting civil rights in the United States.