Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, delivered a fiery critique of Republican-backed efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives during a House Oversight Committee meeting on Wednesday.
Her comments, which quickly went viral, were aimed at addressing what she described as misrepresentation and appropriation of the term “oppression” by her Republican colleagues.
A Challenge to the ‘Dismantle DEI’ Bill
The committee was discussing the “Dismantle DEI Act of 2024,” a bill introduced by Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas. If enacted, the legislation would eliminate all federal DEI offices and programs.
Cloud argued that DEI initiatives foster division and inefficiency in government, describing them as “harmful ideology.” The bill passed the committee along party lines in a 23-17 vote and is set to move to the House floor.
During the debate, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Louisiana, characterized DEI policies as a form of “oppression.” Crockett sharply rebutted the claim, stating:
“There has been no oppression for the white man in this country. You tell me which white men were dragged out of their homes, dragged across an ocean, and told to work.”
Her remarks emphasized the historical and systemic oppression faced by people of color, challenging her colleagues’ framing of the issue.
Defending DEI and Diversity in Leadership
Crockett, 43, took to social media following the hearing to further defend her position, writing on X (formerly Twitter):
“I didn’t bring race into anything… THEY DID & always do & then they twist history & dilute the definition of words.”
This isn’t the first time Crockett has clashed with Republicans over DEI initiatives. In a September hearing, she countered claims that the Biden administration’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program was another DEI initiative, calling out what she described as a fear of diversity among her GOP colleagues.
“This election is the best example of why y’all are so afraid of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Instead of having a simple-minded, underqualified white man ascend, you’d have to pay attention to the qualified Black woman on the other side,” she said during that meeting.
Advocating for DEI in Higher Education
Crockett has also voiced concerns over the lack of diversity in Texas institutions of higher learning. In a June interview with BET, she criticized the reliance on Black athletes to bolster predominantly white institutions (PWIs) while failing to ensure diversity among students and administrators.
“They’re good with Black folk playing football and making their programs amazing, but they don’t want to ensure diverse admissions or representation in administration,” she said. “I’m tired of it.”
The Broader Context of DEI and the GOP Agenda
The “Dismantle DEI Act of 2024” aligns with broader conservative efforts to curtail DEI initiatives across public and private sectors, including education. Vice President-elect JD Vance sponsored a similar bill that did not advance in Congress.
Crockett’s impassioned defense underscores the ongoing debate about DEI’s role in addressing systemic inequities.
“It is white men on this side of the aisle telling us, people of color on this side of the aisle, that y’all are the ones being oppressed. That is not the definition of oppression,” Crockett concluded during the committee meeting.
Her statements have sparked widespread discussion online, with supporters praising her for standing up against what they view as attempts to undermine diversity and equity.
