Donalds Challenges Jeffries to Debate Black Conservatism vs Black Liberalism

Donalds Challenges Jeffries to Debate Black Conservatism vs Black Liberalism

Grayson Bakich
Grayson Bakich
|
April 13, 2023
FacebookXLinkedInWhatsAppEmail

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has recently come under fire for an essay he had written in the 1990s defending antisemitic remarks by his uncle Leonard Jeffries and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan while denouncing Black conservatives as "house negroes," which he said he only has "a vague recollection" of.

In a recent appearance on Fox, Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) said while Rep. Jeffries should apologize, he also challenged him to "an honest debate about Black conservatism vs. Black liberalism."

"I'm over the phony apologies. Let's have an honest debate about Black conservatism vs. Black liberalism. Let's have a real conversation about whose policies will unleash not just Black America but all of America. That's the debate the people want. I'm ready, @hakeemjeffries," said Rep. Donalds.

In the footage, Rep. Donalds called upon Rep. Jeffries to apologize "not just to [him]," but to other Black Republicans such as Representatives Burgess Owens (R-UT), John James (R-MI), Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), and "all the Black Republicans that have spent time in Congress."

"Hakeem Jeffries should apologize, obviously, for what he wrote in that essay, 100%. Not just to me, but to Burgess Owens, to Wesley Hunt, to John James, to Tim Scott, but also to Mia Love, Allen West, and all the Black Republicans that have spent time in Congress," said Donalds.
On the other hand, Donalds continued that he is "kind of over the phony apologies." Is Donalds suggesting Jeffries does not need to make a grandstanding apology for remarks he made thirty years ago, or implying Jeffries would be insincere, possibly still holding the view of Black Republicans and conservatives as "house negroes?"
Regardless, Donalds calls on Jeffries "to have a real debate" on what sort of policies "will unleash not just Black America, but all of America," adding that this is "the debate that the American people need to have right now," which earned him cheers from behind the camera.
"Let's have a real debate about Black conservatism versus Black liberalism. Let's actually have a real, honest conversation about whose policies are actually going to unleash not just Black America, but all of America, because I think that's the debate that the American people need to have right now," Donalds concluded.

Related Posts

Grayson Bakich

Grayson Bakich

Florida born and raised, Grayson Bakich is a recent recipient of a Master’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida. His thesis examined recent trends in political polarization and how this leads into justification of violence.

Subscribe to the newsletter everyone in Florida is reading.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for BREAKING NEWS ALERTS


The Floridian

Thank you for your interest in receiving the The Floridian newsletter. To subscribe, please submit your email address below.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.