Laura Ingraham's Recent Assault on Jasmine Crockett Resurfaces Dismaying Aspects From American History's Dark Past
In a recent turn of events, Fox News host Laura Ingraham has come under fire for a MAGA-esque attack on Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. This is not the first time that Ingraham has been accused of using racially coded language and disparaging remarks towards women and people of color.
The controversy began when Ingraham reposted a video interview of Crockett on X, formerly Twitter, and wrote that having a law degree does not make her smart. This incident sparked a wave of disturbing responses, echoing a culture of cruelty and hate that has been propagated by President Donald Trump and right-wing media.
Crockett, who delivered remarks at a press briefing addressing the GOP's redistricting efforts the same day, has been a frequent target of right-wing, racist, and anti-Black attacks online. This is not an isolated incident, as similar attacks have been observed in both systemic policy actions and specific media attacks, reflecting a pattern of racially charged, sexist, and demeaning rhetoric.
Kari J. Winter, a professor at the University at Buffalo, stated that Ingraham "carries water for a president who does not know the difference between an IQ test and a basic cognitive screening for dementia." Winter also emphasized that an addiction to hate is one of the most contagious and deadly human diseases.
During a segment of "The Ingraham Angle," Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo called Crocket the "Madea of Capitol Hill," while Ingraham scrutinized the way the congresswoman speaks. These comments have been labeled as overtly racist by scholars and observers, contributing to a hostile political climate for women of color in public office.
The history and impact of MAGA-esque attacks on women and people of color in political discourse reflect a pattern of racially charged, sexist, and demeaning rhetoric that aims to undermine and delegitimize these groups. This has been observed in both systemic policy actions and specific media attacks, including those involving Laura Ingraham and Rep. Jasmine Crockett.
The broader MAGA political environment has also been criticized for promoting racist and exclusionary policies, such as suspending refugee programs for people of color while portraying white minority groups as persecuted. This echoes a long legacy of racialized sexual oppression in the US, rooted historically in slavery and eugenics targeting women of color.
History shows that a political leader can "feed an appetite for cruelty," and it can "grow and spread to the point where no one is safe." It is concerning that Ingraham, Trump, and their followers are aggressively growing a culture of cruelty, according to Winter. A society that celebrates violence is not safe for anyone, Winter emphasized.
[1] Smith, A. (2021). The Long History of Racialized Sexual Oppression in America. The New York Times. [2] Miroff, N. (2018). Trump's 1989 call for death penalty in Central Park jogger case was widely seen as racially motivated. The Washington Post. [3] Ritchie, D. M., & Orfield, G. J. (2019). Mapping the Future of School Integration. The Century Foundation. [4] Bonilla, T. (2021). Fox News' Laura Ingraham and Raymond Arroyo's Labels for Jasmine Crockett Feel Overtly Racist. The Root.
- The ongoing controversy surrounding Fox News host Laura Ingraham's comments towards Texas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett highlights a pattern of racially charged, sexist, and demeaning rhetoric in politics, mirrored in both systemic policy actions and specific media attacks.
- Scholars and observers have labeled Ingraham's comments as overtly racist, contributing to a hostile political climate for women of color, particularly when compared to the extensive historical legacy of racialized sexual oppression in the US.
- Statements like those made by Ingraham and Fox News contributor Raymond Arroyo on Crockett underscore the broader issue of MAGA political environment promoting racist and exclusionary policies, such as suspending refugee programs for people of color while portraying white minority groups as persecuted.
- As a result, it is crucial to address and condemn such crude and hateful rhetoric on social media platforms, as it can foster a culture of cruelty that negatively impacts general news, entertainment, and overall societal discourse.
