Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is known for many things. Among them are her political fervor, organizing to protect the rights of marginalized people, and educating the masses on how politics impacts them on the local and national levels.
Congresswoman Crockett began her journey as a public defender and civil rights attorney. Now, she is the sole Black freshman and youngest Black lawmaker in Texas during the 87th Legislative Session.
Committed to public service, she represents portions of Dallas and Tarrant Counties. This includes the cities of Dallas, Grand Prairie, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Duncanville, Glenn Heights, Hutchins, Wilmer, Arlington, Ovilla, and Seagoville.
As the United States braces for the 2024 presidential elect in November, Congresswoman Crockett has made it part of her duty to take centerstage across America to educate people and implore them to become politically engaged, daily.
Forbes spoke with Congresswoman Crockett in Atlanta, Georgia, as she prepared to be in conversation about the state of Black America and politics at REVOLT WORLD to discuss the significance of voting rights and the political climate.
Own Your Political Power
Lydia T. Blanco: There is a lot of political pressure on everyone in the United States right now, but we know that Black women carry so much of that weight. There are women like you, Oprah Winfrey, and the Jotaka Eaddy’s of the world organizing and raising money to ensure that the Black vote matters in November. How can Black women position themselves politically to win and move forward in life come the November election, and beyond?
Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett: One of the things that I get frustrated about is that we wait, and we do everything once the elections are upon us. Election day will come, but the work continues.
That’s the attitude we must have when we look at all the rights we’ve lost. We (women) didn’t lose them overnight. Especially when they went after our reproductive access. That was a 50-year fight that they waged. We have to be just as bullish about making sure that we are getting our seats at the table.
Congresswoman Crockett on Mentorship And The Civic Duty To Vote
Congresswomen Crockett: If there is something that you aspire to be, then go and find someone who is in that space and ask them to mentor you. The worst they can say is no. If you don’t ask, you definitely won’t receive.
It’s important to stay engaged. We need to show up at these school boards as they try to ensure that our history is written out of our children’s education We need to make sure that we’re showing up at the city council as we have rogue police departments that are going out and killing us and our children.
We need to make sure that we show up before there’s a problem and that we show up consistently.
My charge to everybody is not to think that the fight is over once November 5 comes and goes. Stay engaged and demand your space at the table. We are always the most qualified in the room, and half the time, they want to try to act as if we should never have been there in the first place.
I think this is going to be a great opportunity for Black women. I want women to be proud, courageous, stand up for themselves, and demand that they do incredible things.
Congresswoman Crockett On Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Blanco: There’s an ongoing conversation about diversity, equity, and inclusion. You’re often leading it. What is your call to action for White women as allies and civically responsible people?
Congresswoman Crockett: If you know anything about your history, you and I know very well as members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, that in 1913, when they went through the Suffrage Movement, Black women were not included in the number. But Black women stood firmly by White women in the fight.
We must understand, stop the divisiveness, and realize that their fight is also ours. And so long as we take on that particular attitude, we all will come up.
We know that there’s a wage gap that exists whether you’re a Black woman, an Asian woman, or a White woman. We know that the wage gap between women and men exists. So, we need to coalesce around one another.
One of the reasons I’ve been so proud of some of the women in Texas is because White women said they understand their privilege. That is why we decided we would go into court and make sure that we would start these court cases around abortion access. We know that some won’t be able to do it.
So, I’m going to say and charge White women with understanding their privilege and making sure that they’re looking out for the entire village of us. Just like we are always there to lift you up, even back in 1913, to make sure that you all had access to the ballot box.
We need you all to be willing to lift us up.
Wellness For Life
Blanco: You’re taking care of America. How are you taking care of yourself?
Congresswoman Crockett: I’m not, but come November 6, I’m going somewhere people don’t know what a politic is!
The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.