Political violence should never be tolerated. In America, we need to settle our differences at the ballot box, through civic action, not violence.
As a father, I lost my wife to mental illness when my sons were 4 and 8. I can empathize with the family of Charlie Kirk, a conservative political activist who was fatally shot on Sept. 10 during an event in Utah. No child should have to experience the pain of losing a parent, especially at such a young age.
However, empathy is not celebration, and I do not have to call Charlie Kirk a hero. I represent Detroit, the Blackest major city in the country. Given Kirk’s history of disparaging remarks towards Black Americans, I could not vote yes on H.Res. 719.
Charlie Kirk was obsessed with affirmative action and DEI. He not only questioned the qualifications of Black Americans, but he also implied that there was no chance Black Americans could possibly be qualified for the positions they held.
He built much of his brand attacking affirmative action and diversity programs — not debating the policy in good faith, but ridiculing Black achievement itself. That mentality is deeply problematic, troubling, and comes from a place of ignorance and racism.
On one of his podcasts, Kirk brought up four talented, trailblazing Black American women — Joy Reid, Michelle Obama, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. He said of them, “You do not have the brain processing power to otherwise be taken really seriously. You had to go steal a white person’s slot to go be taken somewhat seriously.” No, they did not “steal a white person’s slot.” They earned every accolade through their talent and relentless hard work.
In another podcast, Kirk said, “If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy, I hope he’s qualified.’” Why anyone thinks this comment is acceptable is beyond me. When I, and most people, see a Black pilot, we don’t think twice about it at all. We take our seats and enjoy the flight. Clearly, this was not the case for Kirk. He singled out Black professionals for suspicion because of the color of their skin. That is not candor. That is racism.
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Regardless of how anyone feels about affirmative action or diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, those comments are deeply offensive and unacceptable. Black Americans have faced centuries-old structures of institutional racism. Policies like affirmative action were implemented to address the biases that persist in our society today. To act, as Kirk did, that these policies meant Black Americans were not qualified, or did not earn their positions, is a slap in the face to my constituents.
This pattern — questioning Black intelligence, denying Black merit — runs through his years of commentary. Furthermore, it does not even touch on his other anti-immigrant, xenophobic, divisive views that did nothing but stoke the flames of the culture war.
Charlie Kirk often said his favorite word was “earned.” In my opinion, a hero is someone who fights for everyone, including those who have been historically left behind. For white, conservative Christians, Kirk was their biggest champion. For the rest of us, it feels like Kirk was constantly putting us down and demeaning us. He did not earn a hero’s recognition.
Congressman Shri Thanedar represents Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, which includes Detroit, Downriver, and the Grosse Pointes.
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