Source: Tom Williams / Getty
Rep. Stacey Plaskett is so much more than the viral moment that had everyone cackling during Michael Cohen’s testimony on Wednesday.
Plaskett, who represents the Virgin Islands since being elected in 2014, was caught on camera openly reprimanding her colleague Rep. Jim Jordan during the House Oversight Committee proceedings while he began to talk over Rep. Elijah Cummings, the committee’s chairman.
Rep. Jordan was in a huff and argued that he was not provided with a copy of Cohen’s opening statement far enough in advance and also kept insisting about how unfair it was. He stated that the proceedings were unfounded and believed Cummings was using the moment for political play and questioned why the chairman would give Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, now convicted felon, the floor to criticize Trump. Laughable right?
During the exchange you can see Plaskett turn around like your momma did when you got caught acting up in church and mouth a few things to Jordan, one of which looks like “be quiet.”
Atlantic staff writer Jemele Hill, formerly of ESPN, retweeted the moment with the caption, “Stacey Plaskett is all of us looking at Jim Jordan, the last person who should address anyone’s character.”
And while Plaskett has openly enjoyed the commentary, I personally thought it was important to make sure that folks put some respect on her name. I want us to hold ourselves accountable, that even though we seem to love the trope of a sassy Black woman, this Black woman is doing her part to advance her community, while also putting the greater good of America first. A state which remains vigilant in putting the needs and causes of Black people on the back burner. But alas, this is something Black women have always known, but continue to push through.
Plaskett was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to two parents from Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands during the mass influx of Caribbean migrants who moved New York City in the 1960’s. She was raised in a public housing complex in Bushwick, with her working class parents–her father was a police officer and her mother was a court clerk. Because of her acumen for learning, she was able to secure a scholarship at Choate, a prestigious New York state boarding school (For all you Power fanatics, this is where Tariq attends school).
After spending time abroad in France, she attended Georgetown University and American University Law School in Washington, D.C. In all of her time in academia she was a beloved member of her student class and a variety athlete. Her career trajectory in politics began as the Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx, which after numerous legal positions, led to a job at the Justice Department where she eventually worked under former FBI Director James Comey.
Plaskett is married to Jonathan Buckney Small, a community activist and is also the mother to five children.
During Wednesday’s testimony, she ran down an itemized list of priorities she has as a congresswoman, but yet still emphasized the importance of Cohen’s testimony. “Yes Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time,” she wrote in the caption of the video.
She followed it up with a bad ass walk down the corridor while she chewed gum. In the caption she shouted out her beloved colleague Maxine Waters with the hashtag #ReclaimingMyTime.
Later Plaskett told TMZ when asked about the eyeroll, “He (Jordan) needs to respect the chairman. And he needs to respect this committee. This is not a wrestling match. This is not his showtime. This is about the people of this country.”
And for that Rep. Plaskett, we thank you.
