Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) on Monday accused his primary challenger of perpetuating racial stereotypes in a heated primary debate.
Bowman, a two-term progressive Black leader, is facing off against centrist Westchester County Executive George Latimer. The two are vying for the Democratic nomination in the race for New York's 16th Congressional District.
Bowman and Latimer engaged in a debate full of interruptions and snide comments Monday, including Bowman's accusations that Latimer was propagating racist tropes.
When Latimer said Bowman is an “ineffective Congressman” because he argues too much, Bowman interrupted to say that he is “passionate.”
But Latimer responded, “You need to talk to them as normal people — you can’t preach and scream at them on the steps of the Capitol.”
He then told the audience, “He’s ineffective for this very reason.”
Bowman threw up his arms and accused Latimer of spreading the racist “angry Black man” stereotype.
“The angry Black man, the angry Black man,” Bowman said. “It’s the southern strategy in the north.”
The “angry Black man” stereotype refers to the idea that Black men are brutish, dangerous and incapable of controlling emotions, making them difficult to work with. The “angry Black woman” trope impacts women in a similar manner.
Monday was not the first time Bowman has accused challengers of spreading racist rhetoric.
Last year, he accused Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green (R-Ga.) of dangerous rhetoric after she said she felt “threatened” by his “aggressive mannerisms.”
“Black men continue to be characterized as aggressive and threatening when we are passionate and outspoken,” Bowman said at the time. “They're not just using dogwhistles, they're using bullhorns. It's dangerous, but we must ALL continue to speak truth to power.”
The race between Bowman and Latimer is one of the most closely watched Democratic primaries in the nation. Voters in the district will head to the polls on June 25.
