‘Hold On! Stop! Stop!’ Joy Reid Throws Down with Byron Donalds Over Controversial Comments

MSNBC’s Joy Reid and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) clashed over the lawmaker’s remarks about Black families during the Jim Crow era.

“You see, during Jim Crow, the Black family was together,” Donalds said at an event on Tuesday. “During Jim Crow, more Black people were not just conservative — Black people have always been conservative-minded — but more Black people voted conservatively.”

The congressman has said media reports about his remarks lack context. After tangling with CNN’s Abby Phillip over the matter on Wednesday, Donalds appeared on The ReidOut, where the host also delved into his comments:

REID: Jim Crow lasted roughly from 1867 after the Civil War to 1968. Is there a specific period between 1867 and 1968 that you thought was this golden era for Black families or a time that was good for Black families?

DONALDS: Joy, I never said that. And see, this is where the gaslighting comes in–

REID: No, no, no. Hold on! Stop! Stop! No. That’s not what you said. Let’s play what you said. Play what he said.

[CROSSTALK]

DONALDS: You’re saying I said it was the golden era. I never said that. You’re saying, I said it was better back then. I never said that.

REID: Play what he said.

DONALDS: Play what I said.

The clip in question was played, in which Donalds said, “During Jim Crow, the Black family was together. During Jim Crow, more Black people were not just conservative, Black people always have been conservative-minded, but more Black people voted conservatively. And then [the now-defunct Department of Health, Education, and Welfare], Lyndon Johnson, and you go down that road and now we are where we are.”

The host resumed her questioning of the guest:

REID: What was the authority of the Black father in the Black family during Jim Crow?

DONALDS: Well, listen, under Jim Crow, obviously, Black people were under great persecution, unfortunately by southern Democrats and the democratic party overall in the history of our country. That’s the fact. And so, let me finish now, Joy. So, having the Black man in the home was about first protecting the mom and protecting the kids, incredibly important. It was the leadership in the home, which is incredibly valuable. And I think what we’re witnessing the last 30 years, definitely through my generation is Black fathers being at home is incredibly important for the success of Black children going forward. And it’s not just a Black thing. That’s everybody. Fathers in home help to breed success for kids moving forward. That is a great thing for our country. That’s something that has been proven throughout time. So, what I’m talking about is not the “golden era of Jim Crow.” That’s ridiculous. I would never say that, and that is the gaslighting that I’m standing up to because that’s what Hakeem Jeffries, the Biden campaign, Jaime Harrison, and the like are trying to bring up. And unfortunately, the media has followed suit with misleading headlines.

Watch above via MSNBC.