It wasn’t as good as President Barack Obama singing Al Green at the Apollo Theater, but U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries had his cool moment too.
His came on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2017, when he paid tribute to slain Brooklyn rapper The Notorious B.I.G. by spitting a few verses without the need of notes or music:
“It was all a dream/ I used to read Word Up magazine/ Salt-N-Pepa and Heavy D up in the limousine/ Hangin’ pictures on my wall/ Every Saturday Rap Attack, Mr. Magic, Marley Marl.”
Then Jeffries closed out the tribute with words that only a Kings County native can truly appreciate: “Where Brooklyn at?”
Brooklyn’s in da house, but for Jeffries that declaration has a much bigger meaning.
Not only is Jeffries a rising star in the U.S. House of Representatives, he’s on a path to run it.
Last week, Jeffries made formal his bid to be the next Democratic leader when Congress reconvenes in the new year.
Jeffries wants to replace House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who announced last week that she is stepping down from her leadership post after 20 years at the helm, including two stints as speaker.
If his colleagues put him in charge, Jeffries would be the first African American to lead a party in Congress.
“I write to humbly ask you for your support for the position of House Democratic Leader as we once again prepare to meet the moment,” Jeffries wrote in a note to his colleagues.
“House Democrats must also continue to advance a forward-looking vision anchored in kitchen table, pocketbook issues, we can unify around an agenda designed to make life better for everyday Americans from all walks of life, and simultaneously embrace issues of social justice.”
If there is any silver lining to losing control of the House, this is it. Pelosi recognized the need for new leadership, and Jeffries, 52, more than fits the bill.
The Crown Heights lawmaker is seen as deliberative and pragmatic, but not shy about displaying his Brooklyn toughness.
And why not? Jeffries’ elevation would cement Brooklyn — my hometown— as a national political powerhouse.
Jeffries lives less than a mile from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Park Slope Democrat.
“Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has dedicated his entire career to uplifting Brooklynites, and his remarkable rise from humble roots to chair of the House Democratic Caucus is a testament to his skilled leadership, legislative abilities and keen understanding of the needs of his constituents,” said Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, Brooklyn’s Democratic Party chair.
Jeffries’ toughness is best illustrated by a setback he suffered along his rise to political power.
After Jeffries narrowly lost a state Assembly bid, Democratic lawmakers redrew the district to exclude his home.
Jeffries eventually went on to serve six years in the state assembly before he was elected to Congress in 2013.
As for the establishment hacks who tried to keep him down, Jeffries is getting the last laugh. Or, in the words of his favorite rapper he “went from negative to positive.”
And it’s all good.
Where Brooklyn at?
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