Story perspectives

Podcaster Questions Rep. Crockett’s Black-Woman Invention Claim

7/7/2026

Left

Benny Johnson Gotcha

Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson turned Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s ESSENCE Festival remarks into a social-media “gotcha” about Black-woman inventions.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett spoke at the 2026 ESSENCE Festival and was challenged by Benny Johnson to name a Black-woman invention.
Critics said Johnson’s trivia challenge ignored systemic erasure and reduced Crockett’s message.
The debate turned partisan, with conservative users amplifying the controversy while others defended Crockett’s intent.

Right

Benny Johnson Gotcha

Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson posted a clip framing Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s Essence Festival remarks as a “gotcha” about Black-woman inventions.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett lost the Texas Senate primary and will not seek House reelection after district lines were redrawn.
Her claim America owes Black women and they back Democratic Party, sparking Independence Day criticism.
Congresswoman cited the Karmelo Anthony murder case; net worth is $2-$9 million on a $174,000 salary.

History

Historical Context

The push to raise women in STEM began with the early 1960s President’s Commission on the Status of Women, which recorded under 1 % female engineers. By the 1970s women made up about 17 % of STEM majors, and the 1998 L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards began honoring female inventors. A 2016 USPTO report showed women on 17 % of U.S. patents, a backdrop to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s remarks.

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Benny Johnson Gotcha

Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson turned Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s ESSENCE Festival remarks into a social-media “gotcha” about Black-woman inventions.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett spoke at the 2026 ESSENCE Festival and was challenged by Benny Johnson to name a Black-woman invention.
Critics said Johnson’s trivia challenge ignored systemic erasure and reduced Crockett’s message.
The debate turned partisan, with conservative users amplifying the controversy while others defended Crockett’s intent.

1 / 3