Tennessee GOP Rep. Diana Harshbarger Calls Al Green 'Boy', Sparks Outrage

Tennessee Republican Rep. Diana Harshbarger is facing criticism after referring to Texas Rep. Al Green, a 77-year-old Black Democrat, as 'boy' during a Christian podcast, a term widely regarded as a racial slur. During the interview, Harshbarger also questioned the legitimacy of Green's use of a cane, suggesting it was a prop and implied he could be concealing a weapon inside it. Civil rights advocates and experts noted that such language has historically been used to demean Black men, and Green publicly stated that the remarks were not humorous and should be addressed as offensive. Harshbarger’s comments have sparked backlash from civil rights organizations and calls for accountability from Democratic leaders. In the same interview, Harshbarger also made derogatory remarks about LGBT+ people, further fueling criticism of her conduct. The incident has raised concerns about racial sensitivity and respect in political discourse.