## AOC’s Call for Unity Sparks Debate Amid History of Racial Discourse
A recent social media video featuring Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has ignited speculation about her future political ambitions and drawn intense scrutiny over her message of unity.
In the video, which garnered over 7 million views, Cortez declared, “We are one,” a sentiment that quickly became a point of contention given her past statements often focused on issues of race and identity. Critics swiftly pointed out the apparent contradiction between this call for togetherness and her consistent framing of political debates through a racial lens.
The video’s message appears to be an extension of Cortez’s increasingly common stump speech, delivered alongside Senator Bernie Sanders during their “Fighting Oligarchy” tour. She frequently argues that Republicans deliberately exploit divisions along racial lines to impede Democratic progress and maintain power. As she stated at a rally in Boise, Idaho earlier this month: “The only chance they have to get away with such an unpopular and hurtful agenda is to stoke deep divisions along race, identity and culture to keep us fighting and distracted.”
Rumors of 2028 Presidential Run? Some political observers, including pollster Nate Silver, believe Cortez’s rising profile suggests she could be a strong contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
Cortez has consistently highlighted her experiences as a woman of color navigating the political landscape. During the 2024 campaign cycle, she spoke about the challenges faced by prominent women of color like Vice President Kamala Harris, anticipating “unfair misogynistic and racial undertones” in their treatment.
Since her surprise victory in 2018 – unseating a long-term incumbent to become the youngest congresswoman ever elected from New York’s 14th Congressional District (a district she noted was 70% people of color, half working class) – Cortez has positioned herself as a champion for gender and racial equality. During her victory speech, she proudly stated that she was “the first person of color to ever represent” the district.
Her political journey has been marked by numerous instances where race and identity have taken center stage:
- Smollett Incident: Cortez publicly supported actor Jussie Smollett after he falsely claimed to be the victim of a hate crime, later deleting her tweet following his conviction.
- Trump’s “Go Back” Comments: She sharply condemned President Trump’s suggestion that members of Congress who are immigrants “go back” to their countries, labeling it as “hallmark language of white supremacists.”
- COVID-19 Disparities: During the pandemic, Cortez linked disproportionately high COVID-19 death rates in Black and Brown communities to historical injustices such as redlining and environmental racism.
- Capitol Attack: Following the January 6th Capitol attack, she recounted feeling unsafe around other members of Congress, alleging the presence of “QAnon and white supremacist sympathizers.”
- Buffalo Shooting: She attributed the racially motivated shooting in Buffalo to “white supremacy.”
In a 2019 interview with GQ, Cortez acknowledged that misogyny and racism have significantly shaped her political experience.
Recently, during a House debate concerning Representative Ilhan Omar’s removal from the Foreign Affairs Committee, Cortez passionately defended Omar, arguing the action was rooted in “racism and incitement of violence against women of color” rather than legitimate concerns about antisemitic remarks.
This week’s call for unity has been met with considerable pushback. Conservative commentators have criticized Cortez for seemingly contradicting her own frequent emphasis on racial divisions, pointing out that she capitalized “Black” and “Latino” in the same post but not “white.” This aligns with AP Style guidelines, which capitalize “Black” to reflect a shared history and identity, while not capitalizing “white” due to a lack of such communal experience.
Despite the controversy, Cortez’s campaign has yet to respond to requests for comment.
