DONKEY: Benny Johnson Faces Backlash After Challenging Black Women’s Contributions To America

Summary

Donkey of the Day: Benny Johnson Faces Backlash After Challenging Black Women’s Contributions To America

Podcast: The Breakfast Club – Donkey of the Day
Host: Charlamagne Tha God
Date: July 7, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode of The Breakfast Club's iconic "Donkey of the Day" segment, Charlamagne Tha God calls out conservative influencer Benny Johnson for his dismissive and inflammatory remarks about Black women’s contributions to the founding and development of America. Johnson’s challenge—demanding the naming of a single Black woman involved in America’s founding—sparks a broader conversation about erasure, historical contributions, and the difference between political “founders” and those whose essential labor built the nation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context: Benny Johnson’s Provocative Challenge

• Benny Johnson, a right-wing political commentator, is awarded “Donkey of the Day” for questioning the historic role of Black women in America’s founding.
• Johnson reportedly said:

  "Name a single black woman that had something to do with America's founding." — [03:13]

  • He further referenced Thomas Jefferson’s relationships with enslaved women, implying that was the extent of Black women's “contributions.”

2. The Misleading Headline and Benny’s Statement

• Charlamagne clarifies that headlines exaggerated Johnson’s words, but insists the core sentiment—erasing Black women from history—is harmful.
  • Charlamagne Tha God [03:34]:

    "What Benny actually said was… no black woman was a founding father … that was in reply to Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s statement that America owes Black women everything."

3. Jasmine Crockett’s Powerful Response

• Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s statement is played to provide context:
  • Jasmine Crockett [03:53]:

    “When it comes to answering the question of what America owes black women, the answer is everything… From the moment that we were stolen from our homelands and transported into this country to the fact that black women continue to stand as the backbone… there is a black woman to thank for her contributions.”

• Charlamagne defends Crockett, emphasizing the sacrificial and formative roles Black women have played in the country's history.

4. The Difference Between Political Power and Real Contribution

• Charlamagne highlights a fundamental error in Johnson’s viewpoint:

  • Founding fathers had formal political power, but "the country was built by more than just the people who signed the founding documents." — [04:44]
  • Black women—and enslaved Black people generally—provided the forced labor that underpinned both the economy and the building of American society.

• Notable Quote [06:15]:

  “Too many people confuse having political power with creating value. Yes, the founding fathers wrote the documents, that’s true. But the country was built by more than just the people who signed the founding documents.” — Charlamagne Tha God

5. Honoring Black Women’s Historical Achievements

• Charlamagne and his co-hosts list Black women who made landmark contributions:
  • Phyllis Wheatley: First African American woman to publish a book of poetry; correspondence with George Washington; used by abolitionists as proof of Black intellectual equality. — [08:36]
  • Elizabeth Freeman (Mum Bett): Won her freedom in Massachusetts after referencing the state constitution, helping to end slavery there. — [08:54]
  • Other inventors and scientists are acknowledged:
    • Dr. Gladys West: Invented the GPS.
    • Dr. Shirley Jackson: Invented caller ID.
    • Valerie Thomas: Invented illusion transmitter for NASA.
    • Marie Brown: Invented the home security system.
    • Judy W. Reed: Invented the dough kneader and roller (1884).
    • Madam C.J. Walker: Haircare mogul and inventor.
  • Quote [10:03]:

    “Like, it was a Black woman who invented the home security system.” — Charlamagne Tha God

6. The Real Root of Patriotism and Inclusion

• Charlamagne [07:42]:

  "If your version of patriotism requires deleting people's contributions, because acknowledging them makes you uncomfortable, that’s not patriotism. That's insecurity."

  • Therapy for Benny is suggested, humorously, as a way to unpack “root causes” underlying such erasure.

7. Google Is Your Friend

• Co-hosts joke about how Johnson could have easily “Googled” Black women inventors and contributors.
  • "You just had to Google. Do your Googles. That’s it." — Charlamagne Tha God [10:25]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Charlamagne Tha God [06:48]:

  “You cannot tell the story of America honestly while pretending the labor, resilience and sacrifices of Black women weren’t essential.”

• Angela Rye (cited by Charlamagne) [07:10]:

  "For years we built this joint for free."

• Charlamagne Tha God [09:45]:

  "What’s wrong with this Google?"

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:36 | Introduction – Charlamagne tees up “Donkey of the Day” for Benny Johnson | | 03:13 | Playback of Benny Johnson’s challenge | | 03:53 | Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s full statement played | | 05:30 | Charlamagne contextualizes Black women’s historic sacrifices | | 06:15 | “Political power vs. value” distinction | | 08:36 | Black women named: Phyllis Wheatley, Elizabeth Freeman, etc. | | 09:35 | Benny’s demand for invention—list of Black women inventors | | 10:45 | Acknowledgment of Judy W. Reed’s invention |

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Tone & Delivery

Charlamagne employs his signature blend of righteous indignation, humor, and history lesson. He is both factual and passionate about correcting historical erasure, while his co-hosts keep the atmosphere lively but focused. The segment is empowering, affirming, and occasionally lighthearted, especially when listing off Black women’s achievements and poking fun at Benny Johnson’s ignorance.

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Summary Conclusion

This edition of "Donkey of the Day" is a sharp rebuke to ahistorical narratives that downplay the roles of Black women in shaping America. Through facts, famous names, and social insight, Charlamagne and his team firmly dismantle Benny Johnson’s claims, proclaiming the irrefutable contributions Black women have made. Listeners are reminded that real patriotism means honest history—one that honors the labor, sacrifice, and achievement of all Americans, not just those who signed founding documents.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

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[Theo Henderson]

For years, the Unhoused have been presented as a monolith in mainstream media. Wheaty Unhoused is a podcast that's changing the narrative. I'm Theo Henderson and I created the show while I was unhoused on the streets of Los Angeles. We've grown into a two time Webby award winning podcast. The only podcast that shares unhoused stories and news from the unhoused perspective. Listen to we the unhoused on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Chuck from Stuff You Should Know]

Hey, this is Chuck from Stuff youf Should Know and we're submitting our most sciency episodes for your peer review with our new stuff you should know. Doing Science playlist out now. You want to know about Occam's Razor? The simplest explanation is usually the right one. We got you covered. Wondered what chaos theory is ever since the first time you saw Jurassic Park. Well, come on down. So distill a nice pot of tea, everybody. Turn down the gas on your Bunsen burner and slip into your most comfortable lab coat and listen to the stuff you should know. Doing science Playlist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[State Farm Ad Narrator]

It just came out.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Jeremy, what did you just do? You just set yourself up for failure.

[MC Gin]

I've never heard you tell this story.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I've never told this story.

[MC Gin]

This must have been tucked deep, deep in the Jeremy Lin file. My name is Mc Gin. Excited to tell you about Laugh but not least. I'll be chatting with guests from all walks of life about the power of humor when it comes to facing difficult times. These will be conversations that remind us all life is hard. Laugh harder. Listen. And last but not least, with McGin on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast made it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's time for Donkey of the Day. There's a bunch of donkeys out here in these streets. I made Donkey of the Day called Donkey of the Day. It really caught me off guard. We live a life where we bite our tongue based off who we may offend. We never would say anything. Charlemagne. Give it to him. Give it to him. You are a donkey.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

That is why Charlemagne is here.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Some donkey today just saw themselves Breakfast Club. Okay, Charlemagne, who you giving donkey of the day to today? What donkey? Today for Tuesday, July 7th goes the MAGA influencer Benny Johnson. Benny Johnson is the host of the Benny show, which is described as an independent conservative news commentary and broadcast. Okay. It focuses on right link. Right leaning political commentary. Okay? And yesterday I saw a headline that said, maga influencer Benny Johnson says Black women's only contribution to America's founding was getting raped by Thomas Jefferson.

[State Farm Ad Narrator]

Jesus.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Let's listen.

[MC Gin]

Name.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

I want a name. Okay? I need a name of a single black woman that had something to do with America's founding.

Go.

I can think of, like, didn't Thomas Jefferson have, like, like half his family, like with. Out of wedlock with the slaves? I think. Is that. Isn't that historic? Anyway, that's like as close as I can get.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Right wing. Watch y' all put some sauce on that headline. I mean, Jesus Christ. What Benny actually said was, didn't Thomas Jefferson have, like, half his family out of wedlock? And he said that no black woman was a founding father. Okay, that was in reply to Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett's statement that America owes black women everything. Can we hear what Sister Jasmine had to say?

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

So when it comes to answering the question of what America owes black women, the answer is everything. When we think about the sacrifices that black women have made from the moment that we were stolen from our homelands and. And transported into this country to the fact that black women continue to stand as the backbone, specifically of the Democratic Party. We know that black women are always the ones that are doing the labor, but we are also the ones that are always the first targets. This Fourth of July, I say celebrate a black woman that you know. Because whether it's an invention that she made or whether it's the very democracy that still hangs by a thread, right now, there is a black woman to thank for her contributions.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Drop one of the clues bombs with Jasmine Crockett. This is why I hate the Internet. Jasmine's statement in his full context, makes perfect sense. And that headline compressed what she actually said into just a provocative sound bite. Okay? Something to get the people going. Jasmine is correct. Black women have made extraordinary sacrifices since slavery. Black women have historically contributed significantly to American society and democracy. Black women have been the key voting block, okay? In organizing force within the Democratic Party. Therefore, America owes black woman a great debt. Okay? And you can say everything because of those contributions. Whether somebody agrees, you know, depends largely on how they interpret the word everything. But America definitely owes black women a great debt. Now, Benny Johnson, why did that statement prompt that headline? Okay, that type of headline that, you know, black women's only contribution to America's founding was getting raped by Thomas Jefferson? Well, that's because. And that, you know, likes provocative headlines, okay? It's what gets the people going. All right? Benny said, didn't Thomas Jefferson have like half his family out of wedlock? The answer is yes, okay? And it was a 16 year old enslaved girl who was his property and I'm sure didn't give consent. So that's how that headline could be crafted. Benny, in case you're wondering, but I want to talk about what you said in regard to black women having no meaningful role in the founding of the United States of America or that it's inaccurate to say that they were foundational to the country being built. Well, I think it's the difference between formal political power, like being a founding father father and historical contribution. Okay? You don't have to agree with somebody saying America owes black women everything. That's a rhetorical statement. We can debate whether it's an exaggeration, but when you respond by acting like black women had no role in America's founding, our development, that's when you earn your he haws, okay? See, too many people confuse having political power with creating value. Yes, the founding fathers wrote the documents, that's true. But the country was built by more than just the people who signed the founding documents, okay? Enslaved black people, including black women, performed labor that helped build the economy, okay? Gamecock, suckers. All right? In federal infrastructure, all right? They had no political rights, but they absolutely contributed to the nation's development. As my sister Angela Raya said, for years we built this joint for free, okay? Who was growing the tobacco? Who was picking the cotton? Who was raising generations of children, both their own and often white peoples, okay? Yes, you were sucking off the titty of black women, all right? Black women were keeping communities together while being denied basic human rights. Nobody is saying black women signed the Declaration of Independence or drafted the Constitution. What people are saying is that you cannot tell the story of America honestly while pretending the labor, resilience and sacrifices of black women weren't essential to what this country became. Okay? And let's be clear. If your version of patriotism requires deleting people's Contributions, because acknowledging them makes you uncomfortable. That's not patriotism. That's insecurity. And a good therapist is going to always tell you to address your insecurities, Benny. Okay? Explore their root causes so you can replace harsh self critical thoughts with healthier emotional patterns. Okay, Listen, Benny. And you know, everybody out there that feels like him. America is a complicated story. The founders, I guess, deserve recognition, but so do the soldiers and the immigrants and the farmers and the factory workers, the Native Americans, the enslaved Africans, and yes, black women, okay? Because countries are not built by politicians alone. All right? They're built by millions of people whose names never make the history books, even though there are black women's names in these history books who helped to build this country. Salute to right wing watch on Instagram. They, you know, pointed out figures like Phyllis Wheatley, the first African American woman and one of the first women in the colonies to publish a book of poetry. Okay? George Washington personally corresponded with her and invited her to visit him after she wrote a poem honoring him. Her work was used by abolitionists as evidence of black intellectual equality. Also, Elizabeth Freeman, who sued for her freedom in 1781, arguing that the state's new constitutional language, all men are born free and equal, applied to her too. She won, and the case helped to end slavery in Massachusetts. So, Benny, a nation's foundation isn't just the people who sign the papers. It's also the people whose labor made the nation possible. Please give Benny Johnson the sweet sounds in the Hamiltones. Oh, now you are the donkey of the day. You are the donkey of the day. It was another part too where he said. What was the part about? I couldn't understand what he was saying,

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

but he was saying, name an invention without a black woman.

Yeah, right now. Name of invention from black woman. Go.

Yeah, he said, name it.

Watch your head. Explode on. Name an event. Go.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's wrong with this Google?

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

No idea. Because, like, I'm looking at so many inventions from black women. Dr. Gladys west invented the GPS. Dr. Shirley Jackson, she invented caller ID Valley. Valerie Thomas, a NASA scientist who invented the illusion transmitter in 1980.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Like it was a black woman who invented the home security system.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Yes, that is.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I think it was Marie Brown.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Yep. Doctor.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I think she was a nurse.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Nurse Marie. Marie Brown. Yep, yep, yep. She did, but it's something. Madam C.J. walker Hair Care. We got black women who invented. I do understand everyday life, medicine and science. Like, I don't understand.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You just had to Google. Do your Googles. That's it.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

All right, well, thank you for that donkey today. Now let's open up the phone lines. 800-585-1051. Where's Lauren at? We were talking behind the scenes about something that allegedly happened during ESSENCE Conference or ESSENCE Talk.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What the hell is Lauren?

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

She coming. But look real quick. The first black woman to invent something was Judy W. Reed in 1884. She invented the dough kneader and roller, designed to mix and roll dough more evenly. Okay, Handle that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You said donator. Donator, yeah.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

What I say?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't know. Sound like you were saying donator.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

No, donator and roller.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donator.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

So the question is 5, 8, 5, 1.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is. This is why Benny don't think black women had any. You knew you were supposed to be here, but you know you supposed to be here.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Sorry.

[Podcast Announcer]

What have y' all done so far?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What happened with.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

With. Allegedly. With. With Tamar.

[Podcast Announcer]

And so on Sunday, to close out the Essence Festival, they did, like, they honored, like, black women in music.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Yes.

[Podcast Announcer]

And there was a line of people taking a photo at the event. You had Monica and Anthony Anderson, Brandy, Candy Burs. And you see Tamar walk up to, like, get in that line of the photo, but as she does that, she stops and she speaks to Candy briefly. And Candy doesn't really give her much at all. And then you saw all this.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Yes.

[Podcast Announcer]

In the video.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

It was.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was very like, I like this.

[Podcast Announcer]

Yeah, it was. It was very.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I like, up close and personal.

[Podcast Announcer]

No, I wasn't there. I'd already left. I saw the video. But I have spoken to people that were there, though, so. So, yeah, so she speaks. She says something to Candy. Candy keeps it very brief. And then she tries to get in the line of the photos, like they're holding hands. So she tries to, like, either open Monica's hand and get in the line or, like, just taps it. Just also acknowledge her as well, too. Monica keeps it very brief and cute as well, too. So people are, you know, just talking about the fact that they basically paid her dust as she was trying to just be nice. Of course, you know, Tamar has been on that. Like, I don't want any issues in my life right now. I'm restarting. I don't. You know what I mean? It had past things.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

So this came out of this question. We were talking behind the scenes. 800-585-1051.

Right.

If you don't like a person. Right. Or this a feeling of, I don't f. With you, why speak to them?

[Theo Henderson]

Right.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

And the reason this came up, do you speak to them. I don't speak to them if I don't effort you. You know, you. You can feel it. I don't talk to you. Don't look at me. Don't even come past my way. Don't. Don't reach your hand out because you did some f ish to me. I don't want you. I don't want your energy around me. It's middle finger till you die. Charlemagne.

[Podcast Announcer]

But essence was so much love black women in music. You got Missy being honored.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

If I don't like you in Queensland, if I don't like you in Queens, I ain't gonna like you in New Orleans.

It don't matter where we at.

But the reason the question came up is because Charlamagne. If somebody doesn't like charlamagne and he's in a room, Charlamagne still speaks.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hey, how you doing?

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

God bless you. Yeah, that's not me.

[Podcast Announcer]

But to be fair, Candy parents like, Candy spoke. She kept it cute. Go ahead.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

First of all, there's only a few people I really, really, truly don't like. And if I'm in the room with them, then I probably don't really have an issue. You nod your head, you say hello, you. Because it's just like most of the time, people don't be having that same energy.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Nobody ever has that same energy.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But there's nobody. There's only couple of people on this planet I really, truly don't like. Yeah.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

But I don't even want that energy, like, if.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And if I'm in the same room with them. My life has gotten very terrible, guys. I just want y'.

[Chuck from Stuff You Should Know]

All.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Oh, my God.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I mean, man, there's no reason for

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

any of my everywhere to be in

[Charlamagne Tha God]

a room with me. Why would you ever be in a room with me?

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Listen,

[Podcast Announcer]

in the room. We saw you in the ocean.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

800-585-1051. If you're in a room with somebody, do you. You don't like it. Everybody's being called you. Do you speak? I don't. Simple. But let's discuss. It's the Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good morning, donkey. Today is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull. Lamb and soft. Don't be a donkey. When you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull dot com. That's Michael the Bull dot com. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

[Theo Henderson]

For years, the unhoused have been presented as a monolith in mainstream media. Wheaton House is a podcast that's changing the narrative. I'm Theo Henderson and I created the show while it was unhoused on the streets of Los Angeles. We've grown into a two time Webby award winning podcast, the only podcast that shares unhoused stories and news from the unhoused perspective. Listen to we the Unhoused on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Chuck from Stuff You Should Know]

Hey, this is Chuck from Stuff youf Should Know and we're submitting our most sciency episodes for your peer review with our stuff you should know. Doing Science playlist out now. You want to know about Occam's Razor? The simplest explanation is usually the right one. We got you covered. Wondered what chaos theory is ever since the first time you saw Jurassic Park. Well, come on down. So distill a nice pot of tea, everybody. Turn down the gas on your Bunsen burner and slip into your most comfortable lab coat and listen to the stuff you should know. Doing science Playlist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It just came out. Jeremy, what did you just do? You just set yourself up for failure.

[MC Gin]

I've never heard you tell this story.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I've never told this story.

[MC Gin]

This must have been tucked deep, deep in the Jeremy Lin file. My name is MC Gin. Excited to tell you about last but not least, I'll be chatting with guests from all walks of life about the power of humor when it comes to facing difficult times. These will be conversations that remind us all, life is hard. Laugh harder, Listen. And last but not least, with MC Gen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Paul Verze here and I want to talk to you about Paul's best podcast, Will Ferrell's Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio. I sit down each week with a special guest and we discuss the absolute best of things. Davidson. It's that and then there's everything else. Dude, his whole life has sounded like the first drop of a roller coaster. Mark Norman I mean, I can't even tell you, Paul, how crazy it was. It was insane.

[Co-host or Guest on The Breakfast Club]

Listen to Paul's best podcast on the

[Charlamagne Tha God]

iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.