An associate professor from a New York City university has ignited a storm of criticism after being recorded on a live microphone making derogatory remarks about Black students, prompting education officials to label her comments as “blatantly racist.”
The incident centers on Allyson Friedman, a faculty member at Hunter College, who became the focus of outrage during a Community Education Council meeting on February 10. The controversy erupted after her inappropriate interruptions during a Black eighth-grader’s passionate speech concerning the possible closure of her school.
According to reports from the New York Times, Friedman was overheard saying, “They’re too dumb to know they’re in a bad school,” while her microphone was still on.
Friedman further inflamed tensions with another remark: “If you train a Black person well enough, they’ll know to use the back. You don’t have to tell them anymore.”
Her comments appeared to be a misguided reference to a statement by Reginald Higgins, the interim acting superintendent of the school district, who had invoked the legacy of Carter G. Woodson, renowned as the father of Black history.
Woodson’s 1933 work, “The Mis-education of the Negro,” includes a poignant observation: “If you make a man think that he is justly an outcast, you do not have to order him to the back door. He will go without being told.”
A university spokesperson described Friedman’s comments as “abhorrent,” according to the Daily Mail.
Education officials were left profoundly disturbed and students on the Zoom call were left stunned by Friedman’s comments.
“’I am deeply disturbed by the blatantly racist and harmful remarks made during the CEC3 [Community Education Council for School District 3] meeting…,’ Rita Joseph, the city council education chair, said.
Brad Hoylman Sigal, the Manhattan borough president, described Friedman’s remarks as “outrageous.”
“It is particularly despicable that these vile words were uttered while children were giving testimony at the meeting, exposing them to this hatred,” he added.
Friedman apologized for her comments as she tried to clarify her remarks, as reported by the Times.
“My complete comments make clear these abhorrent views are not my own, nor were they directed at any student or group,” she said.
“I fully support these courageous students in their efforts to stop school closures.
“However, I recognize these comments caused harm and pain, while that was not my intent I do truly apologize.”
Black students make up around 20% of the total number of students enrolled in schools across New York City.
In recent weeks, officials have been mulling over plans to shut down schools in Manhattan District 3, as reported by Chalkbeat.
More than 17,000 undergraduates and 5,500 graduates are enrolled at Hunter College.
Black or African American students make up around 11.5 percent of the university’s undergraduate enrolment.
