A recent incident involving a New York City professor has ignited significant outrage after she was recorded making deeply offensive comments about Black students during a virtual meeting. Allyson Friedman, an associate professor at Hunter College, was participating in a Community Education Council meeting when she interrupted a Black eighth-grade student expressing her love for her teachers and her dismay at the potential closure of her school. Friedman allegedly asserted, “They’re too dumb to know they’re in a bad school,” further commenting that if trained, “a Black person will know to use the back.”
These remarks, which were shocking to many attendees, were made in a discussion about a proposal by council member Zohran Mamdani to close or relocate certain public schools. The meeting’s video, which was shared by the council, revealed the audible dismay from participants in response to Friedman’s statements.
A Hunter College spokesperson condemned the comments as “abhorrent,” affirming the institution’s commitment to maintaining an inclusive educational environment devoid of discrimination. The college announced it would review the incident in accordance with its conduct and nondiscrimination policies.
Reginald Higgins, the interim superintendent of the city school district, criticized Friedman’s “demeaning assumptions” in a communication with parents, underscoring that such sentiments have no place in educational discussions.
Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman Sigal expressed outrage over the comments, asserting that they are “outrageous” and unacceptable in any discourse, especially one involving children. City Council Education Chair Rita Joseph echoed this sentiment, labeling Friedman’s remarks as plainly racist and harmful, stating there is no room for such language in discussions focused on education.
In her defense, Friedman claimed she was speaking to her child and did not realize her microphone was active. She later issued a statement explaining that her intent was to discuss systemic racism by referencing an example of an infamous racist trope, not to endorse such views. She acknowledged the pain her comments caused and issued apologies to the school community and the education council.
The incident has reignited conversations around systemic racism within the New York City public school system, where nearly 20 percent of the student body identifies as Black. As the fallout continues, it highlights the need for a deeper examination of the racial issues embedded in educational policies and practices, with community leaders calling for a more inclusive and equitable approach to education.