College responds after professor caught on hot mic saying ‘blatantly racist’ comment about student
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Hunter College
A New York City college professor was caught making a comment described as 'outrageous' and 'anti-Black' during a virtual meeting with students.
Footage from the Zoom meeting shows students and staff covering their mouths in shock, before a male voice told the professor her comments were 'absolutely hearable' and she had to 'stop'.
On February 10, associate professor at Hunter College Allyson Friedman joined a Community Education Meeting discussing a controversial proposal from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to close or relocate several local schools. Friedman was there as the parent of a child at a public school.
Within the debate, a Black student voiced their sadness over the possible closure of the schools.
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Friedman was then allegedly heard making a comment to her daughter, who was reportedly sitting in the same room as her during the call.
Friedman allegedly said: "They’re too dumb to know they’re in a bad school. If you train a Black person well enough, they’ll know to use the back. You don’t have to tell them anymore."
The New York Times reports Friedman was referencing a comment made by the school district's acting superintendent Reginald Higgins earlier in the meeting, who referred to Carter G. Woodson.
Woodson was an American historian, author and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
He famously said: "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."
No matter what Friedman was trying to reference, the comment was described as 'racist and deeply hurtful,' as per the Center School PTA Executive Board in a letter to the Community Action School.
Someone on the call can be heard telling the professor: "Allyson Friedman, what you’re saying is absolutely hearable here. You’ve got to stop."
After this, the meeting descended into stunned silence.
After branding the comment made by the professor as 'abhorrent,' spokesperson for Hunter College said in a statement to Westside Rag: "In service to Hunter College, we expect our community members’ actions and words to comport with our institutional identity, values, and policies.
"We are reviewing the situation under the university's applicable conduct and nondiscrimination policies.
"We stand firm in our enduring commitment to sustain an inclusive educational environment that is free of discrimination of any kind, in which people of all identities will feel welcome and can thrive."
In a statement shared with Westside Rag, Friedman said 'there was a discussion about systematic racism and educational equity' during the meeting 'with references to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the work of Carter G. Woodson, as well as school closures'.
The professor said 'separately during the meeting' she was trying to 'explain the concept of systemic racism by referencing a historical example', adding she hadn't realized her microphone wasn't on mute.
She continued: "My remarks were not directed at the student speaker and they do not reflect my beliefs or values. Regardless of context, my words were wrong and caused real harm.
"I take full responsibility for their impact, and I am deeply sorry to the students, families, educators, and community members who were hurt."
In a post to social media, Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman Sigal branded Friedman's 'anti-Black comments' as 'outrageous,' as quoted by the Daily Mail.
"It is particularly despicable that these vile words were uttered while children were giving testimony at the meeting, exposing them to this hatred," Sigal added.
City Council Education Chair Rita Joseph similarly branded the comments 'blatantly racist and harmful'.
Friedman noted she sent written apologies to the superintendent, school and education council and feels 'regret adding any pain or distraction at a moment when the community’s concerns about the DOE’s school-closure process deserved full attention'.
She resolved: "I am committed to accountability and repairing harm."
UNILAD has contacted Hunter College and Allyson Friedman for additional comment.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact the Racial Equity Support Line on 503-575-3764, available weekdays from 10am to 7pm PT. Or via the Lines for Life Equity Team at [email protected].