A chilling scene unfolded at a recent New York City education meeting, revealing deeply disturbing remarks from Hunter College professor Allyson Friedman. During a discussion about proposed school closures, a casual cruelty surfaced, leaving students and observers reeling in disbelief.
The meeting, held on February 10th, centered on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to restructure several schools. When a concerned student, a young Black boy, voiced his worries about his school potentially closing, Friedman’s response was shockingly callous and steeped in historical prejudice.
Captured on a live microphone, Friedman’s words echoed a dark past. “They’re too dumb to know they’re in a bad school,” she stated, a sentiment that immediately silenced the room. The horror didn’t end there.
She continued with a statement that drew gasps from those present: “If you train a black person well enough, they’ll know to use the back.” The implication was clear, a chilling echo of segregation-era thinking, delivered with unsettling casualness.
The faces of the students present reflected pure shock and dismay. The weight of the statement hung heavy in the virtual space, a stark reminder of the insidious nature of ingrained bias.
Friedman later attempted to contextualize her remarks, claiming she was referencing a quote from Carter G. Woodson’s 1933 book, “The Mis-education of the Negro.” Woodson wrote about how systemic oppression can lead individuals to internalize their own marginalization.
However, her explanation fell flat. She insisted her “complete comments” would reveal she didn’t hold those views, and that she fully supported the students fighting school closures. She offered an apology, acknowledging the “harm and pain” caused, but many found it insufficient.
Adding to the complexity, Friedman also suggested she was using the racist trope as an example while explaining systemic racism to her own child. This justification was met with widespread condemnation, dismissed as a transparent attempt to deflect responsibility.
Critics were swift and unequivocal, labeling the remark “blatantly racist” and “outrageous.” The incident ignited a firestorm of controversy, prompting calls for accountability and a reckoning with prejudice within the educational system.
Currently, Hunter College is reviewing the incident to determine if Friedman’s comments violated school policies. As of now, no disciplinary action has been taken, leaving many to question the institution’s commitment to addressing such deeply troubling behavior.
