Hunter College puts professor on leave after ‘disgusting’ comments about black students
Hunter College said Wednesday it has placed a professor on leave after he spoke out against black students at a local community school meeting.
Nancy Cantor, president of the New York City public university, said in a statement that the professor has been placed on leave pending the university’s investigation into “repugnant comments” made earlier this month during a virtual meeting of the New York City School District 3 Public Education Council.
Cantor did not name the professor in the news release, and Hunter College did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.
The announcement, however, came after the university faced growing pressure to replace Allyson Friedman, a former professor in the biology department, over her comments at the meeting.
The meeting was on February 10 and was dedicated to discussing the proposals of the administration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to close or move several schools on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
When a black student objected to these proposals, Friedman, whose children attend school in the district, was heard speaking.
“They are too deaf to know that they are in a bad school,” he said, according to the recorded report of the meeting. “Apparently, Martin Luther King said it. If you train a black man enough, he’ll be able to use his back. You don’t have to tell them.”
Some who attended the meeting, which was made public, seemed shocked by these statements before another attendee intervened.
“What you’re saying really resonates here. You have to stop,” an attendee was heard saying.
Friedman was seen talking about the speeches presented at the meeting of the district superintendent, Reginald Higgins.
Higgins, who referred NBC News to the city’s education department for comment, quoted Carter G. Woodson, a Black historian.
“If you make a man think he’s a piece of shit, you don’t have to order him out the back door,” Higgins said, quoting Woodson. “He will leave without being told.”
Friedman has not responded to requests for comment on his speech or the college’s decision to place him on leave.
In a statement sent to the New York Times, Friedman said he was “trying to explain the concept of systemic racism” to his child by citing an example of an obvious racist trope, and he didn’t know his microphone was on.
“My comments in full make it clear that these hateful comments are not mine, and were not directed at any student or group,” Friedman told reporters. “I fully support these brave students in their efforts to stop school closures.”
“However, I realize that this comment has caused hurt and pain, although that was not my intention, I am truly sorry,” he added.
Hunter College said in a statement released earlier this week that one of its staff had made “disgusting comments” at a meeting and that it was investigating the matter. The university did not name Friedman.
However, anger followed. Parents of the district held a press conference on Tuesday to criticize this statement. An emergency meeting of the CEC is scheduled for Thursday evening to discuss the ideas.
In a statement, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani emphasized that “the outburst of racism at the recent CEC 3 meeting completely disregarded basic decency and caused great harm to the school community.”
“This is unacceptable,” he added. “My administration has reached out to CUNY to discuss this, and we are working with the district to provide support and ensure accountability.”
The Black Student Union of Hunter College also issued a statement together with four other student groups condemning this speech and rejecting his apology.
“Whether it was said under the guise of silence, the sentiment itself is rooted in a violent and painful history of racial segregation and dehumanization,” the group said in a statement. “This speech is not compatible with the responsibilities of a teacher who is entrusted to shape young minds.”
