New York City students and community members gathered via Zoom for what was supposed to be a District 3 Community Education Council meeting about the city’s plan to shut down several schools on Manhattan’s West Side. Instead, the discussion took a horrific– and racist — turn after one professor forgot to mute her mic.
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Allyson Friedman works as an associate professor at Hunter College in the state, according to the school’s website. She was one of many educators logged on to hear from students about potentially closing several schools, Newsweek reported.
One unidentified Black middle schooler stood before the council to give an emotional testimony about why she doesn’t want her school to shut down. But her moment was quickly overshadowed when Friedman unknowingly interrupted her.
“They’re too dumb to know they’re in a bad school,” the college professor said during the Feb. 10 meeting. In a clip taken from the Zoom session, you can see students and staff first sharing confused looks. Then, Friedman’s mic continued.
“If you train a Black person well enough, they’ll know to use the back,” she said. “You don’t have to tell them anymore.” According to The New York Times, the professor was referencing Superintendent Dr. Reginald Higgins — a Black man — who spoke earlier during the call.
Ironically, her words come from a quote by Carter G. Woodson, the father of Black History Month. In his 1933 book, “The Mis-education of the Negro,” Woodson explained how the indoctrination of enslaved people were key to the success of chattel slavery.
He wrote, “If you make a man feel that he is inferior, you do not have to compel him to accept an inferior status, for he will seek it himself. 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; and if there is no back door, his very nature will demand one.”
Fast forward to Feb. 10 when his words were taken out of context and skewed by Friedman. Her hot mic moment was met with dropped jaws and wide eyes from other Zoom participants. One person jumped in and called her out.
“Allyson Friedman, what you’re saying is absolutely hearable here,” the person said. “You gotta stop.” After a long and awkward pause, the meeting continued with no more interruptions.
Friedman later told the Times she was simply trying to “explain the concept of systemic racism” to her child, who was also in the room with her. She apologized. “My complete comments make clear these abhorrent views are not my own, nor were they directed at any student or group,” Friedman 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,” she added. Friedman has not been removed from her professor role. Hunter College confirmed to Newsweek that a full investigation into the situation is underway.
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