A Hunter College professor is on leave following widespread condemnation of remarks she made during a virtual public school meeting earlier this month. The incident, which occurred during a meeting of the New York City District 3 Community Education Council (CEC3), has sparked outrage and prompted an investigation by the university.
Associate professor Allyson Friedman, of the Department of Biological Sciences, made the comments even as an eighth-grade student was speaking against potential school closures, according to a recording of the meeting. Friedman can be heard saying, “They’re just too dumb to know they’re in a lousy school… Apparently Martin Luther King said it. Like if you train a Black person well enough, they’ll know to use the back, you don’t have to tell them anymore.” The remarks quickly drew condemnation from those present on the Zoom call, with one attendee interrupting to state, “What you’re saying is absolutely hearable here, you’ve got to stop.”
The context of Friedman’s statement appears to be a reference to earlier comments made during the same meeting by District 3 interim acting superintendent Reginald Higgins, who quoted Black scholar Carter G. Woodson. Higgins had stated, “When you can control a man’s thinking, you do not have to send him to the back door, he will go without being told.” Friedman’s interpretation of Woodson’s quote, however, was widely perceived as deeply offensive and racially charged.
Investigation and University Response
Hunter College swiftly responded to the outcry, initiating a review of the situation under its conduct and nondiscrimination policies. On Wednesday, February 26, 2026, Hunter College President Nancy Cantor announced that Friedman had been placed on leave while the investigation proceeds. As reported by The New York Times, Cantor emphasized the pain caused by the incident, noting it occurred during Black History Month and amidst discussions about systemic racism.
“This painful incident unfolded at a meeting where Black History Month was being celebrated and the pernicious and enduring effects of anti-Black systemic racism were being discussed, especially with regard to the role of educational institutions in addressing them,” Cantor said in a statement. “Hunter has long embraced such a role, which requires constant vigilance to remain attentive and responsive to the ways in which we continually draw and redraw discriminatory social lines.”
Friedman’s Apology and Explanation
Friedman has since issued an apology for her remarks, claiming they were taken out of context. In a statement to ABC News, she explained that she was attempting to illustrate the concept of systemic racism to her child by referencing what she described as an “obviously racist trope.” She stated that an accidental unmute resulted in only a portion of her conversation being captured, and that her complete comments did not reflect her own views. USA Today reported that Friedman said she fully supports the students advocating against school closures.
“Due to an inadvertent unmute, only part of that conversation was captured. My complete comments make clear these abhorrent views are not my own, nor were they directed at any student or group,” Friedman said. “However, I recognize these comments caused harm and pain, while that was not my intent I do truly apologize.”
Community Condemnation and Calls for Accountability
The remarks have been widely condemned by community leaders and organizations. The CEC3 issued a draft statement unequivocally condemning Friedman’s comments as “racially offensive,” stating that they were “deeply harmful and wholly unacceptable,” particularly given they were made while a student was speaking. New York City Public Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels also denounced the remarks, calling them “abhorrent” and stating that students “deserve so much better.”
The incident has reignited conversations about racial sensitivity and the importance of creating inclusive learning environments. The fallout from Friedman’s comments underscores the ongoing challenges in addressing systemic racism within educational institutions and the demand for continued dialogue and accountability.
This incident involving Hunter College professor Allyson Friedman highlights the complexities of discussing race and systemic inequality, and the potential for misinterpretation and harm. The investigation will likely focus on the intent behind the remarks, the context in which they were made, and the impact they had on the students and community members present at the meeting.
Hunter College has not provided a timeline for the completion of its investigation. Updates will be posted on the university’s website as they grow available. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of mindful communication and the need to foster respectful dialogue in all settings.
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