Hunter College Professor's 'Abhorrent' Remarks at Meeting Spark Outrage

The professor's comments about Black students were condemned as racist by officials and community members.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A professor at Hunter College in New York City made controversial remarks about Black students during a public school meeting, saying they are "too dumb to know they're in a bad school." The comments were caught on a hot mic and sparked outrage among parents and officials, who condemned the professor's words as racist. Hunter College said it would review the incident under its conduct and nondiscrimination policies.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about systemic racism in New York City's public school system, where nearly 20% of students are Black. As school districts consider closures and mergers, issues of race and equity often emerge, as schools with lower enrollment tend to serve larger numbers of minority students.

The details

During a Community Education Council meeting on Feb. 10, a student, who was described as Black, spoke out against a proposal to close or relocate several schools on Manhattan's West Side. Allyson Friedman, an associate professor at Hunter College who was attending the meeting as a parent, then made comments that were caught on a hot mic. Friedman said, "They're too dumb to know they're in a bad school," and, "If you train a Black person well enough, they'll know to use the back." Her remarks were condemned as racist by officials and community members.

  • The controversial comments were made at a Feb. 10 Community Education Council meeting.
  • Hunter College announced it would review the incident on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.

The players

Allyson Friedman

An associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Hunter College who made the controversial remarks at the school meeting.

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City, whose administration proposed the plan to close or relocate several schools on Manhattan's West Side.

Reginald Higgins

The interim acting superintendent of the local school district, who had mentioned Carter G. Woodson, the scholar known as the father of Black history, in an earlier comment at the meeting.

Brad Hoylman-Sigal

The Manhattan borough president, who denounced Friedman's remarks as anti-Black and "particularly despicable."

Kamar Samuels

The schools chancellor, who is Black and said the city was working "to repair the deep harm that these words have caused."

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Allyson Friedman, Associate Professor, Hunter College (Recording of Community Education Council meeting)

“What you're saying is absolutely hearable here. You've got to stop.”

— Unidentified parent (Recording of Community Education Council meeting)

“These racist comments are horrendous, and I urge the Education Department to address broader issues of racism within our school communities.”

— Eric Dinowitz, Chair, City Council's Education Committee (nytimes.com)

“Our students and our community deserve better.”

— Kamar Samuels, Schools Chancellor (nytimes.com)

“We cannot talk about school closures, equity or educational opportunity without confronting the culture and systems that devalue Black students and communities.”

— Rita Joseph, City Council Member, Chair of Higher Education Committee (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Allyson Friedman to continue teaching at Hunter College.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing systemic racism in New York City's public school system, where the demographics of schools facing closure or merger often reflect larger racial inequities. It underscores the need for greater accountability and a concerted effort to create truly inclusive and equitable educational opportunities for all students.