Hunter College Professor's Remarks About Black Students Spark Outrage

Community meeting condemns professor's comments as university launches investigation

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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A Hunter College professor's remarks about Black students during a Manhattan school meeting have sparked outrage and prompted a university investigation. The comments, which were heard over Zoom, drew national attention and criticism from local lawmakers and activists. The community has since held an emergency meeting to condemn the professor's words and call for clearer video conference protocols, anti-bias training, and stronger guardrails to prevent future disruptions.

Why it matters

The incident has reignited discussions around equity in education and the treatment of Black students, particularly as the community grapples with proposals to relocate or close several middle schools in the area. The remarks have also raised questions about the role of educators and the importance of creating safe and affirming spaces for students.

The details

During a February 10th community meeting about the school proposals, Allyson Friedman, a tenured associate professor at Hunter College, was heard over Zoom saying of Black students, "They're too dumb to know they're in a bad school." This comment came as a Black eighth grader was pleading to save her middle school from possible closure. Friedman has since claimed she was trying to explain the concept of systemic racism to her child, but her explanation has done little to stem the outrage. Hunter College has placed Friedman on leave pending an investigation.

  • The incident occurred during a February 10th community meeting about proposals to relocate or close several middle schools on the Upper West Side.
  • An emergency community meeting was held on March 2nd, 2026 to address the professor's remarks and call for changes.

The players

Allyson Friedman

A tenured associate professor at Hunter College whose remarks about Black students during a community meeting sparked outrage and an investigation by the university.

Jill Rackmill

The co-president of Community Education Council District 3, who opened the emergency meeting by reading a statement from a student whose speech was interrupted by Friedman's comments.

Noah Odabashian

A public school parent and member of the CEC District 3 council, who expressed shock that Friedman would say the "quiet part out loud" about anti-Black sentiments in the community.

Reginald Higgins

The interim acting superintendent of District 3, who invoked the words of Carter G. Woodson during the original meeting where Friedman's comments were made.

Felicia Reese Amos

A parent who attended the February 10th meeting and was disturbed by Friedman's comments, questioning how they could be considered a "teaching moment."

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What they’re saying

“The anti-Black words spoken by an adult have been heard 'round the world. But the words of the student who courageously came to what should have been a safe and affirming space have not been. They have been drowned out. Adults failed her.”

— Jill Rackmill, CEC District 3 co-President

“On the Upper West Side, they far sooner would smile at your face and do anti-Black things as opposed to say anti-Black things. And so I was a little shocked that they would say the quiet part out loud.”

— Noah Odabashian, Public school parent and CEC District 3 council member

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

— Rita Joseph, Black City Council member and chair of the committee on higher education (The New York Times)

“Regardless of whether it was said under the assumption of being muted, the sentiment itself is rooted in violent and painful history of racial segregation and dehumanization. This rhetoric is incompatible with the responsibilities of an educator entrusted with molding young minds.”

— Hunter College Black Student Union

“She said her statements were not her own and that she was using that moment as a teaching moment to teach her child something. What, by calling a student dumb?”

— Felicia Reese Amos, Parent and CEC District 3 council member

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Allyson Friedman to return to her position at Hunter College following the investigation.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges around equity in education and the need for educators to create truly inclusive and affirming environments for all students, particularly Black students. It also underscores the importance of clear protocols and training to prevent disruptive and harmful comments from derailing important community discussions about the future of local schools.