New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul is facing blowback after saying that black children in the Bronx do not know what the word “computer” means.
The borough in New York City came up Monday at the Milken Institute Global Conference in California during a conversation with Jonathan Capehart, a black MSNBC host who was serving as a moderator, that has since gone viral online.
“Right now we have, you know, young black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word ‘computer’ is,” Hochul said. “They don’t know, they don’t know these things. And I want the world opened up to all of them.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D): “Young Black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word ‘computer’ is…” 🤨pic.twitter.com/9x9nU05YDQ
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 7, 2024
Hochul’s remarks about black children in the Bronx drew pushback from fellow politicians, including members of the Democratic Party from the Bronx, and others.
Bronx Assembly Member Amanda Septimo, a Democrat, issued a statement that said the comments were “harmful, deeply misinformed, and genuinely appalling.”
She added, “Repeating harmful stereotypes about one of our most underserved communities, while failing to acknowledge the state’s consistent institutional neglect, only perpetuates systems of abuse.”
Her colleague in the State Assembly, longtime Bronxite Karine Reyes, said she was “deeply disturbed” by Hochul’s remarks and the “underlying perception that she has” of black and brown children from the borough.
“Our children are bright, brilliant, extremely capable, and more than deserving of any opportunities that are extended to other kids,” Reyes continued. “Do better.”
Lee Zeldin, a former GOP congressman from New York who ran against Hochul in the 2022 election, reposted a reaction from former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines.
“It’s remarkable just how out of touch the people supposedly leading this country are,” Gaines said in her post to X, responding to a clip of Hochul’s remarks.
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“Democrats exposing their racism again… Play this video in every predominantly black neighborhood until November,” said the Libs of TikTok account run by Chaya Raichik.
“Why do white liberals think so little of African-Americans?” asked Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX).
Charles Payne, a black Fox Business host, said on X, “Insulting but typical.”
Hochul later released a statement expressing remorse for the comments, claiming she did not mean to make them.
“I misspoke and I regret it,” she said. “Of course Black children in the Bronx know what computers are — the problem is that they too often lack access to the technology needed to get on track to high-paying jobs in emerging industries like AI.”