New York Governor Kathy Hochul is apologizing after she claimed "young black kids" in the Bronx "don't even know what the word computer is."
Hochul made the wild claim while speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles on Monday.
The governor began, "Now what we have is the money to build a phenomenal supercomputer that is gonna be accessible to the researchers in New York, college students, will attract more federal grants, and this is how we lay down the mark. No state has done this. In fact, I talk to a lot of other people who say, 'I wish my governor had thought of that first.' I say, 'No no, this is New York. We like to be first,' with all due respect to you from other states."
"It’s sort of our attitude," Hochul continued. "We will be the best, we will be the first, and I want others to follow because right now we have, you know, young Black kids growing up in the Bronx who don’t even know what the word 'computer' is. They don’t know. They don’t know these things." The Gov of NY, Kathy Hochul, says young black kids in the Bronx don’t know what the word computer is.
Democrats exposing their racism again…
Play this video in every predominantly black neighborhood until November. pic.twitter.com/dIzxVhaByj
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 7, 2024
Hochul continued, "And I want the world opened up to all of them because when you have their diverse voices innovating solutions through technology, then you’re really addressing society’s broader challenges."
Bronx officials quickly condemned the remarks.
New York State Assembly Member John Zaccaro Jr. wrote that he is "deeply troubled" by the remarks in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. I’m deeply troubled by the recent statements made by @GovKathyHochul
The underlying perception conveyed about Black and brown children from the Bronx is not only disheartening but also deeply concerning.
Full statement below. https://t.co/8pUhyF59Ad pic.twitter.com/tseTWJQegh
— NYS Assembly Member John Zaccaro Jr (@JZforNY) May 6, 2024
"The underlying perception conveyed about Black and brown children from the Bronx is not only disheartening but also deeply concerning," Zaccaro said.
Assembly Member Karines Reyes added, "Our children are bright, brilliant, extremely capable, and more than deserving of any opportunities that are extended to other kids. Do better." Deeply disturbed by @GovKathyHochul’s recent remarks and the underlying perception that she has of Black & brown children from the BX.
Our children are bright, brilliant, extremely capable, and more than deserving of any opportunities that are extended to other kids.
Do better. https://t.co/4nZbNiugeu
— Assembly Member Karines Reyes, R.N. (@KarinesReyes87) May 6, 2024
Assembly Member Amanda Septimo said that Hochul's comments were "genuinely appalling." Governor Hochul’s remarks regarding young black children in The Bronx were harmful, deeply misinformed, and genuinely appalling.
Full statement: https://t.co/KE0iuoTPs9 pic.twitter.com/vBZETcJ70P
— Amanda Septimo (@AmandaSeptimo) May 6, 2024
The governor has since apologized in a statement provided to the New York Post.
“I misspoke and I regret it,” Hochul told the Post. “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. That’s why I’ve been focused on increasing economic opportunity since Day One of my Administration.”
