NY Governor Under Fire for Assertion That Black Youth in the Bronx Are Unfamiliar with the Word ‘Computer’. New York Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul is facing intense criticism after making comments about black children in the Bronx and their alleged lack of knowledge about computers. During a conversation at the Milken Institute Global Conference in California, Hochul stated that young black kids growing up in the Bronx do not know what the word “computer” means.
Her remarks have been met with widespread outrage and pushback from fellow politicians, including members of the Democratic Party from the Bronx, who have called her comments “harmful,” “deeply misinformed,” and “genuinely appalling.”
Bronx Assembly Member Amanda Septimo, a Democrat, issued a statement saying that Hochul’s comments perpetuate harmful stereotypes and fail to acknowledge the state’s institutional neglect of underserved communities. “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,” Septimo said.
Her colleague, Karine Reyes, expressed similar sentiments, saying that Hochul’s remarks are “deeply disturbing” and that the children of the Bronx are “bright, brilliant, extremely capable, and more than deserving of any opportunities.” Reyes added, “Do better.”
“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.
Hochul’s comments have sparked a larger conversation about the stereotypes and biases that exist in our society. Many have taken to social media to express their outrage and disappointment, with some calling for greater accountability and awareness from our leaders.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of thoughtful and inclusive language, particularly from those in positions of power. It also highlights the need for greater investment in underserved communities and access to technology and resources that can help bridge the gap and create more opportunities for success.
Hochul has since released a statement expressing remorse for her comments, claiming that she misspoke and regrets her words. “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.”
However, many have criticized Hochul’s apology as insufficient, saying that it does not address the underlying issues of racism and bias that her comments revealed. “Hochul’s apology is not enough,” said one Twitter user. “She needs to take concrete steps to address the systemic issues that she perpetuated with her comments.”
Others have pointed out that Hochul’s comments are part of a larger pattern of racism and bias in the Democratic Party. “This is not an isolated incident,” said another Twitter user. “The Democratic Party has a long history of racism and bias, and it’s time for accountability.”
The incident has also sparked a wider conversation about the need for greater diversity and inclusion in politics. “We need more diverse voices in politics to combat racism and bias,” said one Twitter user. “Hochul’s comments are a reminder of the importance of representation and inclusion.”
