New York Governor Kathy Hochul has apologized for saying black children in the Bronx don’t know “what the word computer is,” following an uproar over her comments made during an interview on Monday.
In a statement later that day, Ms. Hochul, a Democrat, said: “I misspoke and I regret it.”
“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,” Ms. Hochul said. “That’s why I’ve been focused on increasing economic opportunity since Day One of my Administration, and will continue that fight to ensure every New Yorker has a shot at a good-paying job.”
Interviewed on Stage
Ms. Hochul’s controversial remarks were made during a business conference in California, where she was interviewed on stage about making access to artificial intelligence (AI) easier for lower-income communities.
“Right now, we have 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,” Ms. Hochul said in the interview.
The remark was not addressed during the interview, and the governor went on to explain that her goal is to provide avenues for “communities of color” to access emerging AI technologies as a means to open more opportunities for low-income people.
“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,” Ms. Hochul said.
“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.”
Backlash
Her “black kids growing up in the Bronx” comment drew immediate criticism, including from some political leaders in New York, such as state Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo, a Bronx Democrat, who said the remark was “harmful, deeply misinformed, and genuinely appalling.”
New York state Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat who represents the Bronx in the Legislature, came to Ms. Hochul’s defense as her remarks began to gain traction online.
“While the governor’s words were inartful and hurtful, I don’t believe that is where her heart is. I firmly believe she wants to see all of our students excel,” Mr. Heastie said.
Others, especially those on the other side of the political aisle, also weighed in on Ms. Hochul’s comments.
“Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul claims black children in the Bronx don’t know what computers are. Imagine if a republican said this! The outrage would be insane,” said conservative filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza via X.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
