Subscribe
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE

A Duke University professor is facing criticism after he made questionably racist comments against Black people while praising the efforts of Asians in comparison. Political Science professor Jerry Hough raised concerns with Duke faculty and students after his comments on a New York Times editorial were less than favorable.

The Times ran an editorial regarding the recent events in Baltimore, which highlighted the riots and widespread poverty suffered by Blacks in the Maryland city. Hough compared the struggles of Asians in the nation to Blacks, remarking that the two groups faced the same amount of racial discrimination. However, Hough’s point was rendered to incoherency by way of him slamming Blacks for their names and praising Asians for assimilating into American society.

Local news outlet WTVD reports:

Hough, who is listed as a political science professor on Duke’s website, also made comparisons to minority groups in America.

In one paragraph he wrote, “Every Asian student has a very simple old American first name that symbolizes their desire for integration. Virtually every black has a strange new name that symbolizes their lack of desire for integration.”

The University is responding and issued a statement.

“The comments were noxious, offensive, and have no place in civil discourse,” said Duke Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Affairs Michael Schoenfeld. “Duke University has a deeply-held commitment to inclusiveness grounded in respect for all, and we encourage our community to speak out when they feel that those ideals are challenged or undermined, as they were in this case.”

Hough is currently on leave from his post as Duke investigates his comments, and he defended his comments to WTVD by saying he doesn’t support discrimination while maintaining that his words were not meant to harm.

Watch WTVD’s report on Professor Jerry Hough’s comments below.

Photo: WTVD