New York governor regrets saying that black children in the Bronx don’t know what a computer is

ALBANY, NY – New York Governor Kathy Hochul says she regrets making an offhand comment that suggested black children in the Bronx don’t know what the word “computer” means.

Hochul, a Democrat, made the extemporaneous comment on Monday while being interviewed at a major business conference in California to discuss expanding economic opportunities in artificial intelligence for low-income communities.

“Right now, we have young black men 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,” Hochul said on stage at the Milken Institute Global Conference.

The observation was not addressed during the interview and the governor explained that her goal is to provide pathways for communities of color to access emerging artificial intelligence technologies as a means of addressing social inequality.

Still, the gaffe drew immediate criticism from some political leaders in New York, including state Rep. Amanda Septimo, a Bronx Democrat, who said the remark was “harmful, deeply misinformed and genuinely appalling.”

In a statement released on Monday, Hochul said: “I said it wrong and I regret it.”

“Of course, black kids in the Bronx know what computers are — the problem is they often don’t have access to the technology they need to get high-paying jobs in emerging industries like AI,” 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 chance at a good-paying job.”

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat who represents the Bronx in the Legislature, came to Hochul’s defense when his comments began to gain traction online.

“While the governor’s words were inartistic and hurtful, I don’t believe that is where her heart lies. I firmly believe she wants all of our students to excel,” Heastie said.