A UCF professor is being denounced by the university and investigate for tweeting a racially charged statement, which included that “black privilege is real” and “shielded from legitimate criticism is a privilege. But as a group, they’re missing out on much needed feedback.”
Charles Negy, an associate professor in the psychology department, was quickly targeted by social justice activists after tweeting Wednesday night that “Black privilege is real: Besides affirm. action, special scholarships and other set asides, being shielded from legitimate criticism is a privilege. But as a group, they’re missing out on much needed feedback.”
Check out the tweet below, which resulted in #UCFfirehim to trend in the U.S.
Negy spoke to Spectrum News 13 on Thursday, saying that “I’ve been saying things for 10 to 15 years, and now people are on Twitter addressing the riots and police brutality. if you don’t have certain views aligning with certain ideology, their reaction is to attack you.”
“What astonishes me is there are people who proclaim they want civil rights, but they seem unconcerned if they violate the civil rights of other people,” Negy said. “There are social groups who profess they are all for civil rights, but if I don’t agree with their views, they are willing to violate my civil rights.”
The free speech ramped up as the article noted one UCF graduate and an African-American who thinks free speech is no excuse for what he considers racism.
“To see this hatred and this speech he’s been spitting out,” Brandon Nightingale said. “I have a problem with it and that’s why I took to my social media accounts.”
Negy’s “recent personal Twitter posts… are completely counter to UCF’s values,” the university said. “We are reviewing this matter further while being mindful of the First Amendment.”
UCF declined to say whether it’s received complaints about Negy in the past.
UCF President Alexander Cartwright said any investigation into Negy would be focused on whether his views translated into discriminatrion in the classroom or on campus.
Interim Provost Michael Johnson on Thursday said faculty members have the right, under the principle of academic freedom, to hold and teach unpopular views.
“But that does not make what Dr. Negy said on Twitter any less vile,” Johnson said.
This article is spot on (will infuriate folks). Black privilege is real: Besides affirm. action, special scholarships and other set asides, being shielded from legitimate criticism is a privilege. But as a group, they’re missing out on much needed feedback. https://t.co/V2hcIt4Nh0
— Charles Negy (@CharlesNegy) June 3, 2020
Based on this and other actions taken against white American citizens If we do not agree with what is going on our First Amendment rights are being taken away. Yet we are being told to meekly go away and remain silent otherwise we will be reprimanded by the Black Lives Matter movement.