Professor Thomas Curry presented the case for “killing white people in context” in a 2012 radio interview. He also suggested that black people have to kill white people “as self-defense” on the road to equality, Campus Reform reports.
The president of Texas A&M University, where Curry teaches, has called the remarks “disturbing” and in “stark contrast” to the values for which the university stands.
Curry was interviewed on a podcast, hosted by Rob Redding. The professor specifically discussed how killing whites could be justified with historical examples. He then referenced some barely known academic texts that also discuss “killing whites people as self-defense.”
“So when we have this conversation about violence or killing white people it has to be looked at in the context of historical terms, and the fact that we have not addressed like how relevant and how solidified this kind of tradition is for black people saying, ‘look, in order to be equal, in order to be liberated, some white people may have to die,'” Curry said, noting how “immensely disappointed” he was at how infrequently the issue came up.
The university’s president wishes the issue had not come up at all.
“As you may know, a podcast interview by one of our professors that took place approximately four and a half years ago resurfaced this week on social media, seen for the first time by many of us,” Young wrote in a statement.
“The interview features disturbing comments about race and violence that stand in stark contrast to Aggie core values – most notably those of respect, excellence, leadership and integrity – values that we hold true toward all of humanity.”
Young continued, “We wish no violence or harm even to those who espouse hateful views under the First Amendment, a sentiment that by its very nature is one that they would deny others.”
Student Michael Buse, a campus conservative who is also president of the university’s debating society, told Campus Reform that while Curry’s remarks might be termed “reckless and bigoted” the professor does have “a right to free speech.”
“Dr. Curry’s words calling for violence are concerning to a lot of people,” Buse said. “His words are inflammatory and, like so many academics, need a reality check, but I would be far more uncomfortable studying at a university where professors are policed, than at one where there are radicals with podcasts.”
