Delaware State president Tony Allen took a stand against tech billionaire Elon Musk and his derisive comments towards HBCU students. On Jan. 9, Musk commented under a post on his social media platform ‘X’, formerly Twitter, that called into question the IQ of HBCU pilots.
For context, several years ago, United Airlines partnered with three HBCUs – Hampton University, Delaware State University, and Elizabeth City State University – for an initiative to produce more pilots of color into the workforce. Students at these universities can interview for the United Airlines Aviate Academy. The goal of the program is to produce 5,000 pilots over the next decade. Following the program, United then fast-tracks the graduates to a future piloting position with the airline.
Recently, a random X account posted unsourced statistics regarding the difference in purported IQ levels between pilots in the US Air Force and other major airliners versus the HBCU students in the United Airline Aviate Academy. The account claimed that pilots in the Air Force and within the major airliners have an average IQ around 120, while the graduates from the Aviate Academy have an IQ between 85-90. The post seemingly gleamed those numbers from SAT scores, a standardized test. Again, the post did not cite any sources.
Musk commented under the post in agreement with the statements. “It will take an airplane crashing and killing hundreds of people for them to change this crazy policy of DIE,” he said. (He switched the letters of the acronym DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – in his comment).
Among the numerous voices of dissent to Musk’s post, Delaware State president Tony Allen clapped back with proper statistics.
“Today, we graduate more qualified pilots of color than any other school in the country and serve many aviation students from all backgrounds, regardless of where they come from,” he said. “It’s an outstanding program. I’ve said many times, we produce more pilots with color, any other place in the country, and we are the high-quality, low-cost provider for all aviation schools east of the Mississippi.”
Allen’s statement came with a series of statistics regarding the effect HBCUs have on the American workforce, according to Delaware Live journalist Jarek Rutz.
- Without HBCUs, 325,000 fewer students of color every year would have college degrees.
- Without HBCUs, there would be 30% fewer Black scientists and STEM professionals.
- Without HBCUs, the number of Black lawyers would be cut in half.
- Without HBCUs, there would be almost no Black doctors.
- Without HBCUs, the Black middle class would be decimated.
- Without HBCUs, by 2030, the detrimental impact to the American economy of all that loss would be at least $1.7 trillion
“All of this,” Allen said,” has been achieved despite systemic underfunding over time and despite racist narrative belying the very truth of our excellence. I would warn us instead against those who masquerade as intelligent but who, as Dr. King himself warned, lack the hallmarks of the truly educated. Intelligent plus character – that is the goal of proper education.”
Instead of retracting his statements, Musk doubled down. Under an NBC News post covering the initial interaction, he reaffirmed his believes.
“Those are openly racist organizations,” he said.
Musk’s comments drew ire from multiple civil rights groups as well. Marc Morial, the president and CEO of the National Urban League, called his statement’s “abhorrent and pathetic,” according to Victor Tangermann of Futurism.com.
“The only thing anyone needs to hear from Musk about diversity in the workplace is an apology,” he said.
Even Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and staple on the TV show Shark Tank, spoke out against Musk.
“This is a training school,” he said. “Once they graduate, it’s a multi year process to have an OPPORTUNITY to pilot for United. Since I’m a nice guy and want you to be fully informed, I’ll share with you the benefit of the 60 seconds I spent looking for hwo the program works. BTW, looks like multiple layers of merit based evaluations before they can fly for United.”
Cuban inserted a link to the Aviate Academy website at the end of his post.
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