Tech billionaire Elon Musk has ignited a new controversy with his recent statements about black American pilots.
What Elon Musk said about black pilots from HBCUs
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Criticised by civil rights organisations, Musk’s comments on the safety of air travel and the competency of black pilots have drawn sharp rebukes.
Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, labelled Musk’s statements as “abhorrent and pathetic,” highlighting ongoing legal issues at Tesla regarding racial discrimination claims.
Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO, countered Musk’s claims on social media, emphasising the dangers of propagating hate speech and white supremacist conspiracy theories.
This backlash began after Musk responded to a user on X, a social media platform, speculating about the lower IQ scores of United Airlines pilots who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).
In a series of posts, Musk attacked DEI programs, suggesting these initiatives compromise air travel safety.
His comments insinuated a link between pilots’ racial background and their competence, causing significant uproar on social media and among civil rights groups.
United Airlines and Boeing, targeted by Musk’s comments, have been promoting DEI in their hiring practices.
United’s partnership with HBCUs aims to diversify the pool of pilot candidates, a move criticised by Musk.
The program, however, sets rigorous requirements for applicants, ensuring all potential pilots meet the standards set by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Despite these safeguards, Musk’s comments have raised concerns about the perpetuation of racial stereotypes and discrimination in professional settings.
The controversy is not Musk’s first brush with allegations of racism.
Previously, he endorsed a tweet asserting a conspiracy theory about Jews turning minorities against white people, which led to major advertisers withdrawing from his platform.
Despite later denouncing antisemitism, this pattern of controversial statements continues to affect his business ventures and public image.