Some of Elon Musk’s Controversial Statements Deemed as Racist

Elon Musk has come under fire for a series of statements and actions that many have deemed racist. Here’s a breakdown:

Comments on HBCUs and Pilot Program

Musk endorsed a tweet suggesting that students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have lower IQs and shouldn’t be pilots. He responded to a post claiming that IQ averages at HBCUs are lower than those of US Air Force pilots, tweeting, “It will take an airplane crashing and killing hundreds of people for them to change this crazy policy of DIE.” This tweet referred to a United Airlines program allowing students at three HBCUs to interview for pilot positions. Musk’s use of “DIE” seems to be an intentional misarrangement of DEI, which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Defense of Scott Adams

Musk also defended Scott Adams, the creator of “Dilbert,” after Adams made racist comments leading to his comic strip being dropped by numerous newspapers. Adams called Black Americans a “hate group” and suggested segregation, remarks that Musk did not criticize. Instead, Musk claimed the media was racist and accused elite colleges and high schools of similar bias.

Increase in Hate Speech on Twitter

Since Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, hate speech on the platform has reportedly doubled. Researchers from USC, UCLA, UC Merced, and Oregon State University found that daily hate speech by users who previously posted such content nearly doubled post-sale. The overall volume of hate speech also increased.

Reinstating White Supremacist Accounts

Musk’s decision to reinstate the account of white supremacist Nick Fuentes has sparked further outrage. Fuentes, banned from Twitter in 2021 for inciting violence and spreading hate, was allowed back as part of Musk’s broader push to reinstate previously suspended users.

Racism Allegations at Tesla

Tesla, Musk’s company, has faced allegations of racial harassment. In 2022, 15 Black employees sued Tesla, claiming they were subjected to racial slurs, graffiti, and physical violence. Despite this, Musk has dismissed the focus on racism, suggesting in an interview with Don Lemon that society blames too much on racism and needs to move on.