Vanderbilt University professor Michael Eric Dyson has apologized for calling Trump supporters “maggots” on MSNBC last week.
During a segment last week, Dyson denounced recent criticisms of Critical Race Theory adding “In speaking about the maggots—I’m sorry—the MAGA.”
Dyson took the time to apologize Friday during MSNBC’s coverage of the Derek Chauvin sentencing.
“Let me apologize on this program. I was trying to be cute and clever when I was talking about MAGA, therefore ‘MAGAts,’ not ‘maggots,’” Dyson said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOCGBTm5eLk
Dyson added that he did not anticipate the backlash from White audiences in his statement. Dyson said in the following days he received a significant amount of hate comments.
“I didn’t anticipate that, you know, brothers and sisters who are White would hear it as that. So I deeply and profoundly apologize for that,” Dyson said. “But I have been hit with an onslaught of death threats and being called the N-word out of White rage for a mistake I made, for which I am willing to apologize certainly.”
Dyson also called Trump supporters “mediocre, mealy-mouthed snowflakes” during Wednesday’s broadcast.
Fox News host Tucker Carlson compared Dyson’s comments to former KKK leader David Duke and other segregationists.
“Read what he says about race, and ask yourself if he sounds any different from Bull Conner or David Duke. Only the colors have changed,” Carlson said.
Although Dyson apologized, he also defended the reaching of Critical Race Theory, which Republicans and their supporters have fought tooth and nail. The professor supported teaching Critical Race Theory, saying it’s a study of systems, not individuals.
“All critical race theory is saying as a theory of law is that it’s not about individual acts of bigotry, or bias, or racism. It is a systemic and institutional network that must be somehow discerned and dismantled.”
In addition to teaching at Vanderbilt, Dyson has also taught at Chicago Theological Seminary, Brown University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Columbia University, DePaul University, and the University of Pennsylvania.