Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is under fire after a viral video clip showed him defending his hiring record by highlighting the number of Black officials in his administration, prompting accusations of racial bias and political opportunism.Speaking at the Apostolic Church of God in Woodlawn on Sunday, Johnson responded to critics who claim he talks only about hiring Black people. “No, what I’m saying is when you hire our people, we always look out for everybody else. We are the most generous people on the planet,” he said to a cheering crowd. “I don’t know too many cultures that have play cousins. That’s how generous we are. We just make somebody a family member, right? This is how we are”, he added.He went on to list top officials in his administration. “Business and economic neighborhood development, the deputy mayor is a Black woman. Department of planning and development is a Black woman. Infrastructure, deputy mayor is a Black woman. Chief operations officer is a Black man. Budget director is a Black woman. Senior advisor is a Black man,” he said, adding, “I’m laying that out because when you ask, how do we ensure that our people get a chance to grow their business?”Netizens reactThe remarks, viewed by many online as racially divisive, ignited sharp backlash. One user posted, “He just admitted he discriminates against white people in favor of Black people.” Another wrote, “Could he be more racist?” while others accused him of pandering for Black votes ahead of the next election.Some also took aim at the racial framing of the speech, referencing civil rights ideals. One comment read, “I have a dream that my… children will… not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Have we forgotten the goal?” Another asked, “Why do they ALWAYS talk about race? They insert it into every single conversation.”Other netizens voiced legal and ethical concerns, with one writing, “How have we not arrested this guy yet for civil rights violations?” and another accusing the mayor of dishonesty: “He’s just making stuff up and using excuses.”Johnson, a former CTU organiser who became mayor in 2023 with strong support from Black voters and progressive whites, has long emphasised equity and representation. Midway through his term, Johnson is facing both major policy hurdles and political pressure, according to news outlet South Side Weekly.While he has celebrated wins like reduced violent crime and large-scale investment in affordable housing, he has also faced criticism over missteps, particularly in handling the migrant crisis and budget management.Johnson further stressed his broader vision at the event and said, “We can be the safest, most affordable, big city in America,” while again pledging to repopulate underserved South and West Side neighbourhoods and invest in Black communities.
