Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

White Rutgers Professor Complains Harlem Restaurant Is 'Overrun With Little Caucasian A**Holes'


By

Jake Offenhartz

Published Jun 12, 2018

Modified Jun 13, 2018


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

via Facebook

 


By

Jake Offenhartz

Published Jun 12, 2018

Modified Jun 13, 2018


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

A white professor at Rutgers University is under investigation by the school after writing in a Facebook post that he "hates white people" and wants them ("us") out of his Harlem neighborhood.

The trouble began when James Livingston, who's taught in the Rutgers-New Brunswick history department for 15 years, encountered a group of young white people at his local burger spot, Harlem Shake, on 124th Street and Lenox Avenue. He soon took to Facebook to rail against the "little Caucasian assholes" apparently ruining the historically black neighborhood, and also the take-home dinner prospects of some white academics.

"OK, officially, I now hate white people," Livingston wrote on May 31st. "I am a white people, for God's sake, but can we keep them — us — out of my neighborhood? I just went to Harlem Shake on 124 and Lenox for a Classic burger to go, that would [be] my dinner, and the place is overrun with little Caucasian assholes who know their parents will approve of anything they do. Slide around the floor, you little shithead, sing loudly, you moron. Do what you want, nobody here is gonna restrict your right to be white. I hearby resign from my race. Fuck these people. Yeah, I know, it's about access to my dinner. Fuck you, too."

That post was soon deleted, but the Daily Caller (ugh), managed to get a screen shot. A day later, Livingston turned to social media once again to share his hyper-woke perspective: "I just don't want little Caucasians overrunning my life, as they did last night. Please God, remand them to the suburbs, where they and their parents can colonize every restaurant, all the while pretending that the idiotic indulgence of their privilege signifies cosmopolitan — you know, as in sophisticated "European" — commitments."

Rutgers is reportedly investigating the statements. A spokesperson tells Gothamist, "There is no place for racial intolerance at Rutgers. This matter has been referred to the appropriate leaders at the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus, where Dr. Livingston teaches, to determine whether his comments violate university policies prohibiting discrimination and harassment."

Livingston was also suspended from Facebook for eleven days over the rant, he says. He's since returned to posting, most recently announcing that he'd be meeting face-to-face with an online troll known as "Beefy Tips," who'd apparently physically threatened him over the Facebook statements. That meeting is scheduled for noon tomorrow inside Harlem Shake, which really doesn't deserve any of this.

Asked if they were aware that a crusading professor was now using the restaurant to settle online beefs about race and identity, a manager at Harlem Shake told Gothamist, "I'm not aware of that. I'm not even familiar with that person. I hope he doesn't do that."

Tagged

harlem

harlem shake

james livingston

race

rutgers


Jake Offenhartz

Jake Offenhartz is a former Gothamist reporter.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

NJ Gov. Sherrill: Election is secure, noncitizens taken off voter rolls

The governor made the comments in the October edition of "Ask Governor Sherrill" on WNYC.

By

Michael Sol Warren

Published Oct 27, 2026 at 7:42 p.m. ET


Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting

The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.

By

Samantha Max

News

Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting

The charge against him was upgraded following an “extensive investigation,” the DA’s office said.

By

Samantha Max


Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations

By

David Brand

1 killed, 4 others injured at Elizabeth, NJ vigil shooting

By

Catalina Gonella

Police arrest man in Queens stabbings that ended with officer shooting woman

By

Ryan Kost


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .