CNN political commentator Marc Lamont Hill made an explosive claim Monday night that Steve Harvey and the black celebrities who have met with Donald Trump since his election are a “bunch of mediocre negroes” who bring little to the conversation.

Mr. Hill, a professor of African-American Studies at Morehouse College in Atlanta, said black Americans such as comedian Steve Harvey, who met with the president-elect last week at Trump Tower, are being “used by folk like Donald Trump.”

“Again, [Mr. Harvey’s] intention is just to have a seat at the table. But when you’re at the table, you should have experts at the table. You should have people who will challenge the president at the table,” he said on “CNN Tonight.”

“They keep bringing up comedians and actors and athletes to represent black interests — [it’s] demeaning, it’s disrespectful, and it’s condescending,” he said. “Bring some people up there with expertise, Donald Trump, don’t just bring up people to entertain.”

Bruce LeVell, executive director of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, vehemently disagreed, saying Mr. Hill doesn’t know what he’s talking about because he wasn’t present during Mr. Harvey’s meeting.

“Marc, you weren’t even there. You don’t even know what happened,” Mr. LeVell said. “First of all, Pastor Darryl Scott, Michael Cohen, they are in a process of bringing all types of people from all over the country, from all different backgrounds, like we have. Remember the diversity coalition where we reached out to all different types of people. Listen —”

Mr. Hill interjected, “It was a bunch of mediocre Negroes being dragged in front of TV as a photo-op for Donald Trump’s exploitative campaign against black people. And you are the prime example of that, sir.”

He then insisted he wasn’t name-calling.

“My concern is the people who he is trumpeting up and putting in front of the cameras,” he said.

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