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Anyone claiming that critical race theory is a "conspiracy" is either massively misinformed, or being actively deceptive in order to push that very ideology. Th

Anyone claiming that critical race theory is a "conspiracy" is either massively misinformed, or being actively deceptive in order to push that very ideology. The National Education Association, a union with about 2.3 million members, has not only affirmed the existence of it, but is actively pushing for its inclusion in schools[1][2]: "Share and publicize, through existing channels, information already available on critical race theory (CRT)" "Provide an already-created, in-depth, study that critiques empire, white supremacy, anti-Blackness, anti-Indigeneity, racism, patriarchy, cisheteropatriarchy, capitalism, ableism, anthropocentrism, and other forms of power and oppression at the intersections of our society, and that we oppose attempts to ban critical race theory and/or The 1619 Project." "Commit President Becky Pringle to make public statements across all lines of media that support racial honesty in education including but not limited to critical race theory. This isn't limited to universities, either - it's being taught in K-12 schools[3]: "Responding to prompts such as “In the last year, I have learned _____ about race and racism,” and “One way I will work for racial equity in my work,” teachers say: “American society makes it hard to have high hopes.” Racism infests the nation’s “entire fabric.” Everyone must “lean into the discomfort.” “Older millennials are disappointingly racist.” “Aspects of the anti racist movement have been co-opted by neoliberal corporations, and reactionarily [sic] opposed by many even mainstream conservative thinkers.” Racism is “layered into everything we do at school.” We must “share the harsh reality of the BIPOC and LBGTQI communities with our students.” “Discuss issues of equity as arising in most every book I teach.” Oh, and the statement by the NEA was removed from its website shortly after[4] (https://ra.nea.org/business-item/2021-nbi-039/ https://ra.nea.org/business-item/2021-nbi-039/ now redirects to the homepage), which is only further evidence for the fact that many of those pushing this ideology are simultaneously attempting to gaslight and actively lie to their opponents in an attempt to convince the public that it doesn't exist. I'm not sure why you used the phrase "witch hunt" when the ideology clearly exists and is actively being pushed in education around the United States. Perhaps you meant to use the phrase "accountability culture"? [1] https://web.archive.org/web/20210702133611/https://ra.nea.org/business-item/2021-nbi-039/ https://web.archive.org/web/20210702133611/https://ra.nea.or... [2] https://nypost.com/2021/07/04/teachers-union-vows-to-fight-back-against-critical-race-theory-critics/ https://nypost.com/2021/07/04/teachers-union-vows-to-fight-b... [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/23/teacher-pushes-back-against-k-12-critical-race-theory-indoctrination/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/06/23/teacher-p... [4] https://www.foxnews.com/politics/national-education-association-takes-down-pages-crt-anti-racism-mandatory-vaccine-assembly-proposals https://www.foxnews.com/politics/national-education-associat...

SamBam 5y ago
The vast majority of those quotes have nothing to do with critical race theory, and are simply anti-racism. The two are not remotely synonymous, the former being a minor academic framework for studying history. This confusion was deliberate work of a few conservative thinkers, who wanted an obscure "elitist" academic theory to use as a catch-all term for all anti-racism work. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/opinion/critical-race-theory.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/opinion/critical-race-the... https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/how-a-conservative-activist-invented-the-conflict-over-critical-race-theory https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/how-a-conse...
heavyset_go 5y ago
Well, this sure looks like a witch hunt[1] in which people were frothing with rage, becoming violent and getting arrested[2] at a school board metting because they didn't get their witch/CRT when they went looking for one to burn. According to that same mob, when they couldn't find the critical race theory at the school board meeting, everything they didn't like, along with diversity training, suddenly became critical race theory[3]: > While critical race theory was not on the agenda, parents and community members accused the school district of requiring teachers to take a diversity training that discusses the concept and then teaching it to students. They also criticized the school board for proposing a policy that would allow gender-expansive or transgender students to use their chosen name and gender pronouns and use the restroom that corresponds with their asserted gender identity. That sounds and looks like a witch hunt for teachers to me. Also, this is where the conspiracy comes in. Everything conservatives don't like is critical race theory now, and that's by design[2]: > Christopher Rufo, a prominent opponent of critical race theory, in March acknowledged intentionally using the term to describe a range of race-related topics and conjure a negative association. > “We have successfully frozen their brand — ‘critical race theory’ — into the public conversation and are steadily driving up negative perceptions,” wrote Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. “We will eventually turn it toxic, as we put all of the various cultural insanities under that brand category. The goal is to have the public read something crazy in the newspaper and immediately think ‘critical race theory.’” [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/partisan-war-over-teaching-history-racism-stokes-tensions-us-schools-2021-06-23/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/partisan-war-over-teaching-... [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/05/29/critical-race-theory-bans-schools/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/05/29/critical... [2] https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/pandemonium-at-virginia-school-board-mee-idUSRTXDKDOH https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/pandemonium-at-virginia... [3] https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/24/us/loudoun-county-school-board-meeting/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/24/us/loudoun-county-school-boar...

SamBam 5y ago

The vast majority of those quotes have nothing to do with critical race theory, and are simply anti-racism. The two are not remotely synonymous, the former being a minor academic framework for studying history. This confusion was deliberate work of a few conservative thinkers, who wanted an obscure "elitist" academic theory to use as a catch-all term for all anti-racism work. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/opinion/critical-race-theory.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/opinion/critical-race-the... https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/how-a-conservative-activist-invented-the-conflict-over-critical-race-theory https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-inquiry/how-a-conse...

heavyset_go 5y ago

Well, this sure looks like a witch hunt[1] in which people were frothing with rage, becoming violent and getting arrested[2] at a school board metting because they didn't get their witch/CRT when they went looking for one to burn. According to that same mob, when they couldn't find the critical race theory at the school board meeting, everything they didn't like, along with diversity training, suddenly became critical race theory[3]: > While critical race theory was not on the agenda, parents and community members accused the school district of requiring teachers to take a diversity training that discusses the concept and then teaching it to students. They also criticized the school board for proposing a policy that would allow gender-expansive or transgender students to use their chosen name and gender pronouns and use the restroom that corresponds with their asserted gender identity. That sounds and looks like a witch hunt for teachers to me. Also, this is where the conspiracy comes in. Everything conservatives don't like is critical race theory now, and that's by design[2]: > Christopher Rufo, a prominent opponent of critical race theory, in March acknowledged intentionally using the term to describe a range of race-related topics and conjure a negative association. > “We have successfully frozen their brand — ‘critical race theory’ — into the public conversation and are steadily driving up negative perceptions,” wrote Rufo, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank. “We will eventually turn it toxic, as we put all of the various cultural insanities under that brand category. The goal is to have the public read something crazy in the newspaper and immediately think ‘critical race theory.’” [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/us/partisan-war-over-teaching-history-racism-stokes-tensions-us-schools-2021-06-23/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/partisan-war-over-teaching-... [2] https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/05/29/critical-race-theory-bans-schools/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/05/29/critical... [2] https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/pandemonium-at-virginia-school-board-mee-idUSRTXDKDOH https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/pandemonium-at-virginia... [3] https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/24/us/loudoun-county-school-board-meeting/index.html https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/24/us/loudoun-county-school-boar...