CRT: Awakening the Sleeping Giant
Across America, Critical Race Theory(CRT) is a hot topic in school districts and statehouses. So, what is critical race theory?
By Christopher Grahn Howard | Christian Times Magazine Columnist
Critical race theory (CRT), intellectual movement, and loosely organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of colour. Critical race theorists hold that the law and legal institutions in the United States are inherently racist insofar as they function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, especially African Americans.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/critical-race-theory
Parents of all races are becoming concerned with this insidious doctrine—a doctrine that pits races of people against each other rather than creating understanding between them. In typical ivory tower education fashion, the Marxists in our public education system have been sneaking this doctrine into our schools. A doctrine started in law schools and graduate schools.
A couple of items to make crystal clear. Know that racism and discrimination still exist. That racism by design has taken place in this country, and that the stain of the sin of slavery is still on our flag. Educators should teach the complete (good and bad) parts of history. I have no problem with this. The sad truth of world history is that every nation is birthed in blood, and often the blood of others. You may be thinking I am exaggerating the sneaking part. In April of this year, an email from a Literacy Speech Coordinator to the Rockwood School District in West St. Louis County to middle and HS Teachers suggested removing certain parts of the curriculum from parents’ view. This incident made national news. Any curriculum that needs to be “hidden” from parents doesn’t “need “to be taught. Not an isolated incident. All across the country, we hear of these incidents. This incident made national news.
Like many socialistic, leftist, and radical ideas, it sounds innocuous enough. Truth? CRT will not bring about racial harmony, will exacerbate racial division. Instead, CRT is a stab to the heart of all of our Judeo-Christian values, our freedoms, and the best parts of our American life. CRT is going to only further these issues—examples from a grade school textbook in Missouri. I will repeat. The actual teaching of history, including the ugly parts of our history, should be taught! Here are mild examples of CRT and the attempts to guilt children.
Most importantly, CRT is an extension of the socialist ideology. That is the most positive thing I can say about this so-called academic discipline. In truth, even Marx might have denied this “school of thought.” One of the leaders of this movement Cheryl Harris states – “whiteness, initially constructed as a form of racial identity, evolved into a form of property, historically and presently acknowledged and protected in American law,” and that “the existing state of inequitable distribution is the product of institutionalized white supremacy and economic exploitation, [which] is seen by whites as part of the natural order of things that cannot legitimately be disturbed.”
It is not hyperbole to connect CRT with Marxist ideas. To understand the connection, let us look not at what Marx believed. Dialectic materialism is the philosophy that economic evolution is driven by those that have and those who have not. The conflict in this struggle leads to a series of economic revolutions, which will end in socialism. Marx believed these revolutions would happen naturally as societies evolved, that scarcity of recourses based on the wealth or poverty of others would be the driver of social, economic, and societal evolution.
Interestingly, Lenin, followed by Hitler, Mao, Che, and too many others, took Marx’s work and believed that the conflict and chaos needed to enable the next cycle of economic revolution could be driven, manufactured if you will. They were forcing the evolution process faster to achieve socialism. Ironically, they all needed democratic efforts to accomplish these changes. True democracy is glorified mob rule, which is the point for the democratic socialists. There are no benevolent and peaceful Marxists.
Conflict and chaos, misery, and anguish are the needed element to achieve their aims. The issue here is that CRT intentionally creates social, strife, and conflict for a similar purpose. However, this time the goal goes beyond economic change. Socialism is still the ultimate goal. The insidious part is that they are using our children to accomplish this goal. It is bad enough that adults are falling for this nonsense, causing riots in the streets, and openly asking for socialism. CRT does have strong roots within the Marxist ideology.
The most disturbing part of the CRT ideology is laying guilt on children for offenses committed generations before being born. Children will often accept blame for things beyond their control. Like in a divorce, a child will usually assume it is because of them or something they may have done. Uncorrected this type of guilt, guilt for something beyond control is damaging to the child. That damage can result in many issues later in life. Unhealthy guilt stifles a person’s natural expression of self and prohibits intimacy with others. Unhealthy guilt can be instilled when a child is continually barraged with shaming statements criticizing the child’s self, rather than focusing on the specific harmful behavior.
Read more: Guilt – STAGES OF GUILT DEVELOPMENT – Adolescence, What Is Punishment, Sense, and Person – JRank Articles https://psychology.jrank.org/pages/285/Guilt.html#ixzz6z b6JAcgo
CRT and similar education initiatives are not education but indoctrination to political philosophy. The efforts to indoctrinate rather than educate are both frustrating and disturbing. These attempts to lay guilt on our children are nothing short of child abuse to cause societal change towards socialism. Again, I have no problem with teaching the darkest of truths of history, American or otherwise. The actual teaching of our history is essential to our expanding freedoms. CRT does not accomplish this task. Racism and discrimination are real, played out all across this great country. Yes, a great nation, because despite the problems that exist, we are improving every day. CRT will set us back, not move us forward. There is a better way.
Another issue here is the praise for CRT demonstrating the teaching of critical thinking. Critical thinking has its place and value, no doubt. However, analytical and lateral thinking should be the goal of the majority of educational efforts. Critical thinking is a matter of making judgments after breaking down information. Analytical thinking is more about information processing, which is a more effective tool for educational purposes.
Critical thinking is the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment. Critical thinking is breaking down ideas, traditions, and established norms; this has its place. However, CRT proponents seek to break down our American traditions – not the bad ones. It aims to break down the JudeoChristian establishment of American society. CRT would specifically argue that this very tradition which brought freedom to most of the world, is inherently racist.
I would argue that analytical thinking should be the goal of education in the early years. Analytical thinking is to identify and define problems, extract key information from data and develop workable solutions. Herein lies the fundamental approach to combating racism and attacking established parts of our society that have provided freedom and liberty in America and become a beacon of freedom and liberty worldwide.
It is essential to state that Teachers are doing their best; not all agree with this ideology. Teachers are not the enemy. America has real problems, racism, poverty, apathy, and worst of all, a growing trend towards class warfare. We should be aware that American classrooms are the one place many times children are safe, may get a decent meal, and have heat or air conditioning. Despite our wishing otherwise, American classrooms are the only stability some children have in their lives. Children of color are disproportionately affected. As Americans, we should all be concerned, willing to act, and move to do better.
The conflict incited by CRT will not bring about an end to racism, poverty, or some new economic system capable of bestowing more freedom or liberty on our people. Critical Race Theory is not the answer. Parents and many teachers are concerned with this political doctrine in our education system. The attempt of CRT has become a lightning rod for people to become politically active. Here in Missouri, Missouri Prosper, https://missouriprosper.org/, has become the leader in fostering open conversations between parents, legislators, and educators.
Organizations like this are spreading across the country. These parents are new to the political process, and they are learning fast and creating a new wave of activism and awareness in our political systems. Parents are the new awakening giant in politics.