This day honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is an appropriate time to consider the widespread efforts to restrict the teaching of racism in America’s schools. In Tennessee, the notorious “Moms for Liberty” declared that a second-grade book called Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington was inappropriate, as was Ruby Bridges Goes to School, about the six-year-old who was the first African-American child to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans. The Central York School District in Pennsylvania banned books about Dr. King and Rosa Parks (parents, students, and teachers fought back against the ban in Central York); a Twitter account called Central York Banned Book Club (CYBannedBooks) reports on censorship in their own district and elsewhere. Young people today are not so easily bullied.
During the past couple of years, the nation’s public schools have been the object of savage attacks by politicians and ideologues who claim that the schools are teaching “critical race theory” and indoctrinating (white) children. CRT emphasizes the tenacity of systemic racism, and legislators in red states have passed laws mandating that teachers are not allowed to teach about systemic racism or to teach anything that might make some students (white) feel “uncomfortable.” At least 10 states have passed such laws, including Florida, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Idaho, Tennessee, South Carolina, New Hampshire, and North Dakota. Sometimes such laws are called “divisive concepts” laws, because they forbid the teaching of anything that is “divisive.” Teaching about racism is apparently divisive, as is any implication that the nation is or has been sexist or unwelcoming to specific racial or ethnic groups. So, no more teaching in history about race riots and massacres and lynching; no teaching in history about hostility to Irish immigrants; no teaching in history about anti-Catholicism and anti-Semitism.
Much of the uproar was provoked by the publication of Nikole Hannah-Jones’ “The 1619 Project,” originally published as an issue of The New York Times Magazine and bearing the imprimatur of America’s most respected newspaper. In September 2020, Trump spoke at the National Archives Museum, standing before the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, where he said that radicals and Marxists were responsible for “decades of left-wing indoctrination in our schools.” He singled out critical race theory and The 1619 Project as examples of left-wing indoctrination. He called for “patriotic education” He announced his intention to create the “1776 Commission,” which would “promote a ‘patriotic education’ and ‘encourage our educators to teach our children about the miracle of American history and make plans to honor the 250th anniversary of our founding.’”
The furor over critical race theory during 2021 has not subsided. Teachers in red states that have passed laws against CRT and divisive concepts are wary about teaching about racism. Is teaching about slavery, Jim Crow, and the persistence of segregation a violation of the law? Should teachers avoid any mention of the Ku Klux Klan or modern-day white supremacists?
In June 2021, more than 150 organizations–historians, educators, authors– signed a “Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism in American History.” The joint statement forcefully criticized the laws that aimed to ban teaching about racism in a way that made “some” students uncomfortable. It said “these bills risk infringing on the right of faculty to teach and of students to learn…Purportedly, any examination of racism in this country’s classrooms might cause some students ‘discomfort’ because it is an uncomfortable and complicated subject. But the ideal of informed citizenship necessitates an informed public…Educators owe students a clear-eyed, nuanced, and frank delivery of history, so that they can learn, grow, and confront the issues of the day, not hew to some state-ordered ideology.”
The most puzzling aspect of this coordinated effort to suppress the teaching of accurate history is the silence of people who should have spoken up to defend the schools and their teachers.
The most prominent no-show on the ramparts is Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Last June, he testified before a Congressional committee and was asked about critical race theory. He responded that his department would leave curriculum decisions to states and local districts. He reiterated that the “the federal government doesn’t get involved in curriculum.” According to Chalkbeat, Cardona “said he trusts educators to do their jobs, including teaching about the progress this country has made combatting racism. ‘But I think we can do that while also being honest about some of the things we’re not proud of.” Those comments might be called “leading from behind.” Other than a comment here or there, Cardona did not make a major effort of combatting the attacks on schools and teacher over teaching about racism. He did not give a major speech, as he should have to defend teaching truth.
Other prominent absentees from the CRT-censorship-book banning controversy were the billionaires who usually are verbose about what schools and teachers should be doing.
Where was Bill Gates? Although rightwing wing-nuts attacked Bill Gates for spreading CRT, Gates said nothing to defend schools and teachers against the attacks on them. He is not known for shyness. He uses his platform to declaim his views on every manner of subject. Why the silence about teaching the nation’s history with adherence to the truth? Why no support for courageous teachers who stand up for honesty in the curriculum?
One could list the many other philanthropists who remained silent as the critics were beating up on schools for teaching honest history to their students. None of them was heard from.
Who else failed to show up and be counted on behalf of academic integrity?
We are watching the decimation of the public schools right before our eyes. This bi-partisan effort is now in full force where Republicans obviously want “Handmaids” teaching in the classroom and Democrats simply don’t wish to upset their corporate sugar daddies.
Thank you for an immensely needed and informative post. May I be so impertinent as to suggest that we all stop saying, “the attacks against CRT”? For one, adopting the mendacious, dog-whistling, race-baiting language of the wrong is a losing strategy. For two, there are no attacks against CRT of which I know. Has any governor or state legislature banned the teaching of CRT in public ?
Let us call these attacks what they are: A crusade to deprive American children of accurate historical knowledge for the purpose of dividing Blacks and Whites. Ain’t no more “divisive concept” than the motivation behind Florida’s WOKE Act and Gov. Youngkin’s first-day executive order.
I welcome critique and pushback on what I’ve just written.
Correction: The last phrase of the first paragraph should be “the teaching of CRT in public law schools.”
Here’s an idea–we could adopt the tactics of the right-wingers and start a phony campaign to ban the teaching of CRT in law schools! Maybe we unleash a thousand lawyers to attack the traitors pro bono.
Leading ed reformer campaiging against public schools. Just a Monday in the “movement”:
“Christopher F. Rufo Crossed swords
realchrisrufo
Virginia legislators have introduced a bill to ban critical race theory indoctrination and provide parents with curriculum transparency. If a school knowingly violates the law, families can take their education dollars elsewhere—a win for school choice.”
But there will be no regulations imposed on publicly financed private schools, so the “transparency” push by ed reform is just another ideologically motivated, completely incoherent policy.
The “tell” is when they exempt the publicly funded schools they favor ideologically over the public schools they hope to eradicate.
They’ll layer regulation after regulation on public schools, WHILE energetically lobbying for public funding of schools exempt from the regulations.
It doesn’t have to make sense- it just has to satisfy the ideological requirements. Check and check.
In Virginia, Republican governor Glenn Youngkin –– who was elected based on his racist campaign lies about Critical Race Theory and his false contention that Virginia’s public schools were in crisis –– has declared war on public education.
From The Washington Post:
“Glenn Youngkin launched his tenure as Virginia’s 74th governor this weekend with three executive orders devoted to education — a level of focus on schools that is unprecedented in recent memory..Youngkin’s first order forbids the teaching of ‘inherently divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory’ an academic framework that examines how policies and laws perpetuate systemic racism in the United States…Another order promises the investigation of Loudoun County Public Schools, a wealthy Northern Virginia district that has been embroiled in high-profile controversy for more than a year over allegations related to critical race theory and transgender rights…The Republican governor’s third order asserts that parents must be allowed to decide whether their child wears a mask in school, regardless of what federal or district-level officials say.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/01/16/virginia-glenn-youngkin-education/
On his very FIRST day in office, Youngkin perpetuated his campaign lie about Critical Race Theory by signing an executive order banning it in Virginia’s public schools, even though CRT is NOT taught in Virginia’s public schools and it is NOT part of the state’s K-12 curriculum. In other words, Youngkin piled a lie on top of a lie, stupid on top of stupid. Youngkin also signed an executive oder that stopped a mask mandate for state workers and for kids in public schools, thereby helping to ensure that Covid (Omicron) spreads and more people are needlessly hospitalized (or die). More dumbness. And, Youngkin signed an executive order declaring Virginia “open for business.” This even though CNBC just ranked Virginia as #1 for business. More dumbness. And, Youngkin signed an executive order to “jumpstart” Virginia’s economy, even though Virginia’s economy is healthy and robust and the state has a 3.4 percent unemployment rate and a nearly $3 BILLION budget surplus. More Youngkin dumbness.
It’s going to be a l-o-n-g four years in Virginia.
As for Virginia’s public schools:
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/public-school-rankings-by-state
Yes. Youngkin’s revocation of the mask mandates will sicken and kill people. Just as his fellow pro-death governors DeSantis and Abbott and Noem and Kemp and Stitt and Parson etc. plus their It will magically go away-Drink bleach-States have to bid vs. each other for PPE-LIBERATE MICHIGAN!-I stopped the testing/Rose Garden superspreader superhero have already killed hundreds of thousands of people and are continuing to kill as I write.
Let’s keep telling it as it is. We owe it to both the dead and the living.
The GOP has become a death cult, killing its own members.
The ed reform movement is imposing another huge set of reporting requirements on public schools.
Because for some reason in this country we have the same people who oppose public schools setting all public school policy.
It never works out for public schools – there’s never an upside for public school students and really why would it? It’s nuts. It was never going to work, and unsurpisingly, it hasn’t.
(1 of 2)
“CRT” is just another phrase in the playbook. Any candidate for any GOP office could stand in front of a microphone, utter “Hillary” “Birth Certificate” “Hunter’s Laptop” “Bathrooms” (transgender) – walk off the stage – and they’d get thunderous applause and millions in donations. They wouldn’t even need to drop the mic.
Add “CRT” to the list.
These fools don’t care what is taught in school or what books are read. They know full well it can all be corrected at the dinner table.
Warped truth at the dinner table is their version of critical thinking.
“utter ‘Hillary’ …etc… walk off the stage – and they’d get thunderous applause and millions in donations.”
I’m gonna try that, ’cause I’m still paying off my student loan, and I live in AZ! Prime territory! I’ll wear my gun and MAGA hat, too.
Thank you….very important question.
Cardona. What a disgrace. I am afraid that the Biden administration will namby pampy itself to overwhelming victories by Repugnicans in the midterms and in 2024. This is just one more example.
AG Garland: when TF are you going to arrest Trump and his spawn?
Yesterday, Greg B posted this comment, a voice from the past with a really important message for the current time:
I am reminded of Kurt Tucholsky’s observation when he observed a similar scenario: “Never before had Democracy reacted so promptly as it did by doing nothing when it dealt with the prospect of dictatorship.”
Sadly. I concur. Cardona is more of a token than a leader. I had higher hopes for this administration, but Biden’ s words and deeds are matching less and less. The corporate Democrats are still running the show, and there are not enough progressives to push them to fight. What we need is for folks that care about democracy to start demonstrating outside of Congress.
“the federal government doesn’t get involved in curriculum.” according to Cardona.
If this is the case, why do we have ESSA? Why did we have NCLB, RttT? Why do we have Common Core? Why do we have big testing companies hoovering up student data? Why is the College Board the gatekeeper to higher education? Sorry, but the US Dept of Ed needs to be abolished. Let’s slay the Hydra instead of trying to lop off the tentacles (which regrow 2 fold and more powerful).
I would love to swing a hammer with Jimmy Carter (I think he was kind and gentle man/President which the country needed at the time) to hear what he thinks of the Department that was created during his Presidency…..I bet he never thought it would end up the disaster that it has become?
Nailed it, LisaM!
The law against federal interference is strong. I think Duncan’s promotion and support of Commin Core was illegal.
I suppose it would be too much to ask for Public School teachers to come to the defense of Public Schools. They could start with insisting on mask and vaccine mandates Nationwide. And walk out when the first teacher was fired for teaching actual history. Of course that would assume that all too many weren’t part of the problem. And that they as workers were committed enough to take the risk.
2 of 2 on CRT
“3/5ths”
“36 30 parallel”
1965
Do we teach Critical Race Theory in our schools? No (or at least it’s not called that).
SHOULD WE teacher critical race theory in our schools? Hell yes!
What is more “SYSTEMIC” – what is more acknowledgement of something being systemic than having CONGRESS VOTE ON IT.
The Constitution defined slavery. “…adding tp the number of free persons… three-fifths of all other persons.”
The Missouri Compromise Congressional vote in 1820 declared Missouri would enter the Union as a slave state.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was an acknowledgement of discrimination and voter suppression.
That ain’t random acts of racism. That’s systemic.
“CRT” is one of the most dangerous misunderstood phrases in every state’s legislature and school board meeting.
As a wise young man recently told me, “What’s more evident the critical race theory is real than the fact that state legislatures are holding hearings about it?”
It’s so ironic that the systemic attacks on CRT are examples of precisely what those attacking think CRT is: the assertion that systemic racism exists.
This would be hilarious if it weren’t so tragic.
The Washington Post had this opinion in their Jan 14 edition. Here’s the link https://apple.news/AB7n0B-UAQCaM0_oFCfXuPA
Great piece, Susan! Thank you!
And wow. Christiane Calixte is freaking brilliant. This is one of the most well-argued and well-written pieces I have read in years. Outstanding. Reposting!!!!
In several red states anything labeled racially “divisive” is considered CRT and grounds for dismissal. These right wingers want a nativist interpretation of history to be the norm.
My understanding of CRT goes beyond its being simply a claim that systemic racism exists, which it obviously does. Rather, it’s an argument that the body of traditional law passed to fight racism, from the Brown decision on, was insufficient to make major dents in racism because of its insidious, systemic nature.
Correct
A very wise young man. This morning it occurred to me that the White people who say that what they call CRT shouldn’t be taught because it will make their kids feel bad for being White ought to be embracing CRT with open arms. I mean, as you observe, CRT is about systemic racism and relies on the principle that racism is not an individual characteristic—meaning that no one has reason to feel bad due to one’s race.
That’s true. The effort to suppress CRT is proof of the validity of CRT. As was the attack in the 1619 Project.
You said it better than I did. Yes!
Thanks for the very important post. The public is becoming aware of the Bill Gates’ person vs. the PR persona. Melinda Gates hasn’t spoken up either, has she? They hired, John Deasy, former assistant principal at a conservative religious military academy, for education policy, no reason to expect different from them.
The reason the corporate and billionaire funded organizations stay on the sidelines- they want the controversy because it drives voters to the party of business de-regulation and opposition to taxes on the wealthy.
on the nose
There are so many constitutional issues in these Wars of Insurrection. It will be interesting to see what will make it to the Supreme Court, what their decisions will be, what they will refuse to hear, and what the traitors and their states will do if the Court rules against them.
There is a belief by some on the left and some moderates that this battle about CRT is just another example of the “identity politics” and “wokeness” that turns off white working class voters who share the same economic interests.
I don’t agree. I have had some lengthy debates here when a very tiny number of folks push that narrative. (To be clear, most progressives don’t.) And I am appalled when I see the media amplifying that narrative to legitimize the attack on social justice issues and CRT.
But, I do think that false narrative has made some people who might otherwise speak out wary of making this a big issue or going out on a limb to defend this.
No doubt they believe it is “too divisive”. They want to appeal to white working class voters who share their more progressive economic interests, and they wrongly believe that remaining silent and allowing the false narratives of the Republicans to gain legitimacy instead of speaking out loudly to defend schools against CRT will help achieve more support for progressive economic ideas in the long run. They are wrong.
Black Lives Matter existed for many years while it was attacked, made a political issue, and too many prominent people were AWOL when it came to defending the movement. I heard the same criticisms/justifications — it was divisive “identity politics” and turned off white voters who shared progressive economic goals.
It wasn’t until the summer of 2020 and the George Floyd video led to a movement of non-famous ordinary people coming out in massive numbers and demonstrating their support that many folks who were previously AWOL started really defending it.
The fact is that it wasn’t until the progressives and moderates stopped running away from BLM that the far right realized their scare-tactics weren’t working anymore and the media wasn’t being their lapdog and amplifying non-stop their right wing propaganda about how “divisive” BLM is.
So they came up with a new thing to scare white folks: CRT
To me, it isn’t a coincidence that the huge fearmongering about CRT happened right after the massive support for George Floyd made the right wing propaganda effort to demonize BLM ineffective.
Demonizing BLM no longer worked, so they found a new bogeyman.
And the media always helps them amplify and legitimize their latest propaganda effort.
^^I really should have said white working class AND middle class voters, as both groups are cited as being “turned off” whenever the Democrats talk about “identity politics” or social justice issues (although not so much social justice anymore, as I explained above, so it’s really about citing too much “wokeness” turning off white voters – working class and middle class – who supposedly would join the democrats to support their shared economic goals if those folks would shut up and stop defending CRT and turning them off with too much “wokeness”.)
Bill Gates and the other kleptocrats are afraid of Traitor Trump targeting them and causing an increase in the costs for their security to protect them from MAGA motivated fascist assassins.
It seems that anyone well-known that criticizes anything the traitor believes and promotes ends up a target.
Or maybe Gates and his ilk agree with Traitor Trump’s fascist movement to censor books that reveal the real history of the United States, and they remain silent because they don’t want to be criticized by the majority of American for who they really are.
Navigating D.C. influence –
Peter Edelman, a professor at a private university, is on the board of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, along with John Podesto (can be seen in a video with Chester Finn calling for support for school-privatizing political candidates). One of the Board’s “projects” is the American Worker Project. Presumably, in CAP world, school privatization embodies empowerment for workers since CAP advocates for charter schools, as does Bill Gates. Speaking of Melinda and Bill Gates, Edelman’s son, Josh, worked for the Gates Foundation then transitioned to Biden’s admin. Edelman’s other son, Jonah, founded Stand for Children. Wikipedia describes Jonah’s unique view of worker dignity by way of a speech at Aspen. Gates funds the Aspen Pahara Institute strategy for school privatization.
The Edelman brothers’ mother appears to have endorsed Stand for Kids at her site, the Children’s Defense Fund ($20+ mil. in assets) on 6-4-2021.
We can speculate whether all of the Edelman’s are on the same page. Some want to believe otherwise.
If Democratic strategists have any curiosity about a pattern of losing, maybe they should look at the preceding. Btw-Harvard’s Larry Summers is a senior fellow at CAP.
Republicans aren’t afraid of Critical Race Theory. They’re afraid of theories critical of racists.
Excellent observation. Ryan Girdusky formed the 1776 PAC to elect school board members opposed to CRT. Girdusky’s interview with Pat Buchanan, posted at the Buchanan site, is worth a read.
We shouldn’t underestimate the goals of Christian nationalism.