July 17, 2021

The real problem with critical race theory

 Sam Smith - The real problem with critical race theory is not that it is wrong, but that it is a lousy political tool to be using at the moment, a fact backed up by the ruckus it has created at a time when we should really be concentrating on things like Republican schemes to reduce black voting. 

It reflects the priorities of a liberal elite that has become increasingly well educated as it has become increasingly alienated from  its formerly broad constituency. Even the phrase itself reeks more of academia rather than real life politics. And a liberal world in which analysis takes precedence over effective action. 

This is not to say, for example, that true history should not be taught, but that it should include not only past evils but the ways in which people of those times fought and dealt with it. As it stands we are increasingly treating racism as irremovable owing to its historic record. 

We can change for the better but one of the first priorities is not to be a prisoner of the past. Why do we not spend more time in schools, for example, teaching students about individuals, institutions and cultures that have discovered how to do it better? 

Why not some positive ethnic theory?

 

 

3 comments:

Greg Gerritt said...

Agree≥. Therea re always some people who do things better than their pees and move towards justice faster. A full history includes both without diminishing the negative actionas.

Strelnikov said...

This was all a right-wing screaming point. Critical Race Theory is taught in law schools but the Klansmen in mufti yeowling masses of "conservative activists" somehow think it's being taught in grade or high school. It's like how Baptists see evolution, not as science, but a plot to undermine their narrow religion. Their paranoid cartoon of "CRT" is the "Cultural Marxism" of The Now.

MD said...

Surprised you're taking the "prisoner of the past" tactic, which is identical to the elite white and alt-right cornerstone. Absurd to assume we can't learn more than one thing at a time. We can't prepare for the future while relearning what was in the past. How this becomes white guilt is quite a convenient but ridiculously flawed way of arguing against broadening our collective consciousness. How do the sins of the past reflect poorly on you and I, having merely been willed the current cultural situation? Wouldn't finally rectifying the past mistakes and wrongdoings to all people of color be a great thing to accomplish? Wouldn't it make us all feel great about ourselves? The same mindset goes for any political or cultural issues that needs to be addressed--should we give up on those before we begin? We have many issues to resolve due to this continuation of this flawed mindset for generations. Change can happen. Change can be good.