Should We Be Banning Critical Race Theory?

but it does note one thing, CRT is not a monolithic belief system. People who claim it are all over the map. There are genuine God-fearing people who hold to it. There are atheistic Marxists as well. Some are seeking to build up America, others want to burn it to the ground.

If you want a start understanding what is called CRT, may I make a suggestion? Go back in time 100+ years and read the ForeThought and first chapter of W.E.B. Du Bois’s The Souls of Black Folk. You can find it here in the sample preview at amazon. See what you think.

I’ve read that book but it’s been awhile. I’m going to have to go back and read it. Thanks Mark.

My thought is that when a central hypothesis of CRT is named—say that there is systemic racism in the system—we ought to simply ask the proponents of the theory to name a specific example, and what they would do to remedy the situation. All too often, we argue in glittering generalities when a quick look at specifics would tell us where and how we need to start to remedy the situation—be it by abandoning that particular branch of CRT, or by remedying an actual policy (etc.) that tends to work against certain groups of people.

Critical Race Theory (CRT) makes race the prism through which its proponents analyze all aspects of American life—and do so with a degree of persistence that has helped CRT impact all of American life. CRT underpins identity politics, an ongoing effort to reimagine the United States as a nation riven by groups, each with specific claims on victimization. In entertainment, as well as the education and workforce sectors of society, CRT is well-established, driving decision-making according to skin color—not individual value and talent. As Critical Theory ideas become more familiar to the viewing public in everyday life, CRT’s intolerance becomes “normalized,” along with the idea of systemic racism for Americans, weakening public and private bonds that create trust and allow for civic engagement. -The Heritage Foundation

https://www.heritage.org/civil-rights/report/critical-race-theory-the-n…

http://gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com/2021/05/reasons-to-oppose-critical-…

David R. Brumbelow

while America claims to love individual value and talent, we are biased in how we do it. Black men especially have a terrible time competing on an equal basis. In many places in America a black man who changes a lane without signaling (just as a simple example) gets pulled over by the police at a higher rate than whites. That is a statistical fact. This fact starts a whole sequence of events where blacks tend to come to resent police presence.

Furthermore, our criminal justice penalizes drug sellers (who tend to be black or other so-called POCs) while giving a pass to drug users (who tend to be white). The result is a disproportionate number of black men with criminal records compared to white men. The felony convictions all too often mean these men can’t vote.

Third, here is an historical example. After the Civil War and the 13-15th Amendments, the government opened up free land for settlers all across the Plains and West. This was not offered to the newly freed enslaved however. The few former slaves who did come to the West (Kansas for example since I know a lot about it) were cruelly persecuted and opposed. They were called the Exodusters. In Kansas the KKK quickly formed here and for 50+ years opposed black settlers. This went to the point that the town in Kansas I grew up in still had a law on the books that blacks could not be out past 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before dawn. The fear was that black men would peep at white women. Still to this day, in 2021, the area of Topeka where many Exodusters wound up settling is the poorest part of the city.

Native Americans and African Americans have been brutalized, massacred, raped, and pillaged throughout the history of the United States. Whether that was the result of colonialization, slavery, forced conversions, forced removal/relocation, Jim Crow, redlining, the KKK, or police brutality, these are established facts. We must acknowledge these facts and decide as a country what, if anything, we should pay in restitution / reparations to these groups.

That being said, I disagree that racism underlies every system or process in the United States. I disagree that whitey is to blame for many of the ills that are currently plaguing the Native American and African American communities. Further, I disagree that being a white male means I am necessarily racist by default.

I agree that our nation (as a whole) has cruelly treated people of color in the past. I disagree that this treatment is systemic and inherent in Western culture.

[Bert Perry]

My thought is that when a central hypothesis of CRT is named—say that there is systemic racism in the system—we ought to simply ask the proponents of the theory to name a specific example, and what they would do to remedy the situation. All too often, we argue in glittering generalities when a quick look at specifics would tell us where and how we need to start to remedy the situation—be it by abandoning that particular branch of CRT, or by remedying an actual policy (etc.) that tends to work against certain groups of people.

Agree. One of the things that frustrates me most about CRT in the context of policing, for example, is the vagueness of “systemic.” You can’t really fix “systemic.” I might not challenge quite the same way, though. My challenge would be, “How do we fix the problem you’ve described? What does it look like and what are it’s causes?” There are trends that can be quantified and programs that can be designed to push back on them. But you have to understand what individuals are thinking and doing before you can correct “systemic.”

I cannot type out all the suggestions to help America’s systemic race problem, but here are some:

1- Educate yourself that such a thing exists. If you disagree, how can you fix it?

2- Learn some American history from the black perspective. Read W.E.B. Du Bois’s Reconstruction book. Read Eric Foner’s Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution. If you really want to dig, read Rayford Logan’s The Betrayal Of The Negro: From Rutherford B. Hayes To Woodrow Wilson. The point of all this is to see how destructive and hurtful the 100 years of Jim Crow laws were on black Americans, and how that damage resonates in that culture and America at large to this day.

3- Learn about current issues. It’s tough, I know. All too often current examples of systemic racism are compounded by other factors like crime and drug use, but they are there.

4- The church has its own’s issues with race. I think it was Graham who said Sunday is the most segregated day of the week, and he is right. What can we each do to reach out to out black brothers and sisters?

5- While recognizing the hard work of our police forces, realize that in far too many places poor black communities are over-policed in the sense that minor offenses are used to justify a search for drugs and other evidence. This leads to distrust in the police.

6- Reconsider key elements of the war on drugs. While drug use is illegal and needs to be opposed, we instead put huge effort into preventing supply rather than defeating demand. The result has been a disproportionate negative impact on POC (people of color) and the black community in particular.

7- Voting: In some places there are disproportionately fewer polling stations in black communities than in white ones. Why is this?

These are simply a few things to consider.

One thing that I think is overlooked in racial discussion is the effect of racism teaching in black culture. Growing up hearing (often from white people) how white people are out to get you has negative effects on black people. Not to mention the fact that “race” is not a biblical concept to be begin with.

I also find “systemic” to be unclear. Why not just say racism? To me, it’s a way to broad bush without defining what is actually meant.

[josh p]

One thing that I think is overlooked in racial discussion is the effect of racism teaching in black culture. Growing up hearing (often from white people) how white people are out to get you has negative effects on black people. Not to mention the fact that “race” is not a biblical concept to be begin with.

I also find “systemic” to be unclear. Why not just say racism? To me, it’s a way to broad bush without defining what is actually meant.

W.E.B. Du Bois called that the “shadow” that blacks grow up in, being told they are “the problem” America has to deal with.

As opposed to the “shadow” whites are growing up in now, being told they are “the problem” America has to deal with?

Whatever solutions one might propose, the approach of our current culture isn’t helping.

[pvawter]

As opposed to the “shadow” whites are growing up in now, being told they are “the problem” America has to deal with?

Whatever solutions one might propose, the approach of our current culture isn’t helping.

How about this, help blacks and others to have the same privileges you have had…

Look, I’m not saying everything CRT claims is valid. I am saying a lot is and America systematically oppressed and still oppresses in many ways “people of color”. We can start by acknowledging that when the Declaration of Independence was signed, claiming to be dedicated to the principle that all men were created equal, that millions were enslaved. That condition continued for almost 100 years. Then, when slavery was outlawed, corrupt men, many claiming to be Christians, twisted the laws to keep black Americans from gaining too much wealth and power. Its as simple as that.

Mark

[pvawter]

As opposed to the “shadow” whites are growing up in now, being told they are “the problem” America has to deal with?

Whatever solutions one might propose, the approach of our current culture isn’t helping.

I’m not sure those are mutually exclusive. Isn’t it possible that black people have lived under a misguided white paternalism AND whites are now blamed for all sorts of social evils? To me, it’s the same backward thinking that motivates both.

Might be good to list some ways that many of us could agree black people are indeed oppressed—really any poor minorities.

1. As social programs incentivize them to eschew work and marriage

2. As our goverment makes it more difficult for them to get good schooling via charter schools and vouchers.

3. As our goverment enacts consent decrees with schools and police forces, they make life more dangerous in poor minority communities.

4. As our goverment through food aid programs contributes to poor health by high calorie, high fat foods in SNAP, WIC, and school lunches.

5. As the failure to adequately police poor, minority communities makes it difficult to impossible for minorities to find jobs, grocery stores, and the like.