Politico, which won’t soon be mistaken for a right-wing outlet, published a 2,200-word report Monday showing that ongoing discontent over critical race theory (CRT) isn’t confined to conservative-leaning precincts.
In reality, parents across the political and racial spectrum have qualms about what’s occurring in public schools, including the recent push for using CRT’s controversial tenets in curricula.
Among those who’ve heard of CRT, 53 percent strongly disapprove, while only 23 percent strongly approve.
Yet most Democrats insist that opposition to CRT comes almost solely from Republican activists who misrepresent what it means or, according to one radical congresswoman, are flat-out racists.
Left-wing proponents of CRT must grapple with the reality that it isn’t only conservatives who have a problem with their costly and divisive program.
These partisans misunderstand the nation’s anger and underestimate parents’ knowledge of the racist plans.
Objections to new “equity” plans extend to many moderate liberal voters, according to Politico’s interviews with school board members and political operatives in and around Washington, D.C., South Florida, and suburban Detroit, New York City and Phoenix.
Since these regions all lean left, parents in these areas disrupt the progressive narrative about who is getting upset over CRT.
Sartell, Minnesota, recently received international coverage over what their school board is denying, as have assorted communities from rural Minnesota and Arizona to San Diego and San Francisco.
In wealthy northern Virginia, six members of the local school board are facing recall elections. The response from local school officials to any opposition? “Let them die” or “That’s another right-wing conspiracy. This is totally made up,” per Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe.
In addition to complaints about curricula becoming too radical, parents in suburban areas are concerned about science-denying school closures and misguided, diversity-obsessed school boards.
Many parents are equally upset that their protestations are dismissed as simply not wanting students to learn about racism.
“I don’t think we would think that educating the youth and next and future leaders of the country on systemic racism is indoctrination,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who’s been flippant about other serious racial matters in the Biden Education Department, recently said.
But honest reportage has found that since this controversy first arose, no one is complaining about CRT because they prefer students not to learn about slavery or racism. In fact, that’s probably been the most well-covered aspect of American history for generations.
The claim is a strawman for people who don’t understand CRT or prefer a strong ideological agenda over proper education.
Most educators can’t tell you what CRT is, but they want it, because it sounds good.
Objections and lawsuits are raised by well-informed people with true stories of being punished for speaking out, and they want change in a school system flush with money that still lags behind most of the world.
“CRT was pushed right along side by side with defund the police. It just took a little bit of paying attention to it,” The Spectator’s Steven Miller tweeted. “With sunshine, it’s toxic.”
Famous Democrat consultant James Carville understands, but will anyone listen to the 76-year-old?
Instead they likely follow Twitter mobs and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Whether it’s CRT, capitalism or police funding, she is now an embarrassing one-trick pony, essentially yelling, “this does not mean what it means; it means what I say it means.”
A.J. Kaufman
A.J. Kaufman is an Alpha News columnist. His work has appeared in the Baltimore Sun, Florida Sun-Sentinel, Indianapolis Star, Israel National News, Orange County Register, St. Cloud Times, Star-Tribune, and across AIM Media Midwest and the Internet. Kaufman previously worked as a school teacher and military historian.
