The Marxist Critical Race Theory uses “Critical Theories” to “urge revolution in societies against traditional values”. The “Black Lives Matter” movement is part of the fruit that has sprung from CRT. CRT has built its foundation on the rejection of Christianity, post-modernism, relativism, and Marxism. Attorney Stephen C. Coughlin, a retired US Army officer, expert in communism, and adviser to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff in 2001, said CRT is the ‘purest form of Marxism’.
Critical Race Theory (known simply as “CRT”) has caused upheaval across much of the nation over the spring and summer with most conservatives highly upset over its controversial beliefs which overturn traditional history as taught in schools, universities and even in government settings.
Considered by many to be Marxist-based, CRT states that much of traditional teaching and political thought in America is based on systemic racism which wrongly portrays our society only with Caucasian principles and creates unfair discrimination toward African Americans. Karl Marx, the father of Communism, touted “Critical Theories” to urge revolution in societies against traditional values much as CRT does based on racial divides, which has frightened many parents and also government officials across the U.S.
What North Carolina’s House Bill 324 Says
North Carolina’s Legislative Assembly took steps in early September to stop CRT teaching in its public schools with a bill passed by both its state House and Senate groups. Known as the “Enduring Dignity and Nondiscrimination in Schools Act” (House Bill 324), it has many CRT supporters angry with its passing.
House Bill 324 lists 13 tenets which shall NOT be promoted in public schools in North Carolina. These include:
(1) “One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex.”
(2) “An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive.”
(3) “An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex.
(4) “ An individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex.”
(5) “An individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex.”
(6) “Any individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress.”
(7) “A meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist.”
(8) “The United States was created by members of a particular race or sex for the purpose of oppressing members of another race or sex.”
(9) “The United States government should be violently overthrown.”
(10) “Particular character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs should be ascribed to a race or sex or to an individual because of the individual’s race or sex.”
(11) “The rule of law does not exist, but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups.”
(12) “All Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
(13) “Governments should deny to any person within the jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.”
In addition to these basic tenets of the law, the bill also requires schools to notify the Department of Public Instruction and post on its school website the curriculum, reading lists, workshops and training as well as any contracts with speakers and diversity trainers they do or will utilize. This gives school systems a greater transparency with communities and parents who are increasingly concerned about what their children are being taught in schools.
The Next Step—Governor’s Approval in NC
NC Democrat Governor Roy Cooper
The passing of House Bill 324 in the North Carolina General Assembly involved “heated and emotional debate” as reported by staff of the Charlotte Observer newspaper (Dawn Vaughan, “NC’s anti-CRT bill bars ‘promotion’ of 13 concepts,” Charlotte Observer, Sep 3 2021). Republican supporters of the pending bill “repeatedly asked Democratic opponents to focus on the language in the bill itself,” the story states.
The vote in the NC House and Senate was entirely following party lines, with all Republicans voting “For” the bill and all Democrats voting “Against” it.
The bill was passed by the Senate on September 3, and has been sent to Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat, for signing. It was expected that he would likely veto the bill in line with his party’s votes. On Friday, September 10, NC Governor Cooper, vetoed HB324, as was expected. The bill was touted as one which would have stopped discrimination in the classroom.
South Carolina’s Efforts to Ban CRT
Rep. Bobby Cox
As reported previously, in South Carolina, three bills to stop the teaching of CRT are being considered by the state Legislature, though no action is likely to occur on this before next January, according to one of the bills’ sponsors, Representative Sandy McGarry (District 44, Republican).
The bill she co-sponsored along with SC Representative Bobby Cox is entitled H4325 and is pending in the S.C. House Education and Public Works Committee at present. It amends SC1976 with a new section (59-29-12) to provide that “public school districts, public schools and public institutions of higher learning may NOT direct or otherwise compel students to personally affirm, adopt or adhere to the tenets of “Critical Race Theory” or provide related instruction and define necessary terminology” (SC Laws on-line).
National Push Against CRT
On May 12, a pair of bills gained national attention when introduced in the US House. NC Representative Dan Bishop represented a group of 30 Republican representatives in sponsoring a bill calling for a ban on CRT training for federal employees and is called the STOP CRT Act. It is a companion bill to legislation introduced by Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas to prohibit teaching of “Anti-American and racist theories” such as Critical Race Theory at any academic institution related to the Armed Forces. Rep. Bishop has called Critical Race Theory a “dangerous ideology that poisons our society.”
A number of other states are also considering or have passed some type of legislation to ban or curtail the teaching of Critical Race Theory in their local schools across the U.S. In some districts, parents have expressed great anger with local school boards and officials, and heated arguments have taken place.
Lisa Carol Rudisill, M.T.S., is a magna cum laud graduate of NC State University and Liberty University where she earned a Master of Theology. She writes novels about her family history during the Civil War in North and South Carolina. She is a freelance writer, editorialist and a contributor to The Standard newspaper.
Please “like”, comment, share with a friend, and donate to support The Standard on this page. Become a Patron!
Click the QR Code below to donate any amount.
RSS - Posts