♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO "LAST WEEK TONIGHT!"
I'M JOHN OLIVER, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR JOINING US.
WE ARE BACK, AND SADLY, NO TIME
TO GO INTO EVERYTHING WE'VE
MISSED.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO GET
INTO NEWS FROM THIS WEEK, FROM
THE QUEEN GETTING COVID TO
PUTIN CONTINUING HIS WHOLE
"WILL HE-WON'T HE" ACT ABOUT
INVADING UKRAINE.
INSTEAD, WE'RE GOING TO START IN
CANADA.
IT IS VERY MUCH THE SANTA CLAUS
OF COUNTRIES IN THAT IT'S JOLLY,
NORTHERN, AND ABSOLUTELY FILLED
WITH REINDEER JIZZ.
OH, WE'RE FUCKING BACK.
OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS,
CANADA'S CAPITAL HAS
HAD ITS DOWNTOWN BESIEGED BY
PROTESTORS.
>> OTTAWA BECOMES A GLOBAL FRONT
LINE OF FRUSTRATION OVER VACCINE
RESTRICTIONS.
HUNDREDS OF TRUCKS ARE
BLOCKADING THE AREA AROUND
PARLIAMENT.
>> WE'RE SITTING HERE JUST
BECAUSE WE THINK WE'RE DOING THE
RIGHT THING HERE.
>> John: OKAY.
HERE'S THE THING ABOUT THAT,
SOMETIMES, SITTING IN YOUR CAR
IS "DOING THE RIGHT THING," LIKE
IF YOU'RE WAITING FOR YOUR
McFLURRY, OR DROPPING OFF YOUR
KID'S BASEBALL GLOVE, OR
SCREAMING IN A TRADER JOE'S
PARKING LOT BECAUSE THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR ONE HOUR
ALONE AND YOU HAD TO SPEND IT
GOING TO GET THAT FUCKING GLOVE
EVEN THOUGH YOU ASKED BRENDAN
THREE TIMES IF HE HAD IT BEFORE
YOU LEFT THE HOUSE AND IF YOU
DON'T JUST SIT HERE FOR A
MINUTE, YOU MIGHT DO A MURDER.
AND I WILL SAY, BROADLY, THERE
IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CIVIL
DISOBEDIENCE.
IT'S OFTEN THE MOST POWERFUL WAY
TO BRING ABOUT CHANGE.
BUT OCCUPYING A CAPITAL CITY
FOR NEARLY A MONTH OVER
OBJECTIONS TO VACCINE MANDATES
FOR TRUCKERS -- ESPECIALLY WHEN
BOTH THE CANADIAN TRUCKING
ALLIANCE AND ONTARIO TRUCKING
ASSOCIATION HAVE DISAVOWED THE
PROTESTS, AND ROUGHLY 90% OF
TRUCK DRIVERS HAVE RECEIVED
THEIR VACCINES -- FEELS AT BEST
AN OVER-RESPONSE.
AND IT SURE SEEMS LIKE THERE'S
MORE GOING ON HERE, BECAUSE THE
PROTESTORS ARE NOW DEMANDING AN
END TO ALL COVID RESTRICTIONS
NATIONWIDE AND THE RESIGNATION
OF PRIME MINISTER
JUSTIN TRUDEAU.
AND THEY'VE BEEN CHEERED ON BY
U.S. CONSERVATIVES, WITH FOX
DEVOTING NUMEROUS SEGMENTS TO
APPROVING COVERAGE OF THEM, AND
ONE OF THE CONVOY'S LEADERS,
PAT KING, BEING INTERVIEWED BY
STU VARNEY.
BUT IT IS WORTH NOTING THAT SOME
OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THIS
PROTEST HAVE STRONG VIEWS ABOUT
ISSUES OTHER THAN COVID
MANDATES.
ONE OF THE CONVOY'S DE FACTO
SPOKESPEOPLE HAS BEEN
TAMARA LICH, WHO HAS TIES TO
FAR-RIGHT GROUPS IN CANADA AND
HAS BEEN A LEADER WITHIN THE
"WEXIT" MOVEMENT -- WHICH, I
KNOW, SOUNDS LIKE THE OFFICIAL
CAMPAIGN TO HAVE WESTIES REFUSE
TO PARTICIPATE IN
THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW AFTER
YEARS OF BEING UNJUSTLY
OVERLOOKED -- BUT ACTUALLY
IT REFERS TO A WESTERN
SEPARATIST MOVEMENT THAT'S
CALLED FOR CANADA'S PRAIRIE
PROVINCES TO SECEDE.
QUICK FUN SIDE NOTE: LICH ALSO
SINGS WITH A BAND CALLED
BLIND MONDAY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR THEM
PERFORM?
WELL, TOO FUCKING BAD.
YOU'RE GOING TO.
>> ♪ GET UP, COME ON, GET DOWN
WITH THE SICKNESS ♪
♪ YOU MOTHER, GET UP, COME ON,
GET DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS ♪
♪ YOU FUCKER, GET UP, COME ON,
GET DOWN WITH THE SICKNESS ♪
♪ MADNESS IS THE GIFT, THAT HAS
BEEN GIVEN TO ME ♪
>> John: COOL.
BUT I WILL SAY THIS, IT'S HARD
TO THINK OF A SONG MORE
THEMATICALLY APPROPRIATE TO HER
CAUSE THAN "GET DOWN WITH THE
SICKNESS," EXCEPT FOR, MAYBE,
"MY HEART WILL GO ON," IN THAT
IT'S BOTH CANADIAN AND
INEXTRICABLY LINKED WITH
COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE TRAGEDY.
NOW, AS FOR PAT KING, THE GUY
WHO FOX EXCITEDLY INTERVIEWED
THIS WEEK, YOU DON'T NEED TO
LOOK DEEP INTO HIS PAST TO FIND
SOME PRETTY INFLAMMATORY VIEWS:
>> WHAT THERE IS IS THERE'S AN
ENDGAME.
IT'S CALLED DEPOPULATION OF THE
CAUCASIAN RACE OR THE
ANGLO-SAXON.
AND THAT'S WHAT THE GOAL IS, IS
TO DEPOPULATE THE ANGLO-SAXON
RACE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES
WITH THE STRONGEST BLOODLINES.
AND WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT
BECAUSE THEN WE GET INTO A WHOLE
DIFFERENT TOPIC.
>> John: HOLY SHIT.
THERE IS A LOT GOING ON THERE,
NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS THAT
YOU'RE ABOUT TO
BRING THE ANGLO-SAXON NUMBERS
DOWN BY AT LEAST ONE, PAT, IF
YOU DON'T KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE
FUCKING ROAD THERE.
BUT ALSO, LET'S JUST
ACKNOWLEDGE,
"STRONGEST BLOODLINE" IS A
REMARKABLY BOLD CLAIM FROM A MAN
WHO LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE IS SLOWLY
POISONING GUY FIERI.
NOW, IN RECENT DAYS, POLICE HAVE
BEEN ARRESTING PROTESTORS AND
CLEARING BLOCKADES.
SO THE PROTEST MAY ACTUALLY BE
WINDING DOWN.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE COVID IN
THE UNVACCINATED, SOME OF THE
IDEAS BEHIND IT ARE MASSIVELY
INFECTIOUS.
THERE IS TALK OF A U.S. VERSION
OF IT HAPPENING, AND COPYCAT
PROTESTS HAVE ALREADY TAKEN
PLACE IN FRANCE, AUSTRALIA, AND
NEW ZEALAND, WHERE THEY HAD A
NOVEL WAY OF TRYING TO CLEAR THE
OBSTRUCTION.
>> LINES OF VEHICLES ROLLED INTO
NEW ZEALAND'S CAPITAL CITY LAST
WEEK, BLOCKING STREETS NEAR
PARLIAMENT, SOME PROTESTORS
OFFICIALS IN NEW ZEALAND USING
SOFTER TACTICS TO TRY AND GET
PEOPLE TO MOVE ON, PLAYING SONGS
FROM LOUDSPEAKERS LIKE
"YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL" FROM
JAMES BLUNT AND MUSIC FROM
DISNEY MOVIES, EVEN
BARRY MANILOW.
>> John: OH, COME ON,
NEW ZEALAND, PLAYING JAMES BLUNT
AND BARRY MANILOW ISN'T GOING TO
CUT IT.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE ON
PEOPLE THIS ANGRY WITH THE
ACTIONS OF A BAD WEDDING DJ.
BESIDES, WE ALL NOW KNOW, IF YOU
REALLY WANT TO GET A CROWD TO
DISPERSE, YOU DON'T GO WITH
DISNEY OR JAMES BLUNT.
TAKE IT FROM ME, YOU GO WITH THE
ONLY SONG GUARANTEED TO CLEAR A
ROOM.
AND IT'S THIS.
>> ♪ GET UP, COME ON, GET DOWN
WITH THE SICKNESS ♪
>> John: EXACTLY.
100% SUCCESSFUL.
AND NOW, THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW,
THE EXISTENTIAL DESPAIR OF
ABC3 MORNING NEWS.
>> 4:30 IN THE MORNING.
LET'S GET THIS DAY TOGETHER.
GOOD MORNING, I'M JARED WILLIS.
>> THAT WAS A LOT OF PRESSURE.
"LET'S GET THIS DAY TOGETHER."
>> OKAY.
>> LET'S JUST GET INTO THIS DAY.
>> [SIGHS]
EVERY NOW AND THEN, LAURA, I
WIND UP IN THE ATTIC AND THERE
HANGING ON A POST IS MY
MOTORCYCLE JACKET,
CLASSIC LEATHER, CLASSIC
STYLING, I LOOK AT IT
AND I SIGH.
[SIGHS]
CHRONIC PAIN, MY FRIENDS, IS NO
JOKE.
BUT LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT ME.
>> FORFEITING.
SOUND FUNNY?
YOU MIGHT FORFEIT.
NOBODY WANTS TO GO THAT ROUTE.
>> NO, NO.
>> NO.
>> [SIGHS]
[SIGHS]
ALL RIGHT.
YOU OKAY?
>> FINE.
WHAT A LOVELY ENCLOSURE THEY
HAVE, DON'T YOU THINK?
>> YEAH.
OH, YOU KNOW, EVEN A PRETTY CAGE
IS A CAGE, LAURA.
>> LOOK AT THAT FACE.
ALL RIGHT, YOU MAY START YOUR
WEDNESDAY NOW WITH A SMILE.
>> [CHUCKLES]
>> BABY ANIMALS.
>> I'M SMILING.
I ALWAYS LIKE IT WHEN YOU IGNORE
ME, LAURA, THAT'S NICE.
>> THAT IS, ISN'T IT?
>> YEAH, I LIKE IT.
OKAY.
PEOPLE AT HOME LIKE IT AS WELL.
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
SCHOOL.
IT'S THE ONLY SETTING IN WHICH A
CHILD DISSECTING A FROG IS NOT
AN IMMEDIATE RED FLAG.
WE TEACH KIDS A LOT IN SCHOOL,
FROM READING TO LONG DIVISION TO
HOW TO PLAY THE FUCKING RECORDER
FOR SOME REASON.
BUT RECENTLY, THERE'S BEEN A LOT
OF CONCERN OVER ONE PARTICULAR
THING THAT PEOPLE WORRY THAT
KIDS ARE LEARNING.
>> CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS BEING
TAUGHT IN OUR SCHOOLS.
CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS BUNK.
>> CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS A
LIE.
FROM THE FIRST WORD TO THE LAST.
FROM START TO FINISH.
>> RACIST CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
>> CRITICAL RACE THEORY.
>> CRITICAL RACE THEORY IN THE
SCHOOLS AND THE WOKENESS.
>> LET ME TELL YOU RIGHT NOW,
CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS BIGOTED,
IT IS A LIE, AND IT IS EVERY BIT
AS RACIST AS THE KLANSMEN IN
WHITE SHEETS.
>> John: I DO NOT LIKE THAT
TED CRUZ MAN.
I DO NOT LIKE HIM SHOUTING
"KLAN."
I DO NOT LIKE HIM IN A ROOM.
I DO NOT LIKE HIM IN CANCUN.
I DO NOT LIKE HIM PLAYING BALL.
I DO NOT LIKE HIS FACE AT ALL.
I WISH HE'D LOSE HIS CUSHY JOB.
THAT MAN TED CRUZ IS A FUCKING
KNOB.
BUT HERE'S THE THING, IT IS
TRUE, YOU HAVE PROBABLY HEARD
PEOPLE YELLING ABOUT CRITICAL
RACE THEORY ON TV FOR MORE THAN
A YEAR NOW.
AND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LISTENING
TO THAT NOISE, ESPECIALLY
JUDGING BY WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING
AT SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS ACROSS
THE COUNTRY.
[PEOPLE SHOUTING]
>> THE WESTERN CULTURE THAT
BROUGHT FORTH CHRISTIANITY AND
THE FOUNDING DOCUMENTS ARE BEING
CALLED EVIL AND RACIST.
>> I AM NOT CO-PARENTING WITH
THE GOVERNMENT.
IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO FORCE
THESE IDEAS ONTO MY CHILD.
>> THE NARRATIVE IN THIS COUNTRY
IS THAT WE'RE ALL INHERENTLY
RACIST, AND I'M ABOUT SICK OF
IT.
>> IT'S A MARXIST IDEOLOGY AND
WE ALL KNOW IT.
>> ALL OF THESE LESSONS HAVE THE
INTENT TO MAKE OUR CHILDREN FEEL
DISGUST TOWARDS OUR NATION.
>> THIS COUNTRY ISN'T EVEN A
RACIST COUNTRY.
WE ELECTED OBAMA FOR TWO TERMS.
>> John: WAIT, HOLD ON, HOLD ON.
AMERICA CAN'T BE RACIST BECAUSE
OF OBAMA?
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU REMEMBER THE
2008 ELECTION, BUT THINGS GOT
PRETTY RACIST BACK THEN.
PEOPLE KEPT SAYING HE WAS BORN
IN KENYA, PEOPLE SAID HE WAS A
SECRET MUSLIM, AND THEN A FEW
YEARS LATER, WE ELECTED THAT
PEOPLE PRESIDENT.
SO LET'S JUST AGREE TO DISAGREE
ON THAT ONE, SHALL WE?
THAT FIRST MEETING WAS IN
LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA, AND
THE MEETING GOT SO OUT OF HAND
THAT IT WAS SHUT DOWN EARLY, AND
AN GUY WAS ARRESTED
FOR TRESPASSING, ONLY TO POP UP
ON "TUCKER CARLSON" THE VERY
NEXT DAY.
SO CLEARLY A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE
VERY MAD ABOUT CRITICAL RACE
THEORY RIGHT NOW.
AND INSTINCTIVELY, YOU PROBABLY
KNOW IT'S A MANUFACTURED PANIC.
BUT THE FACT IS, THE FEAR AROUND
IT IS HAVING REAL EFFECTS.
LAST YEAR, GLENN YOUNGKIN WON
THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN VIRGINIA
AFTER REPEATEDLY PROMISING THAT
ON HIS FIRST DAY IN OFFICE HE'D
BAN CRT FROM BEING TAUGHT IN
SCHOOLS.
MULTIPLE STATES HAVE PASSED LAWS
OUTLAWING THE TEACHING OF IT.
AND REPUBLICANS ARE LIKELY TO
MAKE IT A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE
MIDTERMS.
WHEN IT COMES TO CRITICAL RACE
THEORY, THINK OF IT LIKE
RIHANNA'S PREGNANCY.
EVEN IF YOU THINK IT HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH YOU, BELIEVE ME,
YOU'RE GOING TO BE HEARING ABOUT
IT A LOT THIS YEAR.
SO GIVEN THAT, WE THOUGHT
TONIGHT WE'D TAKE A STEP BACK
AND LOOK AT WHAT CRITICAL RACE
THEORY IS AND ISN'T, WHY THE
PANIC AROUND IT HAS SPREAD, AND
WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES MIGHT BE
FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED.
AND I REALIZE SOME OF YOU MAY
ALREADY KNOW WHAT CRT IS.
AFTER ALL, EXPLAINERS ON IT HAVE
BECOME ONE OF THE MOST COMMON
SIGHTS ON THE INTERNET, ALONG
WITH MEDIOCRE WORDLE SCORES AND
UGLY MONKEY JPEGs SOLD BY AND
FOR DIPSHITS.
BUT MANY ARE STILL VERY
CONFUSED.
A RECENT SURVEY FOUND THAT AN
OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF U.S.
RESIDENTS HAVE A HARD TIME
ARTICULATING EXACTLY WHAT
CRT IS.
AND THAT EVEN GOES FOR SOME OF
THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN YELLING
ABOUT IT THE LOUDEST.
>> I -- I'VE NEVER FIGURED OUT
WHAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS, TO
BE TOTALLY HONEST, AFTER A YEAR
OF TALKING ABOUT IT.
THEY ARE TEACHING THAT SOME
RACES ARE MORALLY SUPERIOR TO
OTHERS, THAT SOME ARE INHERENTLY
SINFUL AND SOME ARE INHERENTLY
SAINTLY, AND THAT'S IMMORAL TO
TEACH THAT 'CAUSE IT'S WRONG.
>> John: WOW.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER SEEN A
PERSON CONFIDENTLY COMPLAIN
ABOUT SOMETHING JUST SECONDS
AFTER ADMITTING THEY DIDN'T KNOW
SHIT ABOUT IT.
"LOOK, I'VE NEVER FIGURED OUT
HOW A CAR ENGINE WORKS, TO BE
HONEST, BUT THERE'S A CHIMPANZEE
UNDER THE HOOD TURNING A CRANK,
AND WHEN YOU PRESS THE
ACCELERATOR, IT POKES HIM WITH A
SHARP STICK AND MAKES HIM CRANK
FASTER, AND IT'S IMMORAL TO DO
THAT BECAUSE IT'S WRONG."
BUT OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS NOT WHAT
CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS.
IT'S THE NAME GIVEN TO A BODY OF
LEGAL SCHOLARSHIP THAT BEGAN IN
THE 1970s THAT ATTEMPTED TO
UNDERSTAND WHY RACISM AND
INEQUALITY PERSISTED AFTER THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
THE CORE IDEA IS THAT RACISM IS
NOT MERELY THE PRODUCT OF
INDIVIDUAL BIAS OR PREJUDICE BUT
ALSO SOMETHING THAT IS EMBEDDED
IN LEGAL SYSTEMS AND POLICIES.
AS FOR TUCKER'S NOTION THAT IT
TEACHES THAT SOME RACES ARE
SUPERIOR TO OTHERS -- OR THAT
PARENT'S CLAIM THAT IT TEACHES
KIDS TO HATE AMERICA --
NONE OF THAT IS REMOTELY TRUE,
AS KIMBERLE CRENSHAW, ONE OF
CRT'S LEADING SCHOLARS POINTS
OUT.
>> CRITICAL RACE THEORY JUST
SAYS, LET'S PAY ATTENTION TO
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN THIS
COUNTRY AND HOW WHAT HAS
HAPPENED IN THIS COUNTRY IS
CONTINUING TO CREATE
DIFFERENTIAL OUTCOMES SO WE CAN
BECOME THAT COUNTRY THAT WE SAY
WE ARE.
SO CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS NOT
ANTI-PATRIOTIC.
IN FACT, IT IS MORE PATRIOTIC
THAN THOSE WHO ARE OPPOSED
TO IT.
BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE 13TH
AND THE 14TH AND THE 15TH
AMENDMENT.
WE BELIEVE IN THE PROMISES OF
EQUALITY, AND WE KNOW WE CAN'T
GET THERE IF WE CAN'T CONFRONT
AND TALK HONESTLY ABOUT
INEQUALITY.
>> John: YEAH, SHE'S RIGHT.
AND INCIDENTALLY, IF YOU'VE JUST
FOUND YOURSELF THERE WONDERING
WHAT THE 13TH, 14TH, AND 15TH
AMENDMENTS ARE, THAT ALONE MIGHT
BE A GOOD SIGN WE DON'T TALK
ABOUT THIS STUFF IN SCHOOLS
ENOUGH.
AND TO BE CLEAR, CRT IS
GRADUATE-LEVEL LEGAL THEORY, SO
UNLESS YOUR FIVE-YEAR-OLD IS
CURRENTLY PURSUING A LAW DEGREE,
THEY'RE NOT READING
KIMBERLE CRENSHAW.
BUT CRITICS OF IT ARGUE THAT THE
IDEAS BEHIND CRT ARE BEING
TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AND OFTEN
PRESENT A HYPERBOLICALLY
DISTORTED VERSION OF WHAT THOSE
IDEAS ARE.
AND A KEY PERSON HERE IS THIS
MAN, A CONSERVATIVE ACTIVIST
NAMED CHRISTOPHER RUFO.
HE CLAIMS CRT IS ACTUALLY
"A REVOLUTIONARY PROGRAM THAT
WOULD OVERTURN THE PRINCIPLES OF
THE DECLARATION AND DESTROY THE
REMAINING STRUCTURE OF THE
CONSTITUTION."
WHICH IT JUST ISN'T.
IT ISN'T THAT.
BUT IN THE WAKE OF THE
GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS, JUST AS
AMERICA WAS BEGINNING TO GRAPPLE
WITH SYSTEMIC RACISM, FOX NEWS
BEGAN FEATURING RUFO ON AIR A
LOT AS PART OF THEIR EFFORTS TO
SWING THAT PENDULUM BACK HARD.
IN ONE APPEARANCE, HE POINTED TO
DIVERSITY TRAININGS IN
GOVERNMENT AS EVIDENCE OF CRT'S
INFLUENCE AND HE SPOKE DIRECTLY
TO PRESIDENT TRUMP THROUGH THE
CAMERA ABOUT WHAT HE WANTED TO
SEE HAPPEN.
>> THE PRESIDENT OF THE
WHITE HOUSE, IT'S WITHIN THEIR
AUTHORITY AND POWER TO
IMMEDIATELY ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER ABOLISHING CRITICAL RACE
THEORY TRAININGS FROM THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND I CALL ON THE PRESIDENT TO
IMMEDIATELY ISSUE THIS EXECUTIVE
ORDER AND -- AND STAMP OUT THIS
DESTRUCTIVE, DIVISIVE,
PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC IDEOLOGY AT ITS
ROOT.
>> John: NOW, DID TRUMP SEE
THAT?
I DUNNO.
IS THE POPE A CATHOLIC?
IS THE REASON BIG DIED THE FACT
THAT CARRIE DIDN'T CALL 911 FAST
ENOUGH?
THE ANSWER TO ALL THOSE
QUESTIONS IS YES, AND ALSO,
SHE WAS RIGHT NOT TO DO IT.
NO BIG LOSS.
BECAUSE MARK MEADOWS, TRUMP'S
CHIEF OF STAFF, HAS SINCE
REVEALED PRESIDENT TRUMP SAW
THAT INTERVIEW, AND WHEN RUFO
SAID, "I CALL ON THE PRESIDENT
TO IMMEDIATELY ISSUE THIS
EXECUTIVE ORDER," QUOTE,
"THAT'S WHAT WE DID."
WHICH IS WEIRD.
THERE SHOULD BE MORE STEPS THAN
THAT.
IT SHOULDN'T JUST GO, ONE, YELL
YOUR WISH AT THE PRESIDENT,
THEN, TWO, IT HAPPENS.
IDEALLY YOU WANT AN EXECUTIVE
BRANCH THAT'S A LITTLE MORE
COMPLICATED THAN FUCKING SIRI.
AND WITH THAT, CRT -- OR,
CRUCIALLY, RUFO'S DEFINITION OF
IT -- WAS SUDDENLY ABSOLUTELY
EVERYWHERE.
FOX NEWS KEPT PUSHING IT,
MENTIONING THE TERM "CRITICAL
RACE THEORY" NEARLY 5,000 TIMES
LAST YEAR ALONE, AND THE NETWORK
ZEROED IN ON ITS SUPPOSED USE IN
SCHOOLS, WITH RUFO TELLING FOX'S
AUDIENCE THAT CRT HAS "REALLY
BECOME THE DEFAULT IDEOLOGY OF
THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM."
AND WHAT RUFO HAS BEEN CLEVERLY
DOING IS CHERRY-PICKING THE
WORST EXAMPLES HE CAN FIND OF
LESSONS IN CLASSROOMS OR
TRAINING MATERIALS FOR TEACHERS,
AND SAYING, "THAT IS CRT."
AND HE'S OPENLY ADMITTED THAT
HE'S BEEN ENGAGED IN A
DELIBERATE BRANDING EXERCISE,
TWEETING, "WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY
FROZEN THEIR BRAND -- 'CRITICAL
RACE THEORY' -- INTO THE PUBLIC
CONVERSATION AND ARE STEADILY
DRIVING UP NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS.
THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE PUBLIC
READ SOMETHING CRAZY IN THE
NEWSPAPER AND IMMEDIATELY THINK
'CRITICAL RACE THEORY.'"
AND THE THING IS, IT FUCKING
WORKED.
BECAUSE WHENEVER YOU HEAR "CRT"
NOW, YOU ARE NOT HEARING ABOUT
THE ACADEMIC DISCIPLINE.
YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT A CATEGORY
SO BROAD IT ENCOMPASSES BOTH
"THE CRAZIEST THING IN THE
NEWSPAPER" AND ALSO, CRUCIALLY,
"ANY CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE
THAT SOMEONE DOES NOT WANT TO
HAVE."
AND LOOK, I'M NOT SAYING
DISCUSSING RACE IN A CLASSROOM
IS EASY OR EVEN ALWAYS DONE
WELL.
EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD WILL
READILY ADMIT THAT.
>> NOW, HAVE YOU SEEN BAD
IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THIS?
>> OF COURSE, RIGHT?
THAT'S LIKE ASKING, HAVE I SEEN
A BAD MATH LESSON?
[CHUCKLES]
LIKE, YES, TEACHERS ARE HUMANS,
ESPECIALLY AS WE'RE TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT HOW TO TEACH ABOUT
RACE AND RACISM.
>> John: EXACTLY, TEACHERS ARE
HUMAN AND CAN MAKE MISTAKES.
FRANKLY, I'M SURPRISED THEY
DON'T MAKE MORE.
THEY WAKE UP INSANELY EARLY AND
SPEND ALL DAY GETTING LOW-KEY
ROASTED BY TEENAGERS FOR AN
AMOUNT OF MONEY BEST DESCRIBED
AS "COMPLETELY HARROWING."
THE VERY FACT ANY STUDENT IN
AMERICA KNOWS WHAT A COVALENT
BOND IS IS A FUCKING MIRACLE,
AND EVERY ADULT INVOLVED
DESERVES THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL
OF HONOR.
AND THE FACT IS, YOU CAN FIND
EXAMPLES OF CLUMSY, SHITTY
LESSONS.
ONE SCHOOL USED A
"PRIVILEGE BINGO" CARD, WHICH
SURE SEEMS LIKE A GLIB WAY TO
HANDLE A VERY SERIOUS SUBJECT.
ANOTHER CLASSIC LESSON OVER THE
YEARS HAS BEEN TO TEACH ABOUT
PREJUDICE METAPHORICALLY BY
DIVIDING A CLASSROOM UP BY
EYE COLOR, WITH BROWN EYES
PEOPLE, FOR INSTANCE, BEING THE
LOWEST TIER, AND THEN BEING
TREATED TERRIBLY.
AND IF YOU DO THAT IN A DIVERSE
CLASSROOM AND THINK FOR A SECOND
ABOUT WHO'S MORE LIKELY TO HAVE
BROWN EYES, YOU CAN PROBABLY
IMMEDIATELY SEE JUST HOW BADLY
THAT LESSON COULD GO.
THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN AT
LEAST ONE SCHOOL IN THE CHICAGO
AREA, AND THE REASON I KNOW THAT
IS THAT THIS KID WAS IN THE
CLASS THAT DAY, AND SHE'S ONE OF
OUR WRITERS NOW.
ALI, WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THAT
LESSON?
>> IT WAS PRETTY FUCKED UP.
>> John: YEAH!
YEAH, I BET IT WAS!
BUT THE FACT IS, MANY EDUCATORS
ARE CURRENTLY WORKING VERY HARD
TO FIND AGE-APPROPRIATE WAYS TO
TALK ABOUT RACE AND RACISM IN
THE CLASSROOM.
AND IF YOU DO IT RIGHT, YOU
DON'T STOP AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT, YOU TELL THE STORY ALL
THE WAY TO THE PRESENT DAY,
WHICH KIDS WANT AND NEED.
THEY HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT
THEY CAN SEE WITH THEIR OWN
EYES, AND THEY DESERVE GOOD
ANSWERS.
AND IT IS FRANKLY FAR BETTER FOR
THEM TO HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS
IN A SUPPORTIVE EDUCATIONAL
ENVIRONMENT RATHER THAN THE
POTENTIAL ALTERNATIVE:
DURING A SCREAMING MATCH AT
THANKSGIVING.
BUT THE PANIC OVER CRT THREATENS
TO SHUT THOSE CONVERSATIONS
DOWN.
AND THAT IS NOT ALL IT IS LIKELY
TO DO.
BECAUSE SOME PUSHING THIS PANIC
THE HARDEST ARE ACTUALLY USING
IT TO ADVANCE A MUCH BIGGER
AGENDA THAT THEY'VE WANTED FOR A
VERY LONG TIME, AND THAT IS
SCHOOL CHOICE -- BASICALLY,
LETTING PARENTS TAKE TAX DOLLARS
AFFORDED TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLING
OF THEIR KID AND USE THEM AT ANY
SCHOOL THEY LIKE.
HERE IS CHRIS RUFO AGAIN, LAYING
OUT THAT EXACT STRATEGY.
>> FIRST, WE HAVE TO JUST GET IT
OUT OF SCHOOLS.
WE HAVE TO BAN IT AND
ABOLISH IT.
BUT IN THE LONG TERM, WHAT WE
NEED TO DO IS GIVE EVERY PARENT
IN THIS COUNTRY A RIGHT TO EXIT
FAILING INSTITUTIONS.
NO CHILD SHOULD BE TRAPPED IN A
FAILING PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT
VIOLATES HIS SENSE OF
CONSCIENCE, THAT VIOLATES THE
VALUES OF THE PARENTS.
EVERY PARENT SHOULD TAKE THOSE
EDUCATION DOLLARS ANYWHERE THAT
THEY WISH.
>> RIGHT.
>> SCHOOL CHOICE WILL LIBERATE
PEOPLE.
IT WILL EMPOWER PEOPLE AND IT
WILL ACTUALLY DEPOLARIZE SOME OF
THESE NATIONAL FIGHTS THAT WE'VE
SEEN.
>> John: OH, SO YOU'RE DOING ALL
THIS TO TONE DOWN PARTISAN
FIGHTS, ARE YOU, CHRIS?
VERY COOL OF YOU.
YOU'VE PROBABLY NOTICED THAT
GENERAL WAVE OF CALM CHILL VIBES
SWEEPING THE NATION LATELY.
IF THERE IS ONE WORD I WOULD USE
TO DESCRIBE EVERY IMAGE COMING
OUT OF A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
THESE DAYS, IT IS "DEPOLARIZED."
LOOK, IT IS NOT JUST RUFO.
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
HAVE LONG PUSHED FOR SCHOOL
CHOICE, LIKE THE HERITAGE
FOUNDATION AND FREEDOMWORKS,
HAVE POURED MONEY INTO THIS
FIGHT.
AND OF COURSE, NO SCHOOL CHOICE
PUSH WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT
LIFELONG RICH PERSON AND
OCCASIONAL EDUCATION SECRETARY
BETSY DEVOS, WHO WROTE AN OP-ED
TITLED "LET'S LIBERATE KIDS FROM
RACE INDOCTRINATION -- WITH
SCHOOL CHOICE."
AND YOU SHOULD KNOW, THIS IS
JUST NOTHING NEW.
THERE IS A LONG HISTORY OF
RESPONDING TO RACIAL PANIC WITH
A PUSH FOR SCHOOL CHOICE.
IN FACT, THE ROOTS OF THE SCHOOL
CHOICE MOVEMENT TRACE BACK TO
THE BROWN VS. BOARD OF EDUCATION
DECISION, WHEN SOUTHERN STATES
ADOPTED VOUCHER PROGRAMS TO
FACILITATE THE CREATION OF
PRIVATE SCHOOLS CALLED
"SEGREGATION ACADEMIES."
AND SOME OF THOSE TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF SCHOOL CHOICE TODAY
SURE SEEM TO BE DOING SOME HEAVY
INDOCTRINATION OF THEIR OWN.
TAKE FLORIDA.
IT'S ONE OF THE STATES THAT
ALLOWS PUBLIC MONEY TO GO TO
VOUCHER SCHOOLS, AND A FEW YEARS
BACK, AN INVESTIGATION INTO SOME
OF THEM FOUND COMMONLY USED
TEXTBOOKS THAT "DOWNPLAYED THE
HORRORS OF SLAVERY."
ONE OF THEM IS THIS ONE,
"AMERICA: LAND I LOVE," WHICH
HAS ALL THE KIND OF BULLSHIT
YOU'D EXPECT -- THAT THE
CIVIL WAR WAS FOUGHT FOR STATES'
RIGHTS -- BUT IT ALSO STATES
THAT, DURING THE ANTEBELLUM
PERIOD, "THE SLAVE WHO KNEW
CHRIST HAD MORE FREEDOM THAN A
FREE PERSON WHO DID NOT KNOW THE
SAVIOR."
WHICH IS NOT JUST OFFENSIVE,
IT IS PROFOUNDLY STUPID.
ANY KID READING THAT ABSOLUTE
TROMBONE SLIDE OF A SENTENCE
WOULD INSTANTLY DROP TWO FULL
GRADES.
IT SOUNDS LESS LIKE SOMETHING
YOU'D FIND IN A TEXTBOOK AND
MORE LIKE SOMETHING YOU'D FIND
CROCHETED ON A THROW PILLOW IN
PAULA DEEN'S LIVING ROOM.
SO IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT
"RACIAL INDOCTRINATION" OF
SCHOOLKIDS, THIS MIGHT BE A
BETTER PLACE TO START.
BUT THE THING IS, EVEN A
MANUFACTURED PANIC IS A PANIC.
THOSE PARENTS AT SCHOOL BOARD
MEETINGS ARE GENUINELY ANGRY.
AND AS ANY LITTLE LEAGUE COACH
KNOWS, ONCE YOU REACH A CRITICAL
MASS OF ANGRY WHITE PARENTS,
THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES.
IN TEXAS, THIS HIGH SCHOOL
PRINCIPAL WAS FORCED OUT OF HIS
JOB AFTER BEING ACCUSED AT A
SCHOOL BOARD MEETING OF
PROMOTING CRT BY SOMEONE WHO
WASN'T EVEN A PARENT AT HIS
SCHOOL.
AND IN TENNESSEE, THIS
CURRENT AFFAIRS TEACHER WAS
FIRED FOR NOT GIVING VARYING
POINTS OF VIEW AFTER HE GAVE
STUDENTS A TA-NEHISI COATES
ARTICLE AND SHOWED THEM KYLA
JENEE LACEY'S POEM
"WHITE PRIVILEGE."
AND HE HAD A PRETTY DECENT
RESPONSE TO THAT CRITICISM:
>> I THINK TO ME, THE VARYING
VIEWPOINT IS KYLA JANEE LACEY
AND IT IS TA-NEHISI COATES.
THOSE ARE PERSPECTIVES THAT MY
STUDENTS AREN'T EXPOSED TO ON A
DAILY BASIS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
WE LIVE IN THAT WHITE DOMINANT
EVANGELICAL ENVIRONMENT.
>> John: RIGHT, WHEN YOU LIVE IN
A MOSTLY WHITE ENVIRONMENT, THE
VOICES OF BLACK PEOPLE CAN BE
THE VARYING POINT OF VIEW FOR
YOU.
AND NOT JUST ON
CURRENT EVENTS -- ON LOTS OF
THINGS WHITE PEOPLE MIGHT
OTHERWISE ASSUME, EVEN TRIVIAL
ONES, LIKE "IT'S OKAY TO GO OUT
IN A BLIZZARD IN SHORTS," AND
"IF I ARGUE TH THIS COP I CAN
PROBABLY GET OUT OF A TICKET,"
AND "TIME TRAVEL WOULD BE A FUN
AND STRESS-FREE ACTIVITY.
"OOH, THE 1930s!
I CAN'T WAIT TO LOOK AROUND!"
UNFORTUNATELY, THOSE SITUATIONS
ARE NOW ONLY LIKELY TO BECOME
MORE COMMON.
SINCE JANUARY OF LAST YEAR,
37 STATES HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS
OR TAKEN OTHER STEPS THAT WOULD
RESTRICT TEACHING "CRITICAL RACE
THEORY," OR LIMIT HOW TEACHERS
CAN DISCUSS RACISM.
AND THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THESE
HAS OFTEN BEEN MORE THAN A
LITTLE FLIMSY.
HERE'S ONE TENNESSEE LAWMAKER
EXPLAINING WHY HE WAS PUSHING
FOR HIS STATE'S BILL.
>> LISTEN TO THE FOLLOWING
QUOTES FROM AN EMAIL FORWARDED
TO ME CONCERNING A
SEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL
IN WILLIAMSON COUNTY.
THE LITTLE GIRL TOLD HER MOTHER,
"I'M ASHAMED THAT I'M WHITE."
THE DAUGHTER THEN ASKED HER
MOTHER, "IS THERE SOMETHING
WRONG WITH ME?
WHY AM I HATED SO MUCH?"
>> John: OKAY, BUT THE THING TO
DO IN THAT SITUATION ISN'T TO
PASS A LAW LIMITING THE
DISCUSSION OF RACE IN THE
CLASSROOM.
IT'S TO ASK LITERALLY ONE
FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
LIKE, "WHAT WAS HAPPENING TO
MAKE YOU THINK THE OTHER KIDS
HATE YOU?"
OR, "DID ANY ADULTS STEP IN WHEN
YOU FELT THIS WAY?"
OR, "DO YOU EVEN EXIST?"
BECAUSE WHEN REPORTERS LOOKED
INTO THIS, YOU SHOULD KNOW THEY
FOUND NO PARENT HAD COME FORWARD
TO THAT SCHOOL'S PRINCIPAL,
TEACHERS, OR DISTRICT OFFICIALS
WITH THAT COMPLAINT, AND
ADMINISTRATORS THERE WEREN'T
ABLE TO PINPOINT ANY STUDENT WHO
MIGHT BE UPSET, OR LESSONS THAT
COULD HAVE BEEN UPSETTING.
AND IF THAT'S HOW WE'RE ARGUING
THINGS NOW, I SHOULD PROBABLY
MENTION: I, TOO, HAPPEN TO HAVE
AN EMAIL FORWARD FROM A
DIFFERENT LITTLE WHITE GIRL --
WAY CUTER THAN THE FIRST ONE, BY
THE WAY -- WHO SAID THAT FIRST
GIRL'S STORY IS COMPLETE
BULLSHIT.
AND THE THING IS, BY TENNESSEE
LAW, IT SEEMS I SIMPLY HAVE TO
BELIEVE HER.
BUT THAT LAWMAKER ACTUALLY
ILLUSTRATES THE PROBLEM FACING
LEGISLATORS CURRENTLY TRYING TO
OUTLAW SOMETHING THEY CAN'T
DEFINE.
BECAUSE WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO
DO?
PASS A LAW SAYING KIDS CAN'T
FEEL BAD?
WELL, IT TURNS OUT YES.
BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT
TENNESSEE DID.
THEY PASSED A LAW PROHIBITING
ANY TEACHING THAT WOULD CAUSE
"DISCOMFORT, GUILT, ANGUISH, OR
DISTRESS SOLELY BECAUSE OF THE
INDIVIDUAL'S RACE OR SEX."
WHICH IS VERY BROAD.
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BELIEVE
THIS, BUT I JUST RECEIVED
ANOTHER EMAIL THIS SECOND FROM A
THIRD TENNESSEE WHITE GIRL WHO
SAYS, "WHAT FUCKING IDIOTS ARE
WRITING THESE LAWS AND HOW MANY
FICTITIOUS CHILDREN ARE THEY
GOING TO MAKE UP TO JUSTIFY
THEM?
P.S., I HONESTLY PREFERRED THE
NEW ZAZU."
AND, WOW!
WHAT A NICE THING TO SAY FROM A
DEFINITELY REAL CHILD.
AND LOOK, WE'VE TALKED BEFORE ON
THIS SHOW ABOUT THE MULTIPLE
PROBLEMS WITH TEACHING KIDS A
SANITIZED VERSION OF U.S.
HISTORY, AND HOW, AS FAR BACK AS
A CENTURY AGO, GROUPS LIKE THE
UNITED DAUGHTERS OF THE
CONFEDERACY WERE RESHAPING
TEXTBOOKS TO DOWNPLAY ITS
HORRORS.
AND IT SEEMS HERE WE GO AGAIN.
BECAUSE LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO
MICROMANAGE SCHOOL CURRICULUMS,
SOMETIMES PRETTY INEPTLY.
A BILL PROPOSED IN VIRGINIA
CONTAINS A SECTION LISTING SOME
OF THE "FOUNDING DOCUMENTS" IT'S
OKAY TO TEACH -- A LIST THAT
INCLUDES THE DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE, THE CONSTITUTION,
AND "THE FIRST DEBATE BETWEEN
ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND
FREDERICK DOUGLASS" --
WHICH, I HOPE YOU KNOW, IS NOT A
THING THAT HAPPENED.
THE LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATES
WERE, OF COURSE, BETWEEN
SENATOR STEPHEN DOUGLAS
AND HIS OPPONENT,
A 2020 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR.
SO READ YOUR HISTORY, EVERYONE.
FACTS MATTER HERE.
BUT MAYBE THE MOST INSULTING
DISTORTION OF HISTORY IS IN THE
QUOTE THAT EVERY SINGLE ANTI-CRT
ACTIVIST SEEMS TO LOVE TO
INVOKE.
>> YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MLK
STOOD FOR, HE SAID HE DIDN'T
WANT PEOPLE JUDGED ON THE COLOR
OF THEIR SKIN BUT ON THE CONTENT
OF THEIR CHARACTER.
>> YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE IT WAS
MARTIN LUTHER KING THAT SAID,
WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS
CHILDREN THAT...
>> HE DIDN'T WANT HIS CHILDREN
TO BE JUDGED...
>> ON THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN...
>> BUT BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR
CHARACTER.
>> CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER,
NOT BY THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.
>> CONTENT OF OUR CHARACTER, NOT
THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.
>> AND THE IMMORTAL WORDS OF
DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING RING IN
OUR EARS THAT WE MUST...
>> JUDGE OTHERS NOT BY THE...
>> COLOR OF THEIR...
>> SKIN, BUT BY THE..
>> CONTENT...
>> OF THEIR...
>> THE LEFT WANTS US TO
CONSTANTLY FOCUS ON SKIN COLOR.
IT'S DESTRUCTIVE.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. IS
ROLLING OVER IN HIS GRAVE.
>> John: YEAH, YOU KNOW WHAT, I
BET HE IS, ACTUALLY.
IN FACT, I'M PRETTY SURE EVERY
TIME SOMEONE USES HIS WORDS THAT
WAY, DR. KING'S ILLUSTRIOUS
REMAINS SPIN FAST ENOUGH TO
POWER THE EASTERN FUCKING
SEABOARD.
HERE'S THE THING THOUGH, THAT
DREAM SPEECH WAS CLEARLY AN
ASPIRATIONAL GOAL, NOT A
DESCRIPTION OF THINGS AS THEY
STOOD.
AND IN FACT, KING HIMSELF LATER
PUT A PRETTY MAJOR ASTERISK ON
IT.
>> I MUST CONFESS THAT THAT
DREAM I HAD THAT DAY HAS AT MANY
POINTS TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE.
AND I'VE COME TO SEE THAT WE
HAVE MANY MORE DIFFICULT DAYS
AHEAD, AND SOME OF THE OLD
OPTIMISM WAS A LITTLE
SUPERFICIAL, AND NOW IT MUST BE
TEMPERED WITH A SOLID REALISM.
>> John: YEAH.
AND IN A BOOK PUBLISHED THAT
SAME YEAR, HE WROTE THAT, WHILE
"THE MAJORITY OF WHITE AMERICANS
CONSIDER THEMSELVES SINCERELY
COMMITTED TO JUSTICE FOR THE
NEGRO, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT
AMERICAN SOCIETY IS ESSENTIALLY
HOSPITABLE TO FAIR PLAY AND TO
STEADY GROWTH TOWARD A
MIDDLE-CLASS UTOPIA EMBODYING
RACIAL HARMONY,
UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS A FANTASY
OF SELF-DECEPTION AND
COMFORTABLE VANITY."
SO WHILE IT IS CLEARLY VERY
APPEALING TO CREATE A VERSION OF
HISTORY WHERE MLK WAS A KIND
FIGURE WHO EXISTED SOLELY TO
HELP WHITE PEOPLE WIN ARGUMENTS,
THE TRUTH IS, HE LATER REFLECTED
ON HIS OWN MESSAGE, AND
CHALLENGED WHITE PEOPLE TO LOOK
MORE DEEPLY AT THEMSELVES.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING KIDS
SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE LEARNING
ABOUT IN SCHOOL.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THEY WON'T,
IF THESE LAWS CONTINUE.
A WHITE PARENT COULD PLAUSIBLY
CLAIM THAT READING MLK'S
WRITING MADE THEIR CHILD FEEL
"DISCOMFORT" ON THE BASIS OF
THEIR RACE.
AND SOME OF THESE LAWS SEEM
DESIGNED TO BEND SCHOOLS'
CURRICULUMS TO THE SENSIBILITIES
OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE,
ALARMED PARENTS.
IN FLORIDA, RON DeSANTIS IS
PUSHING A "STOP WOKE" ACT --
THAT WAS HIM UNVEILING IT A
MINUTE AGO WITH CHRIS RUFO
RIGHT BEHIND HIM.
THAT WOULD GIVE PARENTS
"PRIVATE RIGHT OF ACTION" TO SUE
IF THEY THINK THEIR KIDS ARE
BEING TAUGHT CRT.
AND ALL OF THESE LAWS ARE
ALREADY HAVING CHILLING EFFECTS.
BOOK BANS ARE ON THE RISE AROUND
THE COUNTRY, AND ONE OKLAHOMA
SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EVEN TOLD
TEACHERS SIMPLY TO AVOID USING
TERMS LIKE "DIVERSITY" AND
"WHITE PRIVILEGE."
AND LOOK -- YOU CAN BAN ALL THE
BOOKS YOU WANT, YOU CAN TRY AND
LEGISLATE IT AWAY, BUT AS ANY
BLACK WOMAN ON "THE BACHELOR"
CAN TELL YOU, TALKING ABOUT RACE
IS UNAVOIDABLE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST UNAVOIDABLE,
IT'S ESSENTIAL-ESPECIALLY IN THE
PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE MOST
PANICKED ABOUT CRT.
AND THIS BRINGS US ALL THE WAY
BACK TO WHERE THIS STORY BEGAN,
IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, VIRGINIA,
WHERE THAT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
GOT SO VERY FAR OUT OF HAND.
HERE IS ONE OF THE LEADERS OF
THE ANTI-CRT PUSH THERE,
EXPLAINING JUST WHY SHE'S SO
FIERCELY OPPOSED TO IT BEING
TAUGHT.
>> IN LOUDOUN COUNTY, THIS IS
THE WEALTHIEST COUNTY IN THE
COUNTRY.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF RACISM.
THERE ARE SILLY PEOPLE THAT SAY
STUPID THINGS, BUT IF YOU TALK
ABOUT IT LESS, YOU'RE GOING TO
NOTICE THAT DIVISION LESS.
I DON'T LOOK AT THE PERSON BASED
ON THEIR SKIN COLOR, I LOOK AT
THEM BASED ON THEIR CHARACTER.
>> John: OKAY, THERE'S A LOT OF
OBVIOUS RED FLAGS THERE, FROM
CONFIDENTLY ASSERTING "THERE'S
NOT A LOT OF RACISM HERE," TO
THE "I DON'T SEE SKIN COLOR," TO
THE "YOU WON'T NOTICE DIVISION
SO MUCH IF YOU JUST DON'T TALK
ABOUT IT."
AND HEY, IF THE PROBLEM WITH
RACISM IN AMERICA WAS ONLY "IT'S
BUMMING PATTI MENDERS OUT," THEN
YEAH, SHUTTING UP WOULD PROBABLY
SOLVE THE ISSUE.
BUT GUESS HOW LONG IT TAKES FOR
THAT CONVERSATION TO TAKE A
REAL TURN.
>> I THINK THERE ARE A LOT
OF, THERE -- THERE ARE PROBABLY
PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD
AGREE WITH EXACTLY THAT.
BUT JUST TO BE FAIR, ON THE
OTHER SIDE, THERE ARE PEOPLE,
ESPECIALLY YOUNG BLACK MEN, FOR
EXAMPLE, WHO WOULD SAY, "I WOULD
LOVE TO NOT BE JUDGED ON THE
COLOR OF MY SKIN.
>> DO YOU THINK IT'S MORE ON THE
COLOR OF THEIR SKIN OR THEIR
ACTIONS?
HOW THEY'RE DRESSED, HOW THEY
PERCEIVE, HOW THEY RESPECT
OTHERS?
IF YOU HAVE A KID THAT'S PULLED
OVER BY A COP, DOES IT REALLY
MATTER WHAT COLOR THEY ARE, OR
IS -- IS IT THE RESPECT THAT
THEY GIVE TO THAT POLICE
OFFICER?
>> John: WOW.
WHEN YOU RESPOND TO SOMEONE
MENTIONING YOUNG BLACK MEN WOULD
LIKE TO BE TREATED BETTER BY
AUTOMATICALLY ENVISIONING THEM
DRESSED TERRIBLY AND ACTING
DISRESPECTFULLY, WHILE BEING
ARRESTED BY THE POLICE, YOU ARE
TELLING ON YOURSELF, PATTY.
YOU ARE SNITCHING ON YOUR OWN
SOUL.
AND AS FOR HER CLAIM THAT
THERE'S "NOT A LOT OF RACISM" IN
LOUDOUN COUNTY, YOU PROBABLY
ALREADY ASSUMED THAT WAS
BULLSHIT, BUT YOU SHOULD KNOW,
AN ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THERE FOUND THAT "IT WAS
SHOCKING THE EXTENT TO WHICH
STUDENTS REPORT THE USE OF THE
N-WORD."
AND I THINK, AS A SOCIETY, WE'VE
AGREED: WHITE PEOPLE SHOULD NOT
BE USING THE N-WORD A "SHOCKING
NUMBER OF TIMES" -- UNLESS, THAT
IS, THEY HAVE A LUCRATIVE
PODCAST DEAL WITH SPOTIFY.
BUT THAT IS ABSOLUTELY IT.
AND ALL OF THIS BRINGS US TO THE
MAIN POINT HERE -- THAT FOR ALL
THE LAWS BEING PASSED TO PREVENT
DISCOMFORT OR ANGUISH ON ACCOUNT
OF AN INDIVIDUAL'S RACE, WHOSE
DISCOMFORT, EXACTLY, ARE WE
PRIORITIZING HERE?
BECAUSE KIDS OF COLOR CAN TELL
YOU, THEY DON'T GET A CHOICE TO
"NOT TALK ABOUT RACE" AND HAVE
IT GO AWAY, LIKE THIS GRADUATE
OF LOUDOUN COUNTY SCHOOLS:
>> I DO UNDERSTAND THAT MANY
PARENTS DON'T WANT THEIR
CHILDREN LEARNING ABOUT RACE AT
SUCH A YOUNG AGE, BUT I BEG TO
DIFFER IN THAT SENSE.
WE LEARN ABOUT RACE EVERY DAY
WHEN WE'RE THE ONLY COLORED KID
IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OR WHEN WE'RE
LEARNING ABOUT SLAVERY AND ALL
THE HEADS TURN TO US.
SO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, ONE GROUP
OF STUDENTS WILL LEARN ABOUT
RACE BEFORE ANOTHER.
SO WE BELIEVE THAT IT WOULD BE
EQUITABLE IF ALL STUDENTS TO
LEARN ABOUT RACE IN THE SAME
CONTEXT SO THAT WE CAN WORK
TOGETHER ON IT TO IMPROVE OUR
FUTURE.
>> John: YEAH, CHILDREN OF COLOR
LEARN ABOUT RACE FROM A VERY
YOUNG AGE.
FROM REALIZING YOU CELEBRATE
DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS OR GET
DIFFERENT SAFETY TALKS OR THE
FIRST TIME YOU GO TO A WHITE
FRIEND'S HOUSE AND YOU'RE SERVED
A CASSEROLE.
YOU REALIZE VERY QUICKLY IN THAT
MOMENT THAT WE ARE DIFFERENT
PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT CULTURES.
SO, LOOK, BY THIS POINT, IT
SHOULD BE PRETTY CLEAR THE
DEBATE AROUND CRITICAL RACE
THEORY IS BOTH VERY LOUD AND
VERY, VERY DUMB.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS
IMPORTANT TO ENGAGE WITH IT.
BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, THE
ENDPOINT WE'RE HEADING TOWARD IS
THAT HONEST DISCUSSIONS OF RACE
WILL BE SHUT OUT OF PUBLIC
SCHOOLS, EVEN AS SOME PARENTS
FUCK OFF TO VOUCHER ACADEMIES
WHERE THEIR KIDS CAN LEARN A
VERSION OF HISTORY THAT'S
BASICALLY ANTEBELLUM
FAN FICTION.
AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT
DISCUSSIONS ON RACE WILL ALWAYS
BE COMFORTABLE FOR EVERYONE IN
THE CLASSROOM, BUT THINK ABOUT
IT LIKE THIS, WHEN WAS LEARNING
AND GROWING AS A PERSON EVER
COMFORTABLE?
THE THING TO DO HERE ISN'T TO
RUN FROM THOSE DISCUSSIONS OR
PASS LAWS BANNING THEM.
IT IS TO LEARN HOW TO HAVE THEM
BETTER.
BECAUSE FOR GENERATION AFTER
GENERATION, WE'VE TOLD
SCHOOLKIDS FAIRY TALES ABOUT
RACE IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND MAYBE IT'S TIME WE STOP
DOING THAT.
BECAUSE ALL IT'S DONE SO FAR IS
GET US TO THE POINT WE'RE AT
RIGHT NOW, WITH FULL-GROWN
ADULTS INSISTING AMERICA CAN'T
BE RACIST BECAUSE WE ELECTED
OBAMA TWICE, THAT RACISM WILL GO
AWAY IF WE JUST DON'T MENTION
IT, AND THAT MARTIN LUTHER
KING'S "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH
WASN'T AN ASPIRATION WE HAVE YET
TO FULFILL, BUT SOME KIND OF
MAGIC SPELL THAT ENDED PREJUDICE
THEN AND THERE.
THAT IS OUR SHOW, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR WATCHING, WE'LL SEE YOU
NEXT WEEK, GOOD NIGHT.
>> JOHN, JOHN, I'VE GOT MORE
STORIES.
OKAY, IN THIRD GRADE WE DID AN
"OREGON TRAIL" UNIT AND MY
TEACHER PUT ME AND THE OTHER
BLACK KID IN THE CLASS TOGETHER
AND SAID WE WERE A FAMILY OF
FREED SLAVES HEADING WEST TO
MAKE OUR FORTUNE.
LIKE, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO
WITH THAT?
IN SIXTH GRADE, I TOLD MY
TEACHER THAT READING
"ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY"
MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE, AND SHE
TOLD ME, IT ALL WORKS OUT IN THE
END.
OKAY, IN THE END, ONE OF THE
CHARACTERS ALMOST GETS LYNCHED.
HOW IS ALMOST GETS LYNCHED A
HAPPY ENDING?
FOR ELLIS ISLAND DAY, I SAID MY
FAMILY DIDN'T IMMIGRATE AND WE
DON'T KNOW WHERE IN AFRICA WE
ARE FROM.
MY TEACHER SAID, WELL, GUESS.
AND I WAS LIKE, BITCH, YOU
GUESS.
THERE WERE ONLY TWO KIDS IN THE
WHOLE CLASS, AND WE WERE THE
FREED SLAVES GOING WEST?
OKAY.