Sunday, March 13, 2022

Bill Crawford: Critical Race Theory Bill Unusually Progressive

 Let’s see. Last summer at the Neshoba County Fair, Gov. Tate Reeves and House Speaker Philip Gunn pledged to prevent Mississippi schools from teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT). Reeves called CRT “a push from radical leftists.” Gunn called it a ““socialist agenda item.”

Sen. Mike McLendon of Hernando introduced legislation, he said, to ensure Critical Race Theory would not be taught in Mississippi. The Legislature passed McLendon’s bill and sent it to Gov. Reeves for his signature. 

But one key thing is missing.

“The term ‘Critical Race Theory’ is not mentioned once in the three-page bill, meaning it’s very unlikely that the term will make it into the state code books” – Mississippi Today. 

“The bill is entitled ‘Critical Race Theory; prohibit’ but with no direct language to CRT in the bill, confusion still surrounds whether or not it directly pertains to CRT curriculum” – Y’all Politics.

Instead of actually prohibiting the teaching of Critical Race Theory, the bill prohibits public schools, community colleges, and universities from compelling students “to personally affirm, adopt or adhere to” any of these tenets: “(a) That any sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin is inherently superior or inferior; or (b) That individuals should be adversely treated on the basis of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion or national origin.”

McLendon said he got the text for his bill from the Mississippi Center for Public Policy (deemed the center for public propaganda by many policy nerds). That followed release of model language written by Citizens for Renewing America, an advocacy group founded by an acolyte of former President Donald Trump. When constitutional questions arose about prohibiting free speech in universities, the language morphed from specific anti-CRT text to the vague anti-CRT text in McLendon’s bill. While a number of bills were introduced with the more specific text, the Legislature ended up choosing the more vague text. Legal scholars had suggested that outlawing compelled expression is more constitutionally sound than prohibiting speech.

Whatever, McLendon’s bill gave Republican conservatives a platform to denounce CRT and black Democrats a platform to denounce Republican’s actions as “moving backwards” on race relations.

Political rhetoric aside, without the specific anti-CRT provisions the bill is actually unusually progressive. The text repudiates tenets long held in Mississippi, if not so much today. It repudiates the stubborn tenet promulgated by white supremacists during Mississippi’s segregationist past that black people are inherently inferior to white people. It repudiates the tenet long held in the Bible-belt that people of other faiths, particularly atheists and Muslims, are inherently inferior to Christians. It goes further by undermining the notion that rooted Americans are superior to recent immigrants or that either men or women are the superior sex.

Indeed, the final language in McLendon’s bill, given its origin, is so progressive one can only wonder if we’re missing something.

Hmmm.

The bill only applies to public schools. It will be interesting to see if what those schools cannot do becomes a recruiting tool for any private or parochial schools that can.

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” – Luke 14:11.

Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.


44 comments:

Anonymous said...

It’s a racist piece of garbage not history at all.

Anonymous said...

Bill Crawford? Isn’t he the one who used to it host Mid-South wrestling back in the days? What in the world does Cowboy Bill Crawford know about Critical Race Theory? That’s like asking what does the Copy and Paste Kingfish know about journalism?

Krusatyr said...

Black racial activist favored apartheid propaganda should be eliminated in education and it is appropriate that related legislation to limit it should avoid leftist traps of labeling such anti-constitutional propaganda as "CRT".

Fix American education, advance school choice and vouchers, let parents, not school boards, rule.

Anonymous said...

11:43 am

You might want to actually read CRT as it is taught in law schools only.

It chronicles those laws that allowed discrimination on race alone and describes how the implementation of those laws did just that.

It be no different that if we had laws saying that anyone with a high school education couldn't live in Eastover or at CCJ even if they could qualify for a loan.

Try to stop reading what someone else tells you an academic article or book says. Try reading it and looking up words you don't understand.

CRT is a dog whistle. It's NEVER been taught K-12.

Are you afraid your kids or grandkids might find out about Emmett Till literacy tests given only to people of color or imprisoning Blacks on trumped up charges because they tried to vote or organize others to defend themselves against the Klan?

Knowledge isn't dangerous if it's full knowledge of the good,the bad and the ugly, it's empowering and keeps you from repeating historic moments of idiocy.

Anonymous said...

As a race, we should not devote or waste our time trying to stop the status quo from doing what they do best! Promoting their racist agenda! We can continue to instruct our children about racism and the negative impact it continues to have on society. We have churches, community centers, and a host of other places where we can tutor our children. Let us use our energy and time developing a curriculum so we can make sure our children are fully aware of our past, our present, and the challenges we will surely face in the future.

Anonymous said...

I doubt Bill has read the first piece of CRT scholarship to understand what it is about. Critical Race Theory heavily relies on Marxist tneory and other leftist political and social theories to construct an narrative that the central theme of American and indeed, Western European history, is race, and the assertion that essentially all institutions, such as the legal system, are racist and oppressive, and must be replaced by a new order, not if legal equality, but of equity of outcomes. Critical race theory began in the legal academy as on offshoot of the Critical Legal Studies Movement, which also is largely based on Marxist theory. However, CRT has progressed well beyond law schools and has been influencing schools of education, among other, and is now filtering down into secondary and even elementary schools, not as CRT, as such, but in curriculum that incorporate CRT-inspired concepts.

Anonymous said...

"moving backwards" on race, Hmmmm. I'll go first. When one of our two national political parties starts attempting to inject race into every aspect of our lives to keep their minority voter base energized I.E. practicing egregious race based politics, then wasting anyone's breath, time and money trying to improve race relations in this or any other state is just that...wasting breath, time and money. We're about to have a Supreme Court Justice picked from approximately 7% of our population because of gender and skin color...if that's not moving backwards, I'd hate to see some real "moving backwards".

Anonymous said...

If CRT isn't being taught in any K-12 school, then any law prohibiting the teaching of CRT in K-12 schools should have no effect on anything, and is thus a meaningless law. Correct? Logic is a thing here.

Anonymous said...

12:47 Your citation of the newest Supreme Court selection actually makes a case in favor of CRT since the factual history of Supreme Court appointments reveals a process based on race, gender, religion, party affiliation, wealth, and political leaning. This often limited the pool of candidates to less than 5% of our population but because no overt acknowledgments of such requirements were made we pretend that everyone was considered. Such covert efforts to maintain a certain racial, social, or economic dynasty are essential to the historic analysis at the heart of Critical Race Theory. Ole Joe Biden in his jive ass effort to pander to his voter base simply acknowledged what everyone already knew. The Supreme Court has always been a political tool of petty party politics and even white supremacy. This selection is only unique because the candidate is a black woman. Law schools rightly study the historic bias implicit in Supreme Court nominations and their impact through....critical studies, i.e. CRT. Thanks 12:47 Good example.

Anonymous said...

Unpopular opinion: Cowboy Bill Crawford made the Junk Yard Dog during Mid-South Wrestling careers

Anonymous said...

The Bill speaks for itself. It is a very effective pronouncement by the majority of the legislature that they have no real understanding of the high academic concepts involved in the analysis called Critical Race Theory. They do however want to lead any confused mob composed primarily of the people who voted for them.

Anonymous said...

CRT = Institutional race baiting

Anonymous said...

" It is a very effective pronouncement by the majority of the legislature that they have no real understanding of the high academic concepts involved in the analysis called Critical Race Theory."

Well, that's one opinion. Plenty of us seem to think the emperor should put some clothes on......

Anonymous said...

Ya can't legislate morality. Full stop.

Anonymous said...

@1:22

My post was not about CRT. IT WAS ABOUT RACE RELATIONS MOVING BACKWARDS IN THIS COUNTRY and the Democrats willingness to destroy any and all progress that has been slowly made in this country just to keep their black voters "riled up". While they have succeeded in stirring the pot with blacks their over the top racial "wokeness" has sadly raised the racial resentment level of millions of whites back to point in history that will cause us all to lose. No one wins when race based politics are practiced. Never have...never will. AND since you brought it up, the way Biden has made HIS appointing a black female more about HIMSELF and his politics than about his nominee, she will forever be just a token "quota filler" whose only qualification were color and gender. What a fine legacy for her and Biden both.

Anonymous said...

@1:22

You presumptions about previous Supreme Court nominees are not factual but based purely on hypothetical theory.

Anonymous said...

2;15 You must be a member of the legislature. Please explain.

Anonymous said...

@1:22

"bias implicit in Supreme Court nominations". Example of such a judge we've had on the Court ?

Anonymous said...

Well if CRT or any version of perpetual victimhood brainwashing wasn’t being taught the complainers wouldn’t be complaining.

Anonymous said...

yet again, the mississippi legislature has created a solution for a problem that does not exist.

Anonymous said...

2:45 Are you kidding? It would be easier to cite those few justices who were not picks from a select group of political allies, the right race, gender, political affiliation, etc. Those were always the first "qualifications" considered. Some were not even judges. They may have been "quqlified" but the presidents were trying to advance their agendas far into the future through their appointments, not appoint the "most qualified". Get real.

Anonymous said...

The problems with race could be changed very easily. Equality for all people. No special favors for anyone because of race. No clubs, schools, or organizations that is race based. Let people do as most have done in the history of the world. If you want something work for it. If you want to be treated equal act like you are equal.

Anonymous said...

@1:28 PM
I remember JYD!!!!!!!
My favorite wrassler was the Great Kabuki. I liked when he spit that green powder in his opponents faces. Kabuki had BARS. Get it? Spit. Bars. Nevermind.

OAN: WWE legend Jim Ross got his start on Mid-South Wrestling.

Anonymous said...

4:10 You were going great until you got to that sentence "Let people do as most have done in the history of the world". As it stands it's nonsense. Leave that sentence out and you have made a truly grand and un-contradictory statement. Almost great. Thanks

Krusatyr said...

MLK's preference for judging others by their character instead of their race was simple, direct and honest.

Pigressives, dishonoring Reverend King, prefer to politically hijack an apartheid where blacks are eternally oppressed victims of slavery, 150 years gone, where whites pay the blacks off with unending tolerance of horrid parenting, diluted education standards, rancid culture and incessant, violent crime, including escalating, out of proportion black on black murder.

The MS legislature's anti-CRT bill needs more inspiration from the best of MLK, less from the corrupt BLM!

Krusatyr said...

@4:10pm:

Yes, meritocracy in all fields of endeavor.

Anonymous said...

It’s pretty obvious why there is no Mississippi History Class taught in schools. You don’t want to be embarrassed for what grandpa did. Ignorance is Mississippi’s biggest problem until you understand history there is no future. The only reason a business expands here is because of cheap labor. As industries Computerize and Automate ,companies will close and move to more progressive states. Leaving Ignorace and Mississippi behind once again.

Unknown said...

@12:12 is correct. This is ONLY taught in law school. You guys are screaming stop CRT and you have no idea what you are talking about. Do you own research and stop relying on social media and bloggers to educate you. How can Reeves eliminate what doesn’t exist in our schools?
This is pure dog whistle.

Anonymous said...

@5:03 PM
Kabuki was introduced as being from “parts unknown” which added to his persona. Didn’t even know where he was born or anything. Like, he just suddenly appeared on the scene.

#LongLiveKabuki

Anonymous said...

Still Mississippi. Bless our hearts.

Anonymous said...

I believe the wrasslin' guy was named Cowboy Bill Watson, not Crawford.

Anonymous said...

Had the bill mentioned CRT by name, it's prohibitions would have applied, microscopically, only to CRT. The bill, as written is broader THAN, yet encompassing OF CRT tenets. Crawford is late to the dance on this one.

The same two liberal clowns have posted numerous times, above. CRT by multiple names and even no name at all is embedded in every public school doctrine in this state and has been for fifty years or more. Why else would HBCUs still exist? White folk be holding you back...therefore...you need to attend J-State, Alcorn or Valley. Or some black law school. Think about it.

CRT By Any Other Name... said...

12:12 - You're right in that CRT, technically, in law school, requires students to read, memorize and understand specific laws that affected folks of color 70-150 years ago. And pass tests proving their mastery of the subject.

What you're missing is the fact that black school teachers, as well as liberal white ones, indoctrinate school children with the notion that blacks are inferior, are and have always been held back by white suppression, that whitesare taught as children to look down on black children and the 'reality' that whites retain a strangle-hold on the black race.

The results are two and only two:

1) Black children are programmed to resent white people for the rest of their lives and to raise their own children with that mindset.

2) White children are programmed to accept guilt and adopt self-hate.

Parse it however you like. You can fart in a whirlwind about teaching in law school...while ignoring the reality of what has been part and parcel of public elementary and secondary education for decades.

Anonymous said...

Decode and re-encode won't work this time for the confederate enthusiasts.

Anonymous said...

Skandar Akbar!!! and I thought it was "cowboy Bill Watts"?

Anonymous said...

No one on here can prove that CRT has never been taught in MS public schools. There are hundreds of schools, classrooms, and teachers.

Good on the legislature for being pro-active and also not specifically prohibiting CRT in the bills language, but rather defining it generically.

Nip it in the bud.

Anonymous said...

Anyone with any sense doesn't have to be "formally taught" certain things that become painfully obvious through the course of everyday life/lifetime.

Anonymous said...

6:49 First, obviously you have no idea other than your own biased opinion of the requirements of a law school class examining CRT. Your statement that black teachers indoctrinate school children with the notion that black children are inferior is another product of your limited understanding. If the "programming" has been in effect for decades how come so many people
other than yourself, white and black, have managed to escape this thinking?
You should go to the Pearl District, Madison, Clinton and others to stop their indoctrination as you say they are doing. Maybe you should have a book burning.

Anonymous said...

What do you know about the Fabulous Freebirds? Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy was a killer.

Anonymous said...

1:23 - How can you possibly know what I know when it's obvious you don't even know what YOU know.

If you think, for a second, that indoctrination (in this regard) has not worked at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary level, you're blind as a damned bat.

The triumvirate of angry black teachers, white-guilt infected teachers and liberal professors has kept this crap alive for generations and this bill becoming law might slow it down but won't stop it.

Anonymous said...

March 13 @ 12:22 Sez: "Try reading it and looking up words you don't understand."

And also sez: "It be no different that if we had laws saying..."


Please ask for a refund of whatever you paid for your degree, if anything.

Anonymous said...

@12:31 - where are all these liberal teachers coming from? Is Obama bussing them in from Mexico? Maybe George Soros, Bill Gates, and Anthony Fauci are organizing it? Surely Hillary and AOC are involved somehow also.

Anonymous said...

12:31 What's been around "for generations" in the Mississippi public schools ain't taught by "black teachers, white-guilt infected teachers, or liberal professors", it's the old racist revisionist history excusing terror, racist laws, and slavery and is now decried and prohibited by the language of this bill. Ain't it ironic? Maybe moronic is correct. But it's still ironic.

Anonymous said...

3:25 : I'm in my fifties ...took history classes my whole life and ONLY knew that blacks owned blacks and African tribes sold slaves because a old black man told me so. So history in Mississippi schools has always been bunk for both sides. Ask the Native Americans and Chicoms about history books. Bottom line is that HUMANS are shitasses and will always be.



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