Thread by @AntiRacistJazz

Did you see @SenMikeLee's latest Op-ed about Critical Race Theory published yesterday in the @DeseretNews? Let's discuss! Please enjoy this thread about "Critical But Theory." 1/13

deseret.com/opinion/2021/7…

Lee begins: "I learned as a child it is much easier to tear down than to build something worthwhile. It seems our political discourse has forgotten this simple lesson."

Indeed. For example, Lee's been spending a ton of time lately trying to tear down the boogeyman of CRT. 2/

Instead of using his 700 words to talk about worthwhile ways to dismantle racism in America, @SenMikeLee tears down a theory that isn't even taught in K-12 education anywhere. His claims about CRT are inaccurate. And he spends a mere 50 words acknowledging racism's existence—
3/

"America has not always made good on this promise to all her citizens — resulting in some grievous, horrific injustice. But..."

"To be clear, racism is reprehensible, and any vestiges of it must be condemned. But..."

Let's call this "Critical But Theory" (CBT). 4/

CBT wants to admit racism is a thing, but doesn't want to get *too* specific. The "but" is always there to relieve the theorist of any current responsibility. It's OK to mention slavery, segregation, and Jim Crow laws, which is does, but notice those specifics are in the past. 5/

He speaks of "vestiges" of racism, BUT it's really not that bad! He admits the US "hasn't always made good on its promises" BUT quickly deflects and insists we can't investigate how race plays a role in how those promises work out in the real world past, present, and future. 6/

According to Lee's CBT, racism mostly a thing of the past. So we actually shouldn't critically examine how race functions in law, economy, social structure, etc. like CRT tries to do. 650 words to attack CRT and 50 to acknowledge racism without saying a word about fixing it. 7/

Lee learned as a child that it's easier to tear something down than to build something worthwhile. Now he takes the easy road, using Critical But Theory to attack Critical Race Theory, instead of talking directly about what racism looks like today and how we might fight it. 8/

I don't know anyone who believes CRT is the one true solution for racism. But I know a ton of ppl who use Critical But Theory to congratulate themselves about how far America has come in order to stop it from going any farther toward justice. 9/

One of the saddest things is that Lee has worked on bipartisan legislation in the past that addresses problems directly connected to racism. His work on criminal justice reform doesn't go far enough for me, but he's trying to build something there. 10/ cbsnews.com/news/senators-…

Instead of running on that record, Lee's actively and repeatedly campaigning on the CRT issue—including fundraiser emails and op-eds. This is what politicians do to get re-elected: they play to their base to curry voters. That says a lot about what Lee thinks of Utah voters. 11/

He thinks more people will be energized by scary CRT stuff rather than by his own concrete attempts to address racial disparities in our legal system. (Ironically, CRT has played a big role in identifying some of the problems Lee's bipartisan legislation is meant to address!) 12/

Keep an eye out for Critical But Theory. You'll recognize it every time someone gets uncomfortable reckoning with America's legacy of racism from the past to the present. "Yes racism exists and it's wrong, but..."

Oppose CBT in word, deed, and with your vote! /end
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