(Extracted from Miriam-Webster) Critical race theory is a field of intellectual inquiry that demonstrates the legal codification of racism in America.
Something very dear to some cousins in the United States is Critical Race Theory (CRT). Normal Canadians wouldn’t know about CRT: I forgive them, I’m Canadian too. My interest in CRT, a new theory, is from the urgency around race.
What CRT would include, I presume, is that every man, woman and child is racist, soaked up from our culture, a culture addressed by CRT. (Foot note)
At least, I think that’s included in CRT, but I don’t know. Maybe I shouldn’t be writing about this, because during my formative years it wasn’t politically correct for a Canadian to speak on US affairs.
But what I can do, now, is write about ANY new belief, however great, being rushed.
This while some folks insist CRT is “really important” and must be immediately taught in schools.
Sure, schools might teach CRT at length, but— maybe theories should be established in society before we teach them to children. Forget the excuse of saying CRT will be soon established, or saying it should be soon established. As I tell students of MAGA and the First US Civil War, “the side of the angels is seldom self-evident.”
I dimly recall reading about enthusiasts saying, “We must teach CRT at the secondary school level, and in elementary school too, right now!”… Meaning, in effect: “and besides, all the university students freshly believe, and they are soon to graduate: and so CRT, like the money in Reaganomics, will trickle along through society.”
(Reaganomics, definition, established during President Reagan’s years, cutting taxes for corporations and the rich, while promoting unrestricted free-market activity such as globalization)
Poor Reaganomics: once so popular, setting policy, now so widely discredited, but still US policy
I respond: Really? Try again.
I imagine: “Well, all those smart professors believe this good theory, and they will, next year, teach the undergrads and it will trickle along.”
Really?
Well, the theory is so good that the humanities professors will be converted this year, teach the STEM professors (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) next year, and then the entire ivory tower will believe, and send graduates out to society…”
Unfortunately, theories for society require time and discussion to instil—not mere soundbites— whether it’s “CRT’ or… “instilling democracy in Iraq.” As the US self-described “liberators” —called “occupiers” by the rest of us— learned the hard way. Soundbites merely sufficed for announcing an election in Iraq.
Back in Canada, with no fixed election dates, snap elections give Canadians little time for stupid soundbites. As Canada’s first female prime minister, Kim Campbell, put it, “An election is no time to discuss issues.” Meanwhile, down in the States, where they have ample time to grasp things between fixed election dates, they apparently still use soundbites for their thinking. (There’s a reason college students have to write papers—without using AI.)
I imagine a Yankee disagreeing: “Thinking by soundbites? Are you kidding? I will have you know America is the most educated nation in the world!”
I respond: “Really? Can you spell MAGA?’ And let’s not claim every MAGA missed out on college. The current White House is full of graduates.”
“High schools,” a college student told me,“are to socialize kids to the social norms.” I get it. Like how teachers at driving school do their best, knowing their graduates, socialized to be safe, calm and courteous, will soon break the rules, each in their own way.
A teacher in Dead Poets Society, played by Robin Williams, learns a hard lesson in the end, expressed by his headmaster: Teach people “individuality,” yes, but only after they finish high school…Maybe at college?
Meanwhile, “real Americans” believe “democracy means simple talk.” Suspicious of articulate people, they are almost proud of being too impatient for theories or history.
My plain speaking principal in elementary school, during the Cold War, told us he wasn’t allowed to explain communism—so would he ever explain CRT? This when air raid sirens were wailing on Sundays. “Because,” he said, “it would be too easy to indoctrinate you by asking questions.” Back then, everyone knew that communists, like US democrats today, were under the beds everywhere. Even in Texas.
If society is the horse, then CRT and the Next Big Thing will follow in the cart.
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Sean Crawford
Two hours north of the border
October
2026
Footnote: Yesterday, (on October 4) blogger Seth Godin, who is white, wrote a post titled “Getting Critical.” I will quote him enough to give you an idea of whether you want to click the link:
Start of Post
I’d heard a lot about critical theory but didn’t really understand what was being talked about. The Frankfurt School of the 1930s…
Their core insight: most of what we call “normal” was designed by someone, for a reason, and that reason might not be your reason.
…The Frankfurt School wasn’t just academic. They were trying to explain how otherwise reasonable people went along with war, consumerism and conformity.
…It’s tempting to announce that some questions aren’t allowed.
Those are usually the most important questions.
End of Post
