Republicans Continue to Rally Against Specter of Critical Race Theory The TN GOP offers no evidence the ban actually protects kids â and it may instead deny kids a full and accurate education Tweet Share
Tennessee Republicans continue to rally around the cultural crusade of the moment: banning the school of thought known as critical race theory. The theory, which in part explores how systems and institutions perpetuate inequality, somehow became a national GOP talking point, with lawmakers and talking heads claiming CRT has seeped into elementary schools to teach our kids that some people are inherently racist, or that this countryâs sole function is to oppress people of color.Â
From Bill Freeman Tweet
Rep. Jeremy FaisonPhoto: Eric England
A recent article by Tennessee Lookoutâs Holly McCall caught my eye â mainly because of its use of the old term âwelfare queensâ in its headline.
McCall took readers back to the days of Ronald Reagan, who popularized the term. Itâs completely inappropriate terminology for any time, and Reagan used it to describe poor and predominantly Black Americans who he said were gaming our safety-net system to reap benefits rather than take a job to provide for their families.Â
Using the story of one welfare âcheat,â Reagan and his followers made vast generalizations. But as McCall points out, while there are some people who are gaming the system to get benefits, âanyone who thinks most people enjoy applying for welfare, food stamps or unemployment are insensitive and immune to facts.â