There is a huge difference between teaching honest history, and “critical race theory.”

Honest history should include the enslavement of Black people, what happened to Native Americans, the confinement of Japanese Americans during WWII, Irish persecution in the 1800’s (just a very few examples of many). It should include the discrimination and mistreatment of anyone perceived to be different. I did not list everything, just a few examples.

Critical race theory is not taught in elementary schools or high schools.

It’s a method of examination taught in college that helps analyze if systemic racism exists and whether it has an effect on law and public policy, or not.

Legislation (Bills) now being pushed in several states by the GOP, is labeling any curriculum content that would make a White student feel uncomfortable as “Critical Race Theory.” That in a nutshell, Whites are the bad guys, and Blacks are always victims. It is an intentional misuse of the term. They are banking on the hope that most of the GOP base won’t bother to find out what Critical Race Theory actually is, and just run with what “they are told” by their leaders.

White-washing history won’t make it go away. Labeling honest teaching (the history of ALL of us) as something it isn’t, won’t change it. Truth can be very uncomfortable, and that is okay. It is not the teacher’s job to make kids feel good about the darker parts of our history. It also isn’t the teacher’s job to put past blame on current students.

Politicians that are campaigning right now and jumping on the “I will ban Critical Race Theory” bandwagon, are actually “crying wolf” over something that isn’t even happening.

Copyright © 2009–2026 Maria Appleby for Maria’s Musings: Tales My Heart Tells. All Rights Reserved.