Teacher and counselor Christopher Paslay wrote in the Introduction to this 2021 booklet, “[This book] is specifically designed to equip mothers, fathers, and concerned citizens with the knowledge, tools, and resources to engage in one of the most important educational battles of our lifetime---the fight against Critical Race Theory infiltrating K-12 schools.” (Pg. 7) He continues, “To the parents fighting again CRT: you are not racist of bad people. Your instincts about Critical Race Theory are correct… You are not alone. The majority of Americans oppose CRT… You are a part of a steadily growing movement of concerned parents across America, mothers and fathers of all races and political affiliations, who know in their hearts CRT is the wrong way to go.” (Pg. 7) He suggests that the reader “ask yourself these 10 questions: 1. Should we be teaching children that all White people are inherently racist?” … 2. Should we be teaching children that America is a systematically racist country based in White supremacy?... 3. Should we be teaching children that all racial disparities are the sole result of racism?... 4. Should we be teaching children that you are ether racist or antiracist, and that there is no neutral?... 5. … that White America is inherently anti-Black, and that all Whites suffer from an unconscious bias against people of color? … 6. Should we be polarizing children into tribal camps based on race, and teaching them to view the world as oppressors vs oppressed?...7. … that things such as linear time, work ethic, individualism, and the scientific method are aspects of White supremacy culture?... 8. …that so-called ‘Whiteness’ is problematic, and must be targeted and disrupted? … 9. … that being nice, cooperative, and compliant is racist, and that White silence is violence?... 10. That the most important determinant of success in their lives is skin color?” (Pg. 8-9) He outlines, “a clear and concise summary of [CRT’s] main principles are needed. They are as follows: *Color consciousness… *Cultural separatism… *Opposition to Whiteness… *Emphasis of systems… *Use of Marxism… *Use of deconstruction… *Subjective truth… *Political activism.” (Pg. 17-18) He argues, “Does the history being taught in your child’s school incorporate troublesome elements of CRT? Ask yourself these questions: *Does the teaching of ‘accurate history’ in your child’s school involve using the historically inaccurate 1619 Project? *Does the teaching of ‘accurate history’ in your child’s school involve altering factually accurate historical records by changing events to fit a political narrative? *Does the teaching of ‘accurate history’ in your child’s school disproportionally represent negative historical accounts of America’s founding, or reinterpret America’s founding principles or ideals?” (Pg. 41) He asserts, “Parents should approach with caution curriculum that includes one of more of the following: Any material from Ibram X. Kendi… or Robin DiAngelo… Any activity, lesson, or material that uses the phrase ‘White privilege,’ ‘White fragility,’ or so-called ‘White supremacy’… Any activity … [that] encourages a student to admit to or acknowledge their anti-blackness… Any curriculum that focuses too heavily on identity… Any curriculum that targets ‘Whiteness’… Any lesson or activity that divides or polarizes students by race… Any lesson or activity that … uses or includes the 1619 Project, which is historically inaccurate… Any lesson or activity that uses or includes Black Lives Matter curriculum, which is agenda-driven… and based in partisan politics.” (Pg. 43-44) He states, “Critical Race Theory has used cultural relativism to argue that shared universal values are impossible, because any ‘shared universal value’ is really just another form of White supremacy culture. In other words, Whites are the dominant group in society, so … these values will be biased in favor of Whites and against people of color… All values, therefore, are culturally relative. The result of this strict resistance to anything shared or universal is CULTURAL SEPARATISM… CRT insists… we must … be forever race-conscious and continue to view the world and everything in it through the lens of race and identity.” (Pg. 48) He concludes, “To the parents fighting against CRT, remember… You are on the right side of history, The pushback against CRT is an organic extension of the Civil Rights Movement, and falls directly in line with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘Dream.’ Those pushing CRT, who now teach that color-blindness is ‘racist,’ are the ones who have lost their way. History will … reveal that using an identity-based approach focusing on skin color… was wrong-headed and counterproductive… We will defeat CRT and bring all people together as Americans and as human beings.” (Pg. 68) This book will appeal to those interested in the question of school curriculum and CRT.
