Editor,

Seems to be a lot of confusion about “critical race theory,” which some want to you to interpret as “critical of the white race” theory.

First of all, Karl Marx had nothing to do with it. It was born several decades ago at Yale —hardly a bastion of left-wing ideas. It examines race, ie. the American caste system, as a social construct, offering a framework for understanding its role in our laws and legal institutions: Ghetto, creating redlining, the FHA denial of home loans to people of color and exclusion of black soldiers from the GI Bill post WWII are just three examples.

It is taught in some law schools not in elementary, middle or high school.

Don’t be fooled, this is just another ploy of the Republican party on behalf of the oligarchy — the super rich, i.e. “corporations are people” folk — to deflect dialogue from real issues like our growing climate crisis, which they alone amongst the world’s political parties deny.

So, why all this attention now? An internet search of the term “critical race theory” reveals it appeared 1,361 times in U.S. newspapers from January 2000 to January, 2021, but a whopping 6,000-plus times in the first six months of 2021.

Could the success of the Black Lives Matter, Me Too movements and others in raising awareness about social inequity and historic brutality be threatening to the social order historically benefiting rich, white men such as the the Koch Bros.

What those decrying CRT are really opposed to, and they admit it, is teaching the complete, unadulterated history of this great country. They say they are afraid that if the dark side of American history is taught, white children will feel bad. So, who are the snowflakes now?

Dying of whiteness is a thing. Many of the problems we face can be directly related to those able to manipulate white supremacists and Christian nationalists.

Alt-right conservatives like Trump have often used race baiting as a tactic to excite their base.

CRT is just another manipulative strategy of the oligarchy to maintain control using right wing media like Fox, which, yes, many studies, like that done by the University of Maryland, demonstrate is an effective misinformation tool.

That study demonstrated that Fox viewers are less informed than those who watch no news at all, according to U.S. News & World Report, “University study: Fox viewers more misinformed.”

If we want a healthier more opportune future we need to be less reactive and better informed. Truth, indeed, is a navigational tool.

Gary Piazzon

Coupeville