“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.”
― George Orwell
As one reads Orwell’s classic book “1984” the main character’s job is to purge reading materials on behalf of the state that would contradict any past pronouncements by leaders of the Brotherhood. This is most visible in today’s attempt by the GOP to whitewash history on behalf of their messianic leader. For them to allow anything to contradict the leaders is tantamount to treason.
America has had an accepted narrative about itself for decades despite large parts of its history being ignored or purged from the American memory whether internment camps for Asians, denying women and minorities the right to vote, slavery (while covered is given short shrift) the passage of the American Plan of 1919, and many other chapters of America. Unfortunately, a large segment of Americans tend to be quite ignorant about their history. Even it’s history with the pandemic of 1918 is largely forgotten or ignored. Americans cling to it’s belief of militaristic superiority even as it has been unable to conquer Vietnam or Afghanistan. They hold onto the 2nd amendment as if it’s manna from heaven and the idea of patriotism has often devolved into boorish shouts of USA, USA at wrestling and sporting events. There is no doubt that America is a great nation but it is not without a dark side which has had a severe affect on the wellbeing and prosperity of millions of people and their progeny.
Nonetheless, the dominant narrative of America has always been subject to a counter narrative whether through feminist teachings, the 1619 project, Carter Woodsen initiating Black history month, Native American or Hispanic history. The reality is that America does have great historians such as Jon Meachem, Doris Kearns Goodwin or Micheal Beschloss who do not shy away from the dark chapters of American history.
Through sheer determination historically marginalized groups have fought to highlight accomplishments of people other than white males. The latest challenge to the dominant historical narrative is critical race theory. This theory was started in the 1970’s by academics such as Derrick Bell, Kimberley Crenshaw and Richard Delgado. Essentially critical race theory postulates that racial outcomes are a function of institutional dynamics rather than individual prejudice. It would in essence confront the notion that success is merely based on merit. This basic tenet is not controversial. No-one who is rational would deny the negative affects that decades and centuries of oppression has had upon segments of the American society. While the dominant culture tries to draw a straight line between merit and success, critical race theory draws a line between race and the adverse conditions that affect the achievement of success.
The reaction to critical race theory, which is presently taught in over 100 institutions, goes beyond the public rumination that it may make white children feel guilty as former Fox News commentator Megan Kelly told Bill Mahr. The most vocal critics of critical race theory are usually part of the right wing conservative segment of America who have been raised and indoctrinated with a sense of white American supremacy whether overtly or subliminally. The American narrative whether through media, newspapers, books, educational institutions or theological seminaries, is generally organized around a premise of white male supremacy. The dominant culture’s control of the historical narrative is why the accepted and most readily recognizable image of Jesus is the 1940 portrait by American artist Warner Sallman. Nonetheless, it must be said that while various media consciously promotes white supremacy much of it is not done intentionally but is a function of what critical race theory would recognize as a broader societal system that inherently promotes this line of thinking. This is what makes critical race theory a potentially valuable tool in analyzing history and it’s effects.
The problem with the American narrative is what Oleksandr Vodiannikov refers to as mistake metaphorsism. The narrative mistakenly starts with the idea of America as a historic land of opportunity and freedom even as over one half of it’s population was enslaved or denied the vote. The acceptance of this initial mistake prevented the nation from correcting its original sin before it ultimately resulted in the Civil War and subsequent conflicts over race and gender which continue to this day.
Politically this controversy over critical race theory is about who controls the narrative about American history. America has been described through the lens of a city on a hill, American exceptionalism and the indispensable nation. Despite these grandiose depictions it has struggled with the contradictions and it’s consequences which also define its past and present day realities. Critical race theory does not rewrite American history but rather corrects and analyzes its effects on marginalized communities. From correcting the lie that General Robert E. Lee was a benevolent slave owner, ignoring the New Deals deliberate agreement to ignore African Americans, the gentleman’s agreement of Yale University to Milton Friedman’s absurd statement about the minimum wage when he said “I have often said that the most anti-black law on the books of this land is the minimum wage law.” The stupidity of that statement cannot be overstated.
While some would wrongly espouse the notion that history should not be a matter of politics, the reality is that teaching history is a political act designed to create a narrative and mythology for the benefit of its population. There will always be two strands to this narrative. One strand is to maintain the status quo which benefits the dominant culture and its socially constructed perception of superiority. The other strand emanates from the historically disenfranchised who as they emerge from the bonds of oppression want their story to be told not as an addendum to history but an equal chapter.
Unsurprisingly, the dominant culture is fighting back. History shows that the dominant culture hates its perceived and socially constructed dominance to be challenged especially by people that it considers to be inferior. The specious and false charge of reverse racism has always been a rallying cry. The current theme however which is rampant amongst the extreme right of American society (which unfortunately includes some black conservatives whose self worth is only credentialed through white acceptance ) is the great replacement theory. This term coined by Renaud Camus and used as a campaign strategy by Marie Le Pen is now being promulgated by people such as Tucker Carlson and was seen in plain view during the Charlottesville March. School boards in states such as Pennsylvania are looking to ban books about Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. School board members across the nation are being threatened by white supremacist groups whose membership has grown since the January 6th insurrection. The right wing white community will fight politically and even violently to defend what they believe is their god-given right to promote the idea of a societal hierarchy with whites at the top. The absurd statements by GOP officials that the presidential election was stolen is not simply based on wanting to hold onto their elected office but is also reflective of their affinity with the idea of white supremacy. In their mind there is no way their golden calf could have lost.
Critical Race Theory is a direct confrontation with the dominant narrative that has permeated every segment of society from school boards, corporate boards, Christian pulpits to the White House. As one looks over the history of the Southern Baptist Church and the Mormon Church their once held theology deemed blacks to be inferior. Whether from President Woodrow Wilson, the late William F. Buckley and to a lesser degree George Will, both highly erudite men, the narrative is centered in white male supremacy. While the ignorance and failures of former President Trump proves why white male supremacy is a fallacy he nonetheless sought to legitimize white supremacy to a degree that no recent president has tried to do. President Ronald Reagan was clearly a racist (albeit more subtle) as recently unearthed audio tapes of him prove as well as Richard Nixon who subscribed to Arthur Jensen’s theory of race. Despite their intellectual prowess or in Reagan’s case the lack of it, they could not see how their mindset resulted in a profoundly negative affect on large segments of society.
America is going through a metamorphosis on several levels whether demographically or politically. It is becoming more diverse, racially, ethically and gender-wise and at the same time exhibiting a form of politics that can only be described as insane. While the dominant culture will not lose its place in American society, demands are being made which has left it feeling threatened and scapegoated. What must be remembered however is that the dominant culture in general and white males in particular will have their protectors whether Donald Trump who will use them for his own gain or Bill Mahr who is not a friend of communities of color particularly black males. Just ask Wayne Brady.
While America has always struggled over race, the George Floyd murder was a galvanizing event that initiated world wide protests that forced people to deal with the issue of excessive use of force by police departments. This led to efforts to reform police departments although it ultimately failed because of South Carolina Senator Tim Scott who the GOP has anointed as their black protector of the dominant culture.
History is a never-ending journey for truth and analysis yet generations of Americans from all backgrounds have been raised on a narrative that is lacking in it’s accuracy and inclusiveness. Despite the hysteria exhibited by conservative white Americans and some of their black conservative allies, critical race theory can be a useful tool for American society. While it is centered in the issue of race, if done correctly it will expose the American mythology of success and opportunity being solely based on merit not only for people of color but the white community as well.
The key is not to use critical race theory as a prosecutorial tool but an instructive one that will lead people to engage in critical thinking about how to improve society’s approach to achievement and success.
The best lens to see America through is not American exceptionalism, a city on a hill or the indispensable nation, but rather “in order to form a more perfect union.” For America to become “more perfect” it must not only honor its past but acknowledge its dark history not just with platitudes but concrete action that will prevent recurrences of it’s mistakes.
America is a great country with an opportunity to move closer towards becoming a more perfect union. Critical race theory may be painful for many people but as the good book says “ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free”