Critical Race Theory (CRT) From the Perspective of a Student

CRT of Critical Race Theory has been taught for many years and now we are starting to see an impact in the youth of tomorrow. Many of you do not know that CRT really is but most likely you have come across it in your daily life with or without realizing it. CRT or Critical Race Theory is the teaching that problems such as Opportunity, Quality of Education, Quality of life and many other issues are caused and still being caused based on race. While this was true in the past what separates CRT from history is the idea that the oppressors (White European People) should be punished for things that happened in the past and things that will happen in the future. I have seen firsthand the affect this can have on people.

For example, when I was in 6th grade, I asked my teacher why Christopher Columbus was “Racist” She replied that he was an “Evil European Man” who was trying to travel to India to investigate better places to find slaves, but in reality, Columbus was trying to find better trade routes for the Spanish economy, he thought he had reached India. Once he arrived at this “India”, he found natives to what he thought was India so he called them “Indians”, this was not a racist term this was a logical conclusion for which he would be called a racist and an oppressor over 200 years later. After class I brought this up to the teacher and I was instantly called a racist and a white supremacist by the teacher. This was my first experience with the CRT ideals but, this would definitely not be my last encounter.

Only 7 months later I entered into the 7th grade; a year that felt like a lifetime. This was mostly due to the fact of the larger curriculum and shorter class periods; this was one of the first times I would have homework. Another big difference was having more than one teacher. Attending centennial Jr would definitely be different. I remember my English teacher getting into big debates with me over all sorts of subjects such as forms of government, taxes, gun control, education, but all of our discussions seemed to come back to race. One example of this was when we were talking about the new founded idea to have government funded solar power plants. I said to my teacher “That sounds great and all but how is the government going to pay for it” he replied “The government would most likely just tax the rich white people” I was shocked by this, so I asked “Why only the rich white people? Why not the rich black people and the rich Asian people” He called me a racist then not knowing what to do I left after the bell rang of course.

This was the turning point for me, I knew that something was wrong with what was being taught but I didn’t know what to do about it. I decided before I did anything I should ask my fellow students what they thought about this new idea, some agreed that something should be done about it but, none of them were wiling to do anything about it. It was very sad to see that the indoctrination had already brain washed the majority. Are we so blind that we punish each other for asking honest questions? I felt like a out cast walking through the halls of a brain wash center. It seemed whenever I questioned this “CRT” I was called a “Racist” and a “White supremacist”. For a time, I really did think that I was a racist and that I should be punished for being white.

It wasn’t in tell the next year I recovered my resolve and courage to fight this corruption. By now I was in the 8th grade, this would be the most action filled school year for me so far. I recall being sent to the principal’s office over 15 different times. For everything, I even got sent to the office for wearing “Gang Apparel” (I wore a Leather Jacket). Throughout this school year I would learn that I was on some sort of “Blacklist” for the school system. Now I have been in my fair share of trouble in my life, but this year was unlike any other. I was first placed on this blacklist I think for getting in a verbal fight over scholarships and how they should be available for everyone, instead a good portion of the scholarships out there literally state in the title that they are for “Minorites Only” Please tell me how this is not racist. Anyway, when I brought this up with my Utah history teacher, I was called a “Discriminatory Bigot” by my fellow students after there remarks I was asked to stay after class. So, I did; I stayed after class and was told that my way of thinking was incorrect and that It would not be tolerated.

During my ninth-grade year I transferred over to Shoreline junior high because it was closer to my house. I was glad this happened because I was sick and tired of being in centennials blacklist. Funny enough after I transferred to shoreline, I didn’t get in trouble for voicing my opinion, I thought this was because people were starting to agree with me but, this wasn’t the real reason. I came to the cold conclusion that people were even more afraid of voicing their opinions about CRT and other such problems. I soon discovered the reason that I wasn’t getting in nearly as much trouble was because no one else was listening to me. Back at centennial others were following me without my knowledge, they were asking their teachers about CRT which brought more attention to me their leader. Now that I was at shoreline, I was alone amongst over 2000 brain washed students.

One year later I really started releasing how much of my friends and past supporters did not care anymore, they were sick of being punished so they simply fell into the indoctrination. I soon learned why they did this, all because of the added curriculum. In World History we read the book “The Silk Roads: A New History of the World” Even the title seems wrong “A New History of the World”. I have read about other countries in the past such as Germany, Russia, and China but it was very different to see it in my country in my state in my school. I think that it was Edmund Burke who said, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it”. I think that changing the history books is going to lead to a little repeating. In this book they go over all sorts of different perspectives on the silk roads but in all of these “Perspectives” the white people are framed as evil rich Europeans who only want to hurt people of color.

This book was clearly part of the CRT curriculum but, little to my knowledge we would read one with a new level of indoctrination that book is “It’s Trevor Noah: Born A Crime”. This book is about a kid named Trevor who grew up in south Africa, the book goes over how race impacted his life and has very strong undertones of how white people are oppressors and how they cause the majority of the problems in the world. In this quote found in chapter 5 it states: “So many black families spend all of their time trying to fix the problems of the past. That is the curse of being black and poor, and it is a curse that follows you from generation to generation. My mother calls it “the black tax.” Because the generations who came before you have been pillaged, rather than being free to use your skills and education to move forward, you lose everything just trying” Call me stupid but I don’t see how this book meant for ages 8-12 fits into 10th grade English. If you don’t think that this CRT is harmful yet hold on to something for this quote also found in chapter 15:” There is also this to consider: The name Hitler does not offend a black South African because Hitler is not the worst thing a black South African can imagine.”

Heavenly Father, little children are dear to your heart and your angels are always ready to protect them. Thank you for those who are fighting back against CRT and helping others to fight back also. We ask that you would embolden your people to take action and voice their concerns at the local level, and give the state legislators and national leaders courage to speak what is true, so that our children and young people will know the right path to follow. We lift these requests to you in the name of Jesus. Amen