Chicago City Wire

A recent Chicago Tribune editorial wonders what may be motivating the Critical Race Theory (CRT) debate in the country’s growing divide over the controversial teachings.

“Are they defending CRT or merely attacking its opponents,” writes columnist Clarence Page. “With that, I wonder whether I am sounding like the sort of CRT critic that Damon Linker, senior correspondent for The Week and author of books on the intersection of faith and politics, described in an essay headlined, “The left is anti-anti-Critical Race Theory.”

In the end, Page contends that he’s detected a growing pattern where many CRT supporters typically react to the anti-CRT movement by condemning their conservative opponents as opposed to expressing their own reservations about the excesses of the pro-CRT movement.

“A lot of white people, in particular, have grown weary and resentful of being called racist and having the history and mainstream culture of their country attacked and demeaned,” Page added.

Illinois State history professor Andrew Hartman called this divide over CRT typical for culture wars, where "the issue itself is not always the thing driving the controversy", he told NPR.

Hartman, author of A War for the Soul of America: A History of the Culture Wars, said he's not "really sure that the conservatives right now know what it is or know its history." He posits that conservatives have increasingly viewed the United States as a "colorblind society," and people now want simple answers in the wake of the Black Lives protests. 

"And so critical race theory becomes a stand-in for this larger anxiety about people being upset about persistent racism," he told NPR.

Former GOP state Rep. Jeanne Ives has left no doubt about where she stands on the issue, recently praising a group of parents for speaking out against CRT at a school board meeting, the Chicago City Wire reported.

“Tonight a group of brave parents and residents of D99 school district discussed their opposition to critical race theory instruction in their schools, When a few speakers incorrectly stated that there was a bill mandating it, the superintendent arrogantly asked them to show him the bill." Ives said. "The speakers mixed up the mandate for universities to begin teaching CRTL - Culturally Responsive Teaching and Leading standards as directed by JCAR. But they were right that that mandate will flow into the K-12 schools. And they were right that CRTL instructs in CRT.”

Ives argues it’s all been part of a master plan by CRT supporters to get what they want when it comes to changing the system.

“The school leaders questioned the speakers knowing that D99 has already infused CRT- type training into their schools,” she said. “Diversity, equity and inclusion training uses much of the same foundational tenets as CRT. So keep speaking up, D99 parents, because the district leaders want to intimidate you rather than have honest conversations.”