Barring Critical Race Theory Is Conservatives’ Latest Pathetic Political Stunt

Republicans seek to rewrite history in public school curriculums while whitewashing systemic racism and riling up the GOP base

Photo: Getty Images

Last week, the Nevada Family Alliance suggested that teachers in the Washoe County School District wear body cameras to ensure that they’re not teaching critical race theory to students. I’m surprised they didn’t also suggest dogs be trained to sniff out signs of White guilt. Maybe at the next school board meeting?

“Creating a record that could be viewed by appropriate parties, if necessary, might be the best way to urge teachers to stick to traditional teaching,” said Karen England, executive director and founder of the Nevada Family Alliance, in a statement released last Wednesday.

“We expect that the teachers’ unions will reject this proposal immediately,” England added. “But we should ask, what they have to hide? If police do a better job interacting with the public when they are wearing body cameras, how much more important is it for teachers to do the same?”

Like many of you, until very recently I was blessedly unaware of the existence of the Nevada Family Alliance, which purports to be a “watchdog organization” that analyzes legislation and notifies Nevadans of bills related to “key issues” such as “religious freedom, parental rights, sanctity of life, marriage and family, and education.” The organization also notes, “We exist to give you the tools necessary to take action on behalf of your family and in defense of your freedoms.”

Sound familiar?

It should, because it sounds like the same White noise masquerading as a freedom call. This is an organization designed to rile people up based on their prejudices in order to make political issues out of matters that ought to be apolitical. In doing so, they distract from more serious issues like Republicans trying to stage a coup while letting American suffer and rot under the weight of gross inequality. Because they know much of their base has been conditioned to often value their Whiteness/culture anxiety over their well-being.