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On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters & Why You Should Care
What exactly is critical race theory? This concise and accessible exploration demystifies a crucial framework for understanding and fighting racial injustice in the United States.
“A clear-eyed, expert field guide.”—Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom, author of Thick
From renowned scholar Dr. Victor Ray, On Critical Race Theory explains the centrality of race in American history and politics, and how the often mischaracterized intellectual movement became a political necessity.
Ray draws upon the radical thinking of giants such as Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to clearly trace the foundations of critical race theory in the Black intellectual traditions of emancipation and the civil rights movement. From these foundations, Ray explores the many facets of our society that critical race theory interrogates, from deeply embedded structural racism to the historical connection between whiteness and property, ownership, and more.
In succinct, thoughtful essays, Ray presents, analyzes, and breaks down the scholarship and concepts that constitute this often misconstrued term. He explores how the conversation on critical race theory has expanded into the contemporary popular conscience, showing why critical race theory matters and why we should all care.
“A clear-eyed, expert field guide.”—Dr. Tressie McMillan Cottom, author of Thick
From renowned scholar Dr. Victor Ray, On Critical Race Theory explains the centrality of race in American history and politics, and how the often mischaracterized intellectual movement became a political necessity.
Ray draws upon the radical thinking of giants such as Ida B. Wells, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to clearly trace the foundations of critical race theory in the Black intellectual traditions of emancipation and the civil rights movement. From these foundations, Ray explores the many facets of our society that critical race theory interrogates, from deeply embedded structural racism to the historical connection between whiteness and property, ownership, and more.
In succinct, thoughtful essays, Ray presents, analyzes, and breaks down the scholarship and concepts that constitute this often misconstrued term. He explores how the conversation on critical race theory has expanded into the contemporary popular conscience, showing why critical race theory matters and why we should all care.
224 pages, Paperback
Published April 25, 2023
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February 20, 2024
Many people have an opinion about Critical Race Theory (CRT). A majority of those opinions are based on faulty information. More often than not—-in my experience—-opponents of CRT are unable to actually define it when asked to elaborate.
Harlan Ellison once said, “You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.”
The key word in that quote is “entitled”, which is defined as “believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.” This word, more than any other, is perhaps the best word to describe the forces of white privilege/supremacy that CRT is trying to bring to light.
A recent spate of books about CRT has been published to counteract the overload of disinformation and falsehoods about the academic movement, espoused by Republicans as an attempt to confuse and mislead the public. While I have not read them all, the one I have read is as concise and succinct an explanation of CRT that I have read thus far, one that may be a good start when conducting further research into the subject.
Victor Ray’s “On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters & Why You Should Care” may be short (129 pages of text, with nearly 30 pages of endnotes), but it is dense with information, and it requires careful reading.
A brief summary of Ray’s main points might be helpful but would ultimately be a disservice to his in-depth and nuanced approach to the subject. Nevertheless, I will attempt to give a concise encapsulation of Ray’s already wonderfully concise examination.
It may help to first point out what CRT isn’t. It is not, as some CRT opponents have incorrectly implied, an attempt to alter history through a lens of anti-white historical revisionism. It is not taught in any school, at any level. While some primary and secondary educators may have an academic knowledge of CRT, it is not something that can be implemented into any school curriculum. Ignoramuses, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who claim that schools are being overrun with CRT agendas (read “woke”), have little to no idea what a CRT agenda actually looks like or that it even exists at all. (Spoiler: it doesn’t.)
CRT, as described by Ray, is simply a belief—substantiated by lots of historical evidence—-that racism has played, and continues to play, a significant role in how our society is structured, in everything from education to the economy to the law. More importantly, it’s the belief that racism has been, and continues to be, a major motivator in American history. Racism is built into the political system of our country, and it is this systemic racism that continues to stifle and counteract attempts to improve the lives of Americans, white and non-white alike.
At its core, CRT is founded on a few main beliefs: 1) Race is a social construct, not a biological one; 2) Racism is systemic; and 3) whiteness is more than just an identity, it is a sense of entitlement and property that has helped to maintain systemic racism throughout American history.
The rightness of these core beliefs should be obvious to anyone with skin in the game (no pun intended), but the fact that a major backlash against the CRT movement exists at all is clear evidence that it is not.
Harlan Ellison once said, “You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.”
The key word in that quote is “entitled”, which is defined as “believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.” This word, more than any other, is perhaps the best word to describe the forces of white privilege/supremacy that CRT is trying to bring to light.
A recent spate of books about CRT has been published to counteract the overload of disinformation and falsehoods about the academic movement, espoused by Republicans as an attempt to confuse and mislead the public. While I have not read them all, the one I have read is as concise and succinct an explanation of CRT that I have read thus far, one that may be a good start when conducting further research into the subject.
Victor Ray’s “On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters & Why You Should Care” may be short (129 pages of text, with nearly 30 pages of endnotes), but it is dense with information, and it requires careful reading.
A brief summary of Ray’s main points might be helpful but would ultimately be a disservice to his in-depth and nuanced approach to the subject. Nevertheless, I will attempt to give a concise encapsulation of Ray’s already wonderfully concise examination.
It may help to first point out what CRT isn’t. It is not, as some CRT opponents have incorrectly implied, an attempt to alter history through a lens of anti-white historical revisionism. It is not taught in any school, at any level. While some primary and secondary educators may have an academic knowledge of CRT, it is not something that can be implemented into any school curriculum. Ignoramuses, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who claim that schools are being overrun with CRT agendas (read “woke”), have little to no idea what a CRT agenda actually looks like or that it even exists at all. (Spoiler: it doesn’t.)
CRT, as described by Ray, is simply a belief—substantiated by lots of historical evidence—-that racism has played, and continues to play, a significant role in how our society is structured, in everything from education to the economy to the law. More importantly, it’s the belief that racism has been, and continues to be, a major motivator in American history. Racism is built into the political system of our country, and it is this systemic racism that continues to stifle and counteract attempts to improve the lives of Americans, white and non-white alike.
At its core, CRT is founded on a few main beliefs: 1) Race is a social construct, not a biological one; 2) Racism is systemic; and 3) whiteness is more than just an identity, it is a sense of entitlement and property that has helped to maintain systemic racism throughout American history.
The rightness of these core beliefs should be obvious to anyone with skin in the game (no pun intended), but the fact that a major backlash against the CRT movement exists at all is clear evidence that it is not.
January 1, 2023
This is a really solid entry into the world of CRT if you’re not familiar at all start here to get the lay of the land. It’ll also give you lots of resources for what to read to deepen understanding. didn’t feel like I personally learned much but I had already read many of the works cited so it was a bit boring. The writing is extremely approachable. It’s meant for a lay audience.
July 6, 2022
“Intentionally or by accident, when ideas move from academia to the public, meaning and nuance are often lost or erased. And popularizers with a political agenda don’t necessarily represent academic arguments faithfully, or in line with the empirical evidence.”
CRT has become quite the buzzword recently, most often wielded those who have little understanding of the term and little interest in learning the nuances. Victor Ray’s book is an engaging, accessible overview of the history and content of critical race theory, as well as the ways it’s been willfully misunderstood or misapplied recently in the public sphere. This book is short but thoroughly researched and footnoted, guiding readers to lots of further reading.
(I was provided a free copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in return for my honest review.)
CRT has become quite the buzzword recently, most often wielded those who have little understanding of the term and little interest in learning the nuances. Victor Ray’s book is an engaging, accessible overview of the history and content of critical race theory, as well as the ways it’s been willfully misunderstood or misapplied recently in the public sphere. This book is short but thoroughly researched and footnoted, guiding readers to lots of further reading.
(I was provided a free copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in return for my honest review.)
July 3, 2022
On Critical Race Theory by Victor Ray explains in accessible terms what CRT is and what it is not. In doing so, it also offers examples and stories to support the explanations.
Various aspects of CRT were part of my teaching so many of the ideas are not new to me. What this book, and CRT more generally, does is bring together research and ideas that have often been separated by academic discipline barriers and/or the tendency to focus too narrowly on an issue.
Readers need to read this and bracket any preconceived ideas, no matter how accurate or inaccurate they are. Take in these explanations and think about them on the terms offered. Slowly weave your own understandings and experiences into them, reread the book or (re)read some of the other sources Ray cites, and if you start to feel uncomfortable about some things, good, you should.
This is not an accusatory book nor is it confrontational. If readers come to it with a desire to understand they will be richly rewarded. Even those who currently speak out against CRT should read this since condemning that which you don't know is amazingly ignorant, to put it as nicely as I can.
I would recommend this to everyone. I don't care how much you have read or studied the topics included, having a work that brings it all together in accessible terms is a positive for everyone. I now have some good ways to explain ideas that I have struggled to explain in the past.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Various aspects of CRT were part of my teaching so many of the ideas are not new to me. What this book, and CRT more generally, does is bring together research and ideas that have often been separated by academic discipline barriers and/or the tendency to focus too narrowly on an issue.
Readers need to read this and bracket any preconceived ideas, no matter how accurate or inaccurate they are. Take in these explanations and think about them on the terms offered. Slowly weave your own understandings and experiences into them, reread the book or (re)read some of the other sources Ray cites, and if you start to feel uncomfortable about some things, good, you should.
This is not an accusatory book nor is it confrontational. If readers come to it with a desire to understand they will be richly rewarded. Even those who currently speak out against CRT should read this since condemning that which you don't know is amazingly ignorant, to put it as nicely as I can.
I would recommend this to everyone. I don't care how much you have read or studied the topics included, having a work that brings it all together in accessible terms is a positive for everyone. I now have some good ways to explain ideas that I have struggled to explain in the past.
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
August 26, 2022
Relevant and an absolute MUST READ. While there were some parts I didn't fully agree with, I believe it is probably due to more of a lack of understanding on my part. This book was enlightening, and it also made me very sad and angry at how the American system handles race. Hopefully, with help from books like this, we can press on toward a brighter and more equal future for all Americans.
August 15, 2022
This should be required reading for people entering the race conversation
I loved the writing.clear,concise and easy to understand academic concepts pertaining to CRT. Chapter lengths were perfect and i think this book would make for a great book club reading or panel on racism in America
I loved the writing.clear,concise and easy to understand academic concepts pertaining to CRT. Chapter lengths were perfect and i think this book would make for a great book club reading or panel on racism in America
July 27, 2022
TL;DR
On Critical Race Theory introduces the non-academic to the field of Critical Race Theory. Victor Ray identifies key topics in accessible essays that prepares the reader for the ideas being debated among scholars. Dr. Ray’s clear and concise writings make these complex topics easier for the non-academic to understand. It’s a much needed bit of education for those of us trying to counter false narratives about CRT. Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.
Review: On Critical Race Theory by Victor Ray
Propaganda is a part of life, an unfortunate part but a part nonetheless. Regardless of what political side a person takes, the propaganda comes from all directions. Old media – newspapers, television, and radio – carried propaganda as much as the news. New media – social media, blogs, YouTube, etc. – takes propaganda to new heights by allowing it to flourish within social bubbles. People are not just exposed to propaganda, they live in it. They experience it so much that they can no longer tell the difference between propaganda and facts. What’s more, political opportunists without morals will lie about certain things that they know their audiences are predisposed to oppose. No subject in my lifetime has been misrepresented so badly and so falsely as Critical Race Theory, also known as CRT. The political right’s current efforts to ban CRT stem from the fact that they don’t know what CRT really is. Into this fray steps Victor Ray, professor of sociology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Ray has written an introduction to Critical Race Theory for non-academics. On Critical Race Theory educates; it does not seek to refute the lies and misrepresentations. Instead, it presents the subject for what CRT truly is. On Critical Race Theory is a much needed look at the complexity of our society in a time when anti-democratic forces are trying to simplify in order to demonize.
On Critical Race Theory is a starting point. It is not the be all, end all of CRT, nor does it claim to be. Instead, it seeks to introduce non-academics to the topics that Critical Race Theory studies. In addition, Dr. Ray presents the readers with the foundational scholars who developed the field. The book is broken up into ten chapters, and each chapter focuses on one aspect that forms the root of CRT work. My arc has the following chapter names: “The Social Construction of Race,” “Structural Racism,” “Colorblind Racism,” “Racial Progress,” “Interest Convergence,” “Whiteness as Property,” “Counternarratives,” “Racialized Organizations,” “Intersectionality,” and “Identity Politics.” Each section is short but packed with good information and, of course, backed up with citations, as any good academic writing does. Also, each chapter starts with one or more quotations that summarize the chapter as a whole. On Critical Race Theory can be read quickly, but it’s worth taking the time to delve into the arguments Dr. Ray is making.
Chapters are further broken down into sections with their own headings. These section breaks highlight the arguments that will be coming. In addition, each chapter uses a mix of data, theory, and personal narrative to support Dr. Ray’s argument. To be clear, personal narrative doesn’t necessarily mean drawn from Dr. Ray’s life. Instead, personal narrative is a powerful tool that CRT uses to capture stories of discrimination and its repercussions. I found each chapter to be powerful and persuasive.
Debunking CRT's Critics
Dr. Ray does not seek to debunk CRT’s social media critics with his book. He realizes that its impossible to debunk lies because they will create more lies. It’s not possible to debate someone arguing in bad faith as most of the CRT critics on the political right are doing. For example, CRT is not being taught in elementary, secondary, or even high school, and when asked for evidence of it, the political right switches the conversation to something else because they cannot provide evidence to support their position. In the rare event that they do provide ‘evidence’ it turns out to have nothing to do with CRT as it really is. Dr. Ray’s goal is educate those willing to be educated, and he succeeds.
I’m not going to engage with CRT’s bad faith critics either. I do want to point out how many of their arguments center on white people’s reactions. They worry that white children will feel bad if they have to learn about America’s history. However, they never worry about how black children feel when they have to learn about how society treats black people. The white backlash to CRT focuses on white people, not black people.
The Social Construction of Race
Race, as we understand it, is not a biological reality, any more than blondes are a different species than brunettes. Simple exterior differences like hair, skin, or eye color do not change the interior. The differences that we amplify are meaningless in the grand scheme of things but are, unfortunately, not meaningless in terms of society. Society places value on differentiating skin tone because it has benefited the rich and powerful to do so. Arbitrary racial divides allow poor whites to feel superior over someone and not question why their wages are so low. Politicians use racial animus to terrify their constituents and create engagements. This is what CRT means when it says race is a social construct. Dr. Ray put it as the first chapter of his book, and all the following chapters depend on this one landing. It works well as a foundation for what follows but also as a basic clarification of CRT’s purpose. It’s looking at social issues as opposed to biological ones. It’s looking at society at large rather than individual actions.
Prior to reading this book, I struggled with the concept of race as a social construct. (I probably will for a long time.) I didn’t really understand what “social construct” meant because skin color is a visible difference. But Dr. Ray’s chapter clarified things in a way that will stick with me. This chapter was challenging while maintaining the language of the non-academic. Dr. Ray doesn’t write down to his readers but also doesn’t expect his readers to have a minor in sociology to understand him. He finds the right way to challenge the non-academic reader to learn without being too preachy or having too much jargon.
Will CRT Make Your Kid Feel Bad?
One of the ridiculous arguments for banning CRT from schools is that it will make white kids feel bad about themselves for being white. Frankly, if they’re teaching college/law school level classes to your middle schooler, you should be proud that you’re kid is smart enough to understand these complex topics. But let’s assume that the critics are not incredibly wrong and that CRT is being taught to middle and high school aged children. What will make them feel bad about themselves? I’m asking this question because after reading this primer, I see nothing that should make children feel bad. I’m a white man and reading this book didn’t make me feel bad about being white or male. Dr. Ray and CRT’s theorists point out how society is constructed to favor people who look like me.
Nowhere in the book does it say white people are bad. Let me repeat that. Nowhere in this book does it say white people are bad. But bad actors will see chapter headings like “Whiteness as Property” and create their own messed up narrative without reading what CRT actually says about the subject. Dr. Ray explains that whiteness is property because the simple act of being white allows access to resources that are denied to those deemed non-white. The United State has a history of separating resources and rights along racial lines. From the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision: ‘When the Constitution was adopted, they were not regarded in any of the States as members of the community which constituted the State, and were not numbered among its “people or citizens.” Consequently, the special rights and immunities guarantied to citizens do not apply to them.’ (60 U.S. 393 – 5) This is a fact about the U.S.’s history. Should it make a white person feel bad about it today? No. Should it make a white person realize this nation has a history of separating rights along racial lines? Yes. Should it make a white person question if this nation is still separating rights along racial lines? Yes. The point isn’t to make a person feel bad; it’s to make a person question societal structures. It’s to make us all ask if things can be more fair.
Banning CRT Proves It Speaks Truth to Power
As praise for this book, Jason Stanley, author of How Fascism Works, writes, “Regimes ban books when the books explain what is actually happening. Everyone who reads Victor Ray’s book will emerge understanding that this is exactly why critical race theory is being banned.” Mr. Stanley is 100% correct here. On Critical Race Theory describes in clear, easy to read essays complex societal interactions and injustices. It looks at historical facts like the Dred Scott case, redlining, differences in medical outcomes by race, voter suppression, etc., to see how these things came about, how they still affect us today, and how they cause racial divide. It looks at the founding of this nation and sees that slavery was codified into the constitution. It looks at the Tulsa race massacre that isn’t taught in schools and the “violent overthrow of a duly elected government, by a group of white supremacists” in Wilmington, North Carolina. CRT asks why the white mobs were not held accountable. How did they get away with it? It asks how did the reaction to reconstruction give the nation Jim Crow laws? How did our free society allow racism to be written into law?
In other words, CRT and, specifically, Dr. Ray’s book expose the dark side of U.S. history. It doesn’t allow us to imagine ourselves as a paradise of freedom upon the world stage. Nor does CRT allow us to say that these things were one-offs, aberrations, or temporary. CRT shows that even well meaning people can perform racist actions in a system with structural racism. CRT’s critics argue that police can’t be racist if there are black police. But that doesn’t explain the disparities in policing the black community and how racialized organizations can bring about racist outcomes despite the people in the organization not being racist.
Politics in our era – maybe for every era – is creating simple, unrealistic solutions to complex societal problems. Note this is different from policy that gets enacted. Politics is divorced from policy, which is why individuals like Elizabeth Warren, who has detailed policies, fail to capture public imagination. A politician’s job, whether we like it or not, is to present simple, short-term solutions to create the belief that electing them will fix society’s ills. But true healing is never simple or short term. It’s a long process, and to begin it, the patient needs to reconcile that there is a sickness. The U.S. has never, and maybe will never, reconcile with the fact that we were a nation born with the original sin of slavery. We had a chance with Reconstruction, but racism won that day. Critical Race Theory doesn’t let us bury our head in the sand. It forces us to confront that original sin and its effects through the years. CRT tells us that the solutions are complex. No politician wants to hear that. Voters on the political right don’t want to lose their place in the racial hierarchy. Voters on the political left don’t want hear that politics is more complex than class warfare. Voters don’t want to be challenged, and that’s what CRT does. Banning CRT shows that ideas are dangerous to those in power, and that the status quo depends on voter ignorance.
White Privilege
I’m going to borrow a little of Dr. Ray’s review to harp on a soapbox of mine. White privilege exists. Dr. Ray describes it much better than I can, and I recommend reading his chapter on identity politics. He cites Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privelege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” as reading material he assigns to his classes. I also like John Scalzi’s “Straight White Male: The Lowest Difficulty Setting There Is” as an explanation of white privilege. White Privilege exists whether you want to believe it or not. It turns out that most of us white folk don’t want to believe it exists. When I question people about this, they always talk about what a hard life they had. White privilege doesn’t mean that white people have easy lives. We don’t. A lot of us have really tough lives. But we don’t have to deal with the complications that being non-white add to life. If you want to question your privilege, think about your life. Think hard about the tough times you’ve had. That time you got pulled over by a cop for speeding. That time you were walking around Walmart looking for diapers for your baby. Now, how would those times have been different if you were black? Would you fear for your life during the interaction with a cop? Would you be followed around Walmart by a security guard? Maybe or maybe not. But if you ask black people, their answers to those everyday experiences might be different. It’s worth asking why.
Life is hard enough for most of us that we just want to get through the day. We don’t want to think that we have privilege. We work hard to pay our bills and never seem to get ahead financially. We worry about our kids education and future. We see our small towns emptying out because the economy is changing. We pay taxes and yet the roads always have potholes. Or, if you’re in MO, schools are going to four days because they can’t afford to keep the lights on. We don’t see how we could be privileged. Then we come across things like affirmative action or scholarships based on race. How can we be privileged if we don’t have access to all those things? It’s a question worth taking seriously. On Critical Race Theory takes it seriously, and anyone willing to listen in good faith to answers to those questions should read this book.
Conclusion
Victor Ray’s On Critical Race Theory introduce CRT to the non-academic. This book is filled with excellent introductions to complex topics and resources for further learning. In a more sane world, this book wouldn’t be needed. In this world, it serves an important purpose, giving people an accurate idea of what critical race theory is. People can debate its merits, but this book is sorely needed to counter all the bad faith arguments that exist. Victor Ray’s On Critical Race Theory is a book I’ll be reading again. Highly Recommended.
On Critical Race Theory by Victor Ray is available from Random House on August 2nd, 2022.
On Critical Race Theory introduces the non-academic to the field of Critical Race Theory. Victor Ray identifies key topics in accessible essays that prepares the reader for the ideas being debated among scholars. Dr. Ray’s clear and concise writings make these complex topics easier for the non-academic to understand. It’s a much needed bit of education for those of us trying to counter false narratives about CRT. Highly recommended.
Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.
Review: On Critical Race Theory by Victor Ray
Propaganda is a part of life, an unfortunate part but a part nonetheless. Regardless of what political side a person takes, the propaganda comes from all directions. Old media – newspapers, television, and radio – carried propaganda as much as the news. New media – social media, blogs, YouTube, etc. – takes propaganda to new heights by allowing it to flourish within social bubbles. People are not just exposed to propaganda, they live in it. They experience it so much that they can no longer tell the difference between propaganda and facts. What’s more, political opportunists without morals will lie about certain things that they know their audiences are predisposed to oppose. No subject in my lifetime has been misrepresented so badly and so falsely as Critical Race Theory, also known as CRT. The political right’s current efforts to ban CRT stem from the fact that they don’t know what CRT really is. Into this fray steps Victor Ray, professor of sociology at the University of Iowa. Dr. Ray has written an introduction to Critical Race Theory for non-academics. On Critical Race Theory educates; it does not seek to refute the lies and misrepresentations. Instead, it presents the subject for what CRT truly is. On Critical Race Theory is a much needed look at the complexity of our society in a time when anti-democratic forces are trying to simplify in order to demonize.
On Critical Race Theory is a starting point. It is not the be all, end all of CRT, nor does it claim to be. Instead, it seeks to introduce non-academics to the topics that Critical Race Theory studies. In addition, Dr. Ray presents the readers with the foundational scholars who developed the field. The book is broken up into ten chapters, and each chapter focuses on one aspect that forms the root of CRT work. My arc has the following chapter names: “The Social Construction of Race,” “Structural Racism,” “Colorblind Racism,” “Racial Progress,” “Interest Convergence,” “Whiteness as Property,” “Counternarratives,” “Racialized Organizations,” “Intersectionality,” and “Identity Politics.” Each section is short but packed with good information and, of course, backed up with citations, as any good academic writing does. Also, each chapter starts with one or more quotations that summarize the chapter as a whole. On Critical Race Theory can be read quickly, but it’s worth taking the time to delve into the arguments Dr. Ray is making.
Chapters are further broken down into sections with their own headings. These section breaks highlight the arguments that will be coming. In addition, each chapter uses a mix of data, theory, and personal narrative to support Dr. Ray’s argument. To be clear, personal narrative doesn’t necessarily mean drawn from Dr. Ray’s life. Instead, personal narrative is a powerful tool that CRT uses to capture stories of discrimination and its repercussions. I found each chapter to be powerful and persuasive.
Debunking CRT's Critics
Dr. Ray does not seek to debunk CRT’s social media critics with his book. He realizes that its impossible to debunk lies because they will create more lies. It’s not possible to debate someone arguing in bad faith as most of the CRT critics on the political right are doing. For example, CRT is not being taught in elementary, secondary, or even high school, and when asked for evidence of it, the political right switches the conversation to something else because they cannot provide evidence to support their position. In the rare event that they do provide ‘evidence’ it turns out to have nothing to do with CRT as it really is. Dr. Ray’s goal is educate those willing to be educated, and he succeeds.
I’m not going to engage with CRT’s bad faith critics either. I do want to point out how many of their arguments center on white people’s reactions. They worry that white children will feel bad if they have to learn about America’s history. However, they never worry about how black children feel when they have to learn about how society treats black people. The white backlash to CRT focuses on white people, not black people.
The Social Construction of Race
Race, as we understand it, is not a biological reality, any more than blondes are a different species than brunettes. Simple exterior differences like hair, skin, or eye color do not change the interior. The differences that we amplify are meaningless in the grand scheme of things but are, unfortunately, not meaningless in terms of society. Society places value on differentiating skin tone because it has benefited the rich and powerful to do so. Arbitrary racial divides allow poor whites to feel superior over someone and not question why their wages are so low. Politicians use racial animus to terrify their constituents and create engagements. This is what CRT means when it says race is a social construct. Dr. Ray put it as the first chapter of his book, and all the following chapters depend on this one landing. It works well as a foundation for what follows but also as a basic clarification of CRT’s purpose. It’s looking at social issues as opposed to biological ones. It’s looking at society at large rather than individual actions.
Prior to reading this book, I struggled with the concept of race as a social construct. (I probably will for a long time.) I didn’t really understand what “social construct” meant because skin color is a visible difference. But Dr. Ray’s chapter clarified things in a way that will stick with me. This chapter was challenging while maintaining the language of the non-academic. Dr. Ray doesn’t write down to his readers but also doesn’t expect his readers to have a minor in sociology to understand him. He finds the right way to challenge the non-academic reader to learn without being too preachy or having too much jargon.
Will CRT Make Your Kid Feel Bad?
One of the ridiculous arguments for banning CRT from schools is that it will make white kids feel bad about themselves for being white. Frankly, if they’re teaching college/law school level classes to your middle schooler, you should be proud that you’re kid is smart enough to understand these complex topics. But let’s assume that the critics are not incredibly wrong and that CRT is being taught to middle and high school aged children. What will make them feel bad about themselves? I’m asking this question because after reading this primer, I see nothing that should make children feel bad. I’m a white man and reading this book didn’t make me feel bad about being white or male. Dr. Ray and CRT’s theorists point out how society is constructed to favor people who look like me.
Nowhere in the book does it say white people are bad. Let me repeat that. Nowhere in this book does it say white people are bad. But bad actors will see chapter headings like “Whiteness as Property” and create their own messed up narrative without reading what CRT actually says about the subject. Dr. Ray explains that whiteness is property because the simple act of being white allows access to resources that are denied to those deemed non-white. The United State has a history of separating resources and rights along racial lines. From the Supreme Court’s Dred Scott decision: ‘When the Constitution was adopted, they were not regarded in any of the States as members of the community which constituted the State, and were not numbered among its “people or citizens.” Consequently, the special rights and immunities guarantied to citizens do not apply to them.’ (60 U.S. 393 – 5) This is a fact about the U.S.’s history. Should it make a white person feel bad about it today? No. Should it make a white person realize this nation has a history of separating rights along racial lines? Yes. Should it make a white person question if this nation is still separating rights along racial lines? Yes. The point isn’t to make a person feel bad; it’s to make a person question societal structures. It’s to make us all ask if things can be more fair.
Banning CRT Proves It Speaks Truth to Power
As praise for this book, Jason Stanley, author of How Fascism Works, writes, “Regimes ban books when the books explain what is actually happening. Everyone who reads Victor Ray’s book will emerge understanding that this is exactly why critical race theory is being banned.” Mr. Stanley is 100% correct here. On Critical Race Theory describes in clear, easy to read essays complex societal interactions and injustices. It looks at historical facts like the Dred Scott case, redlining, differences in medical outcomes by race, voter suppression, etc., to see how these things came about, how they still affect us today, and how they cause racial divide. It looks at the founding of this nation and sees that slavery was codified into the constitution. It looks at the Tulsa race massacre that isn’t taught in schools and the “violent overthrow of a duly elected government, by a group of white supremacists” in Wilmington, North Carolina. CRT asks why the white mobs were not held accountable. How did they get away with it? It asks how did the reaction to reconstruction give the nation Jim Crow laws? How did our free society allow racism to be written into law?
In other words, CRT and, specifically, Dr. Ray’s book expose the dark side of U.S. history. It doesn’t allow us to imagine ourselves as a paradise of freedom upon the world stage. Nor does CRT allow us to say that these things were one-offs, aberrations, or temporary. CRT shows that even well meaning people can perform racist actions in a system with structural racism. CRT’s critics argue that police can’t be racist if there are black police. But that doesn’t explain the disparities in policing the black community and how racialized organizations can bring about racist outcomes despite the people in the organization not being racist.
Politics in our era – maybe for every era – is creating simple, unrealistic solutions to complex societal problems. Note this is different from policy that gets enacted. Politics is divorced from policy, which is why individuals like Elizabeth Warren, who has detailed policies, fail to capture public imagination. A politician’s job, whether we like it or not, is to present simple, short-term solutions to create the belief that electing them will fix society’s ills. But true healing is never simple or short term. It’s a long process, and to begin it, the patient needs to reconcile that there is a sickness. The U.S. has never, and maybe will never, reconcile with the fact that we were a nation born with the original sin of slavery. We had a chance with Reconstruction, but racism won that day. Critical Race Theory doesn’t let us bury our head in the sand. It forces us to confront that original sin and its effects through the years. CRT tells us that the solutions are complex. No politician wants to hear that. Voters on the political right don’t want to lose their place in the racial hierarchy. Voters on the political left don’t want hear that politics is more complex than class warfare. Voters don’t want to be challenged, and that’s what CRT does. Banning CRT shows that ideas are dangerous to those in power, and that the status quo depends on voter ignorance.
White Privilege
I’m going to borrow a little of Dr. Ray’s review to harp on a soapbox of mine. White privilege exists. Dr. Ray describes it much better than I can, and I recommend reading his chapter on identity politics. He cites Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privelege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack” as reading material he assigns to his classes. I also like John Scalzi’s “Straight White Male: The Lowest Difficulty Setting There Is” as an explanation of white privilege. White Privilege exists whether you want to believe it or not. It turns out that most of us white folk don’t want to believe it exists. When I question people about this, they always talk about what a hard life they had. White privilege doesn’t mean that white people have easy lives. We don’t. A lot of us have really tough lives. But we don’t have to deal with the complications that being non-white add to life. If you want to question your privilege, think about your life. Think hard about the tough times you’ve had. That time you got pulled over by a cop for speeding. That time you were walking around Walmart looking for diapers for your baby. Now, how would those times have been different if you were black? Would you fear for your life during the interaction with a cop? Would you be followed around Walmart by a security guard? Maybe or maybe not. But if you ask black people, their answers to those everyday experiences might be different. It’s worth asking why.
Life is hard enough for most of us that we just want to get through the day. We don’t want to think that we have privilege. We work hard to pay our bills and never seem to get ahead financially. We worry about our kids education and future. We see our small towns emptying out because the economy is changing. We pay taxes and yet the roads always have potholes. Or, if you’re in MO, schools are going to four days because they can’t afford to keep the lights on. We don’t see how we could be privileged. Then we come across things like affirmative action or scholarships based on race. How can we be privileged if we don’t have access to all those things? It’s a question worth taking seriously. On Critical Race Theory takes it seriously, and anyone willing to listen in good faith to answers to those questions should read this book.
Conclusion
Victor Ray’s On Critical Race Theory introduce CRT to the non-academic. This book is filled with excellent introductions to complex topics and resources for further learning. In a more sane world, this book wouldn’t be needed. In this world, it serves an important purpose, giving people an accurate idea of what critical race theory is. People can debate its merits, but this book is sorely needed to counter all the bad faith arguments that exist. Victor Ray’s On Critical Race Theory is a book I’ll be reading again. Highly Recommended.
On Critical Race Theory by Victor Ray is available from Random House on August 2nd, 2022.
August 8, 2022
This is honestly one of the better books on structural and systemic racism out there. Victor Ray wrote a short, easy-to-understand book discussing a variety of racist policies and systems that are still affecting Black people in America to this day. I was instantly drawn in because like Victor, I’m half Black but look white and could relate to some of the experiences he’s had. But overall, I loved how he pointed out a ton of issues from policing, to low-income communities, to voting rights and much more.
I can see bad faith actors and those pushing anti-CRT propaganda picking this book apart and saying it doesn’t have enough data to back the claims. I personally don’t think that’s what this book was for. While Ray does cite different stats and data, he doesn’t do a deep dive into them. There are plenty of books about that, and I’ve read most of them. I read every book with a ton of skepticism, and nothing in this book stood out as questionable.
If you want a better understanding of how racism is still alive and well in America, you need to read this book. If you don’t think racism is an issue in America, then you definitely need to read this book.
I can see bad faith actors and those pushing anti-CRT propaganda picking this book apart and saying it doesn’t have enough data to back the claims. I personally don’t think that’s what this book was for. While Ray does cite different stats and data, he doesn’t do a deep dive into them. There are plenty of books about that, and I’ve read most of them. I read every book with a ton of skepticism, and nothing in this book stood out as questionable.
If you want a better understanding of how racism is still alive and well in America, you need to read this book. If you don’t think racism is an issue in America, then you definitely need to read this book.
November 23, 2024
“Critics claim that Critical Race Theory is tearing apart a national fabric are actually conceding the point that racism is central to American history.”
Please read this before it’s banned in all schools, libraries, and bookstores to avoid making white people uncomfortable about their white supremacist ideals
Please read this before it’s banned in all schools, libraries, and bookstores to avoid making white people uncomfortable about their white supremacist ideals
October 19, 2022
Ray's book aims to be a layperson's guide to Critical Race Theory. Here, he lays out the theory's beginning, principle points, and current controversy. All of this is delivered in a format that is short, sweet, and to the point. *Chef's kiss*
February 4, 2023
I only wish I read the physical book rather than listened to it so I would have had the opportunity to highlight all of the amazing quotes from this must read text. This needs to be on everyone’s list.
Read
March 3, 2023Kratucky ale neskutocne hutny a vystizny primer do studii o americkom rasizme. Kopec veci aplikovatelnych aj u nas.
March 16, 2023
If red state governments had not sought to ban critical race theory from school curricula, I'm not sure how long it would have taken for the theory to make its way from academe to the attention of the general public. As it is, the general public are at least aware that there is such a thing as critical race theory, even if they're not sure of exactly what it is. So, thank you to all of those book-banning, history-obfuscating politicians for informing us of its existence.
Of course, these politicians are banning the teaching of critical race theory on the grounds that it will make the poor, put-upon white students uncomfortable. (Nobody seems to have considered the discomfort that Blacks have endured during the last four hundred years.)
Until recently, most books on critical race theory have been written for academics. Victory Ray has provided the general reader a clear, concise, and very readable explanation of exactly what it is, along with some history and some observations on "identity politics" and related subjects.
I would say that the main thrust of the book is that, far from racism being a simple matter of individual people's attitudes, it has, over the years, been baked into the law and institutions of the United States.
In any case, the politicians' overt rationale for banning the teaching of CRT, that they are protecting white children from discomfort, serves to cover up their real fear that a widespread understanding of CRT just might jeopardize their place at the top of the pyramid.
A few words from the author about "identity politics":
Of course, these politicians are banning the teaching of critical race theory on the grounds that it will make the poor, put-upon white students uncomfortable. (Nobody seems to have considered the discomfort that Blacks have endured during the last four hundred years.)
Until recently, most books on critical race theory have been written for academics. Victory Ray has provided the general reader a clear, concise, and very readable explanation of exactly what it is, along with some history and some observations on "identity politics" and related subjects.
I would say that the main thrust of the book is that, far from racism being a simple matter of individual people's attitudes, it has, over the years, been baked into the law and institutions of the United States.
In any case, the politicians' overt rationale for banning the teaching of CRT, that they are protecting white children from discomfort, serves to cover up their real fear that a widespread understanding of CRT just might jeopardize their place at the top of the pyramid.
A few words from the author about "identity politics":
It is a strange conception of politics that sees Black Americans--at the bottom of most social indicators--as asking for special favors based on their identity when white Americans control nearly every industry. Identity politics have always been central to American ideals about deservingness and inclusion. And denying that whites engage in identity politics is itself a form of identity politics. Liberals who traffic in the myth of economic interests untainted by racial antipathy reinforce tropes about marginalized communities' basic rights to make claims on their government. White identity politics shape whose interests are considered "special" and whose goals aren't considered politics at all.
July 12, 2023
A perfect introduction for someone like me, who hasn't read much into CRT. It's a comprehensive field guide, offering a concise and accessible journey into the depths of a framework crucial for comprehending and combating racial injustice in the United States. This remarkable book successfully demystifies the often-misunderstood intellectual movement, shedding light on its historical significance and contemporary relevance.
As this is such a massive political debate at the moment, I highly suggest reading this before election season.
As this is such a massive political debate at the moment, I highly suggest reading this before election season.
September 5, 2022
An absolutely breathtaking explanation of critical race theory!
February 17, 2023
A tough read because it is scholarly, so it is pretty dense for a 150 page book. Mr. Ray tries hard to get everything important about this subject into a small space and also tries to make it accessible. It is important stuff that everyone should think about. I learned so much about the way that the US society was formed and framed around race. Like it or not, our country has a past that we have never fully reckoned with, and in many ways race is so intertwined with our laws and systems that I'm not sure how we could undo it. But, it is a worthy endeavor, and knowledge and acceptance of this past, and how it has shaped the present, is the first step in the US moving forward and becoming the nation based on the freedom of individuals, that we like to claim that it is.
November 25, 2024
“When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.”
Carter G. Woodson
The propaganda of history is a real threat, and we must be critical of it wherever it is found… no matter how uncomfortable it makes us.
Carter G. Woodson
The propaganda of history is a real threat, and we must be critical of it wherever it is found… no matter how uncomfortable it makes us.
August 9, 2022
This book is excellent. Short and quick, the writing is super clear and accessible. Impressed with how succinctly he was able to cover so much. Really well done.
August 29, 2022
The book works as an explanation of critical race theory, but may be more academic/dense than what many general readers are looking...and isn't helped by being published in a smaller than average typeface.
Content-wise, this is the book a progressive person would lend to their worried/scared, yet college-educated grandmother/great-aunt to allay her concerns about CRT.
Overall, yes, worth reading, but this probably isn't going to be the best-of-the-best of books explaining CRT to white people. FWIW, I haven't seen that book yet.
Content-wise, this is the book a progressive person would lend to their worried/scared, yet college-educated grandmother/great-aunt to allay her concerns about CRT.
Overall, yes, worth reading, but this probably isn't going to be the best-of-the-best of books explaining CRT to white people. FWIW, I haven't seen that book yet.
September 28, 2022
Yes. The answer to your question of, "Do I really need to read this book?" is a resounding "yes." Whether you know what critical race theory is or not, this short book provides an extremely palatable and concise insight into what critical race theory is and what it means for all of us. From dismantling racist ideologies to the deeper work of identifying and working to eradicate race oppressive structures throughout law and society at large, Victor Ray presents clear definitions and defenses for what critical race theory is and is not and how it should reshape our racist riddled mindsets of what true equity and equality for all should really look like. I could not recommend this book any more and must inform you that you will be doing yourself, your family, your friends, and all of us who call the United States of America home, a disservice by not reading this book. You owe it to us. You owe it to yourself.
August 18, 2022
I believe that the really high ratings for this book are due to the subject matter. Many of us are truly disgusted with our racist society and desperately want to work towards a solution. But the fact is this isn't, at least in my opinion, a very good book. It is disorganized and doesn't really do much to explain Critical Race Theory itself which is why I read this book in the first place. While it describes many ways in which the structure of society perpetuates racism, it does nothing to explain the foundations of those conclusions. In making this criticism I do not criticize CRT itself but rather Ray's failure to provide any academic foundation for CRT which, after all is an academic field I had hoped to understand better.
July 21, 2023
An excellent primer to a culturally scandalous topic. In my estimation, the easiest, clear, and accurate point of access to scholarly discourse that’s essential to the project of racial equity in America. The book is structured by 10 topical chapters that constitute the conversation of CRT. Ray effectively addresses the topics in each chapter and identified their importance for understanding CRT and in turn, that aspect of CRT’s relevance to American history and public life.
October 17, 2023
Yep; you’re already either interested or disgusted by this book and what it represents.
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is everywhere in the news, and seemingly everywhere spoken against; and yet, in truth, it is not really Critical Race Theory which is under discussion, for most of the people who would condemn CRT and speak dismissively or derisively of CRT have not done the research to understand what CRT is and actually teaches. Instead, they use the CRT penumbra in order to cast doubt and suspicion on antiracist advocates and initiatives and to serve as a Trojan horse by which they are able to advance ideas and policies which would reinforce a status quo which redounds to the benefit of the inheritors of the legacy of white supremacy.
Victor Ray does well at presenting a digestible and understandable introduction to critical race theory in On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters & Why You Should Care. Victory Ray is a Black man who can pass as white and has the intellectual background which provides him great credibility in writing this work.
The book is kept affordable and the following summary should not be considered sufficient for full and complete understanding; please buy it and read it. Ray begins with explaining what CRT is, the reality of white backlash to recent civil rights advances, and how the whole hullabaloo about CRT ironically reinforces the validity of CRT. He then explores various domains which often fall under the CRT umbrella. First: race is a social, not biological construction, a collective hallucination but one reflecting existing power structures. That power structure continues to enshrine racism and the evidence for it cannot be denied. He explores the “colorblind” premise and the attitude behind it, and ultimately demonstrates how there can be racism without people consciously attempting to be racist on account of those existing power structures. He then considers the myth of progress: he grants the very real progress which has been made but exposes the delusion that progress is inevitable for what it is, and expresses how fragile and easily reversed racial progress can be. He then explores interest convergence, in which advancement for Black people or other people of color only happens when it aligns with the interests of the (generally white) powers that be; the property of whiteness and how it provides material and social benefits to those reckoned as white. He then exposes the stories we like to tell ourselves about our country and our organizations and demonstrates how they were set up in ways which advanced and promoted white supremacy. He tackles intersectionality, a concept which has been distorted well beyond its original premise, and which even Ben Shapiro cannot deny in its original premise: the legal challenges which attend someone who is not just Black but also female, or perhaps of other ethnic groups and other forms of marginalized communities. He also speaks of identity politics, how they are used and abused, and puts to lie the idea that “identity politics” is only a recent and leftist phenomenon.
Critical Race Theory is not wrong; it is, in fact, something far worse. Critical Race Theory is offensive. The idea the United States was built by and for white supremacy is deeply offensive to Americans and American ideology. Exposing systems as racist is offensive. Pointing out the origins of “colorblindness,” the highly selective quoting of Martin Luther King, Jr., and showing who benefits and who remains disadvantaged when “colorblindism” is maintained is offensive. The reality that white Americans have been maintaining their own form of identity politics for generations is offensive. Critical Race Theory stands at significant variance with the story we have told ourselves and want to continue to believe about ourselves, and so it is offensive.
Yet its offensiveness, and sensitivity to the claims contained therein, reveals much more about ourselves than we might care to admit. Why do so many have so much difficulty in recognizing how they have participated in and benefited by a racist system? How come people you would imagine would be good, God-fearing Christians have no difficulty confessing they have sinned and even how they have participated in sins of greed, lust, and other such forms of immorality, but become extremely offended and belligerent if one would likewise suggest they participated in the sin of racism and upholding the legacy of white supremacy? According to the preacher’s adage, it’s the hit dog that yells.
Therefore I encourage you strongly to consider On Critical Race Theory. Educate yourself so that even if you remain opposed, the way you communicate about the subject at least demonstrates some engagement with the substantive ideas behind it. Seriously grapple with the presentation and the evidence supplied. Be willing to consider that the United States of America was built and set up to the advantage of certain people, and how that setup and those benefits are rendered invisible to such people, but become quite apparent to those for whom the USA was not built and set up to provide advantage. Reckon, in prayer and in conversation, with the “offensiveness” and sensitivity about the subject. After all, as we claim, if we know better, we should do better.
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is everywhere in the news, and seemingly everywhere spoken against; and yet, in truth, it is not really Critical Race Theory which is under discussion, for most of the people who would condemn CRT and speak dismissively or derisively of CRT have not done the research to understand what CRT is and actually teaches. Instead, they use the CRT penumbra in order to cast doubt and suspicion on antiracist advocates and initiatives and to serve as a Trojan horse by which they are able to advance ideas and policies which would reinforce a status quo which redounds to the benefit of the inheritors of the legacy of white supremacy.
Victor Ray does well at presenting a digestible and understandable introduction to critical race theory in On Critical Race Theory: Why It Matters & Why You Should Care. Victory Ray is a Black man who can pass as white and has the intellectual background which provides him great credibility in writing this work.
The book is kept affordable and the following summary should not be considered sufficient for full and complete understanding; please buy it and read it. Ray begins with explaining what CRT is, the reality of white backlash to recent civil rights advances, and how the whole hullabaloo about CRT ironically reinforces the validity of CRT. He then explores various domains which often fall under the CRT umbrella. First: race is a social, not biological construction, a collective hallucination but one reflecting existing power structures. That power structure continues to enshrine racism and the evidence for it cannot be denied. He explores the “colorblind” premise and the attitude behind it, and ultimately demonstrates how there can be racism without people consciously attempting to be racist on account of those existing power structures. He then considers the myth of progress: he grants the very real progress which has been made but exposes the delusion that progress is inevitable for what it is, and expresses how fragile and easily reversed racial progress can be. He then explores interest convergence, in which advancement for Black people or other people of color only happens when it aligns with the interests of the (generally white) powers that be; the property of whiteness and how it provides material and social benefits to those reckoned as white. He then exposes the stories we like to tell ourselves about our country and our organizations and demonstrates how they were set up in ways which advanced and promoted white supremacy. He tackles intersectionality, a concept which has been distorted well beyond its original premise, and which even Ben Shapiro cannot deny in its original premise: the legal challenges which attend someone who is not just Black but also female, or perhaps of other ethnic groups and other forms of marginalized communities. He also speaks of identity politics, how they are used and abused, and puts to lie the idea that “identity politics” is only a recent and leftist phenomenon.
Critical Race Theory is not wrong; it is, in fact, something far worse. Critical Race Theory is offensive. The idea the United States was built by and for white supremacy is deeply offensive to Americans and American ideology. Exposing systems as racist is offensive. Pointing out the origins of “colorblindness,” the highly selective quoting of Martin Luther King, Jr., and showing who benefits and who remains disadvantaged when “colorblindism” is maintained is offensive. The reality that white Americans have been maintaining their own form of identity politics for generations is offensive. Critical Race Theory stands at significant variance with the story we have told ourselves and want to continue to believe about ourselves, and so it is offensive.
Yet its offensiveness, and sensitivity to the claims contained therein, reveals much more about ourselves than we might care to admit. Why do so many have so much difficulty in recognizing how they have participated in and benefited by a racist system? How come people you would imagine would be good, God-fearing Christians have no difficulty confessing they have sinned and even how they have participated in sins of greed, lust, and other such forms of immorality, but become extremely offended and belligerent if one would likewise suggest they participated in the sin of racism and upholding the legacy of white supremacy? According to the preacher’s adage, it’s the hit dog that yells.
Therefore I encourage you strongly to consider On Critical Race Theory. Educate yourself so that even if you remain opposed, the way you communicate about the subject at least demonstrates some engagement with the substantive ideas behind it. Seriously grapple with the presentation and the evidence supplied. Be willing to consider that the United States of America was built and set up to the advantage of certain people, and how that setup and those benefits are rendered invisible to such people, but become quite apparent to those for whom the USA was not built and set up to provide advantage. Reckon, in prayer and in conversation, with the “offensiveness” and sensitivity about the subject. After all, as we claim, if we know better, we should do better.
January 11, 2025
I would say this is a great introductory text, which, while using a lot of academic language, still should be accessible to the general public (although it seems, that every year, the general public is able to comprehend less and less). I will not offer any critiques on the content, as I am no civil rights/CRT scholar, and it is not my place. I read to learn.
However, as an academic, I'd like to make a critique on how the data is presented, and how that might result in Ray's own text being used against his cause. In the preface, Ray talks about the phenomenon of the negatively portrayed conservatism in the liberal media causing an increase in conservatism, unintentionally introducing people to those ideals. He himself states that, more often than not, presenting the evidence of racial inequality increases racially unequal lawmaking. He says that his book is for the people of good faith, but one can not prevent people from reading their book. Unlike Trump's viewpoint on CRT, the desire to restrict the text to one viewpoint is, genuinely, un-American. I understand why he says it, but the act is unavoidable.
As this book challenges the white identity and how white society structures itself, it often causes discomfort in a white reader. That is a good thing, the discomfort is necessary to understand how the society is built and how it favors or overlooks people based on their racial identity and intersectional factors. People with good faith take that discomfort and use it to understand why the text makes them uncomfortable. But, I can see the anti-CRT movement using this discomfort to fuel their cause and to exploit this very book to further their own agenda. The one thing that lacked for me, as an academic, is the contextualization of data. I have noticed this several times, and the case that stands out is when the GI bill loans are discussed (79). Ray presents the data on how many loans were granted to white and Black veterans, with a staggering over-600-time difference. However, by failing to provide demographic information on what proportion of veterans were Black, and what were the loan application demographics, he sets himself up for potential statistical bias data arguments and uses statistics to manipulate the reader. For context, that is NOT what is happening. Ray's claim is perfectly valid. However, oftentimes, his presentation of evidence makes the text overly vulnerable to criticism. Once again, a very good text, and could be great with better data methods.
However, as an academic, I'd like to make a critique on how the data is presented, and how that might result in Ray's own text being used against his cause. In the preface, Ray talks about the phenomenon of the negatively portrayed conservatism in the liberal media causing an increase in conservatism, unintentionally introducing people to those ideals. He himself states that, more often than not, presenting the evidence of racial inequality increases racially unequal lawmaking. He says that his book is for the people of good faith, but one can not prevent people from reading their book. Unlike Trump's viewpoint on CRT, the desire to restrict the text to one viewpoint is, genuinely, un-American. I understand why he says it, but the act is unavoidable.
As this book challenges the white identity and how white society structures itself, it often causes discomfort in a white reader. That is a good thing, the discomfort is necessary to understand how the society is built and how it favors or overlooks people based on their racial identity and intersectional factors. People with good faith take that discomfort and use it to understand why the text makes them uncomfortable. But, I can see the anti-CRT movement using this discomfort to fuel their cause and to exploit this very book to further their own agenda. The one thing that lacked for me, as an academic, is the contextualization of data. I have noticed this several times, and the case that stands out is when the GI bill loans are discussed (79). Ray presents the data on how many loans were granted to white and Black veterans, with a staggering over-600-time difference. However, by failing to provide demographic information on what proportion of veterans were Black, and what were the loan application demographics, he sets himself up for potential statistical bias data arguments and uses statistics to manipulate the reader. For context, that is NOT what is happening. Ray's claim is perfectly valid. However, oftentimes, his presentation of evidence makes the text overly vulnerable to criticism. Once again, a very good text, and could be great with better data methods.
November 4, 2022
In this book Victor Ray sets out to explain critical race theory. He talks about where it came from, the controversy surrounding it, what it is and – crucially – what it isn’t. This book is a primer on all the aspects of society that inform critical race theory. He talks about the concept of race and separates it out from any biological origin. He unpacks the sociological impact of that theory through time – and the very purposeful implementation of it as used to suppress whole groups of citizens.
Not all of the information in this book was new to me, since I’ve been lucky to read some wonderful books on this and related topics in the past few years (Between the World and Me, The Fire Next Time, How to Be an Antiracist and The 1619 Project are some of the first that come to mind, but there are so many more). It may not have all been new to me, but it was a succinct review of the most important pieces of information that help form an understanding of this much-maligned concept, and lay out why it’s so important.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book for me was the author’s experiences. He’s a Black man (his father is Black, I believe), but he presents as white. He talks about the crossroads this placed him at and the choice he had to make – and continues to have to make over and over – to either allow himself to be assumed white, or to state his identity. He talks about the ways in which this has impacted him, and his access to the “white backstage” when he’s in a situation with strangers, all white, who ascribe whiteness to him based on his appearance.
I’m really glad I decided to read this book, because while I knew that the way critical race theory was being used and framed wasn’t accurate, I also didn’t know exactly what it was. This book is the perfect primer – not only on critical race theory, but on the origins and effects of racism, how it has impacted society through history and how it is currently affecting those who are on the receiving end of it – from wealth disparities to the uneven impact of COVID-19.
Full review on my website here.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me access to this book in exchange for an honest review!
Not all of the information in this book was new to me, since I’ve been lucky to read some wonderful books on this and related topics in the past few years (Between the World and Me, The Fire Next Time, How to Be an Antiracist and The 1619 Project are some of the first that come to mind, but there are so many more). It may not have all been new to me, but it was a succinct review of the most important pieces of information that help form an understanding of this much-maligned concept, and lay out why it’s so important.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book for me was the author’s experiences. He’s a Black man (his father is Black, I believe), but he presents as white. He talks about the crossroads this placed him at and the choice he had to make – and continues to have to make over and over – to either allow himself to be assumed white, or to state his identity. He talks about the ways in which this has impacted him, and his access to the “white backstage” when he’s in a situation with strangers, all white, who ascribe whiteness to him based on his appearance.
I’m really glad I decided to read this book, because while I knew that the way critical race theory was being used and framed wasn’t accurate, I also didn’t know exactly what it was. This book is the perfect primer – not only on critical race theory, but on the origins and effects of racism, how it has impacted society through history and how it is currently affecting those who are on the receiving end of it – from wealth disparities to the uneven impact of COVID-19.
Full review on my website here.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me access to this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 19, 2023
Read this book. As an example of why you should, right now as I write this, the governor of Florida is pushing a fear-mongering bit of legislation, which he chooses to call the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act”, that is, “Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees” (oh, please) which seeks to paint Critical Race Theory as some kind of radical moral infection, and among other things, to make it illegal to teach or discuss it at state universities. He has already done so in K-12. He’s not getting nearly enough pushback.
People would love to believe that racism is a thing of the past — that it’s a problem we've already solved. C.R.T. quite simply pokes at and challenges that fantasy, and shines a light not only on coarse and brutal iniquities such as lynchings, mass incarceration, mis-treatment by police, or the vastly unequal statistical life-expectancy of Black people in this country, but also on more subtle forms of inequity. These include familiar ideas like unconscious bias, imagery in media, imbalances in education or hiring. It also doles out some medicine which may be harder for some to swallow, like white privilege, the very specific-seeming issues of intersectionality, or the assertion that a huge reason both parties united on Civil Rights in the 60’s was because racism in its baldest forms was making us look bad during the Cold War. The author explains and makes excellent cases for all of these.
Contrary to what we mostly learn in school, our nation has not been cured of the cancer of racism, we aren’t even in remission. This book is a brief, clear, sober, and adult exploration of what Critical Race Theory is, and why it matters, in language that is neither histrionic nor academic. The Florida bill is a perfect example of the overt and cynical use of racism by the powerful. The fact that that bill stands a chance in public opinion is a perfect example of the subtle, passive, unconscious kind of racism. You should read “On Critical Race Theory” before you quietly assent to the same mindset that somehow turned “woke” from a proud rallying cry into an untouchable word of derision.
People would love to believe that racism is a thing of the past — that it’s a problem we've already solved. C.R.T. quite simply pokes at and challenges that fantasy, and shines a light not only on coarse and brutal iniquities such as lynchings, mass incarceration, mis-treatment by police, or the vastly unequal statistical life-expectancy of Black people in this country, but also on more subtle forms of inequity. These include familiar ideas like unconscious bias, imagery in media, imbalances in education or hiring. It also doles out some medicine which may be harder for some to swallow, like white privilege, the very specific-seeming issues of intersectionality, or the assertion that a huge reason both parties united on Civil Rights in the 60’s was because racism in its baldest forms was making us look bad during the Cold War. The author explains and makes excellent cases for all of these.
Contrary to what we mostly learn in school, our nation has not been cured of the cancer of racism, we aren’t even in remission. This book is a brief, clear, sober, and adult exploration of what Critical Race Theory is, and why it matters, in language that is neither histrionic nor academic. The Florida bill is a perfect example of the overt and cynical use of racism by the powerful. The fact that that bill stands a chance in public opinion is a perfect example of the subtle, passive, unconscious kind of racism. You should read “On Critical Race Theory” before you quietly assent to the same mindset that somehow turned “woke” from a proud rallying cry into an untouchable word of derision.
November 29, 2022
Before a prospective reader decides that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is antithetical to his or her ideas on race, racism, and identity politics, they should read this book. It's 129 pages. A determined reader can get through the book in a few hours and be VERY well informed on what CRT really is. It poses no threat to Republican or conservative polity - it is simply a broad beam of light on our country's dismal past in relation to non-white - African Americans in particular - citizens. Our young students should not be "protected" from CRT, they should all learn of our troubled past with regard to our treatment of non-whites in the past and how the state of play is today.
The author, Victor Ray, is an African-American scholar who is often mistaken for a white man. His perspectives on race are particularly relevant to the topic.
The author, Victor Ray, is an African-American scholar who is often mistaken for a white man. His perspectives on race are particularly relevant to the topic.
June 3, 2023
A transparent, concise, and articulate summary and explanation of CRITICAL RACE THEORY and its ideas. The rating is a placeholder as I think about the book, its perspective, and claims. I am not well situated to understand everything in the book. One thing that the book makes clear, though perhaps unintentionally, is that CRT ideas have been understood and espoused since W. E. B. Dubois, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, and Martin Luther King Jr. Their voices are still prophetic and forward looking.
December 21, 2022
Conservative think tanks have deliberately confused the public by misrepresenting the academic subject that is known as critical race theory. These Conservatives think they can malign and attack an actual academic subject of study and that the American people will just sit back and accept the manipulation.
They do things like get the pundits on Fox News to scare their viewers into thinking children are being brainwashed by the left. They try to present the subject as a bunch of black people complaining and trying to bully white people. Meanwhile, there's actual evidence of the racial crimes our government is guilty of committing in every time of history and in every level of public policy, and white people can't handle the truth. They deny the truth because, to face the truth, they'd have to stop being racist and quit hording resources and opportunities, and they don't want to do that.
On Critical Race Theory is a book that seeks to clarify the academic subject of critical race theory. The book is an explanation of the subject. It’s written in a slightly technical language, and I thought it was a little hard to follow at times. On Critical Race Theory was a good book, but I don’t think it should be the only book I read on the topic. It was definitely written by an academic and so I should probably keep searching to expand my library full of books that are similar, just to ensure I fully understand all aspects of the subject. With that being said, the book was an enjoyable read and I feel like I’ve learned a lot from it.
The book just clears the air about the subject that has been maligned by people who benefit from the policies of our government. The fact is that critical race theory researches how racism is intertwined with American public policy and the law. There is nothing shocking about this subject, it’s a study of the actual facts. They have data to support their conclusions. Anyone who regurgitates the garbage the right leaning politicians have spouted clearly has no interest in understanding the actual subject. If you have no interest in learning the facts of critical race theory before you run down to your kid's school to make sure he or she isn’t learning them, then I say it's because you are a racist who is benefiting from the status quo.
Racists are, at heart, inherently lazy and mediocre. You know your kid is dumb, so you have to make it harder for other children to enter their classes. You know your work is subpar, so you need less competition around to come and outshine you.
Anyone can win a race if they've crippled the other runners.
Conservatives who oppose critical race theory are ignorant of the facts and are actually choosing to remain ignorant out of malicious and willful stupidity They also have a deep inner knowing that not only are the other races of the world not bad, but in many cases, there are individuals of those other races who are better than they are in every way.
They do things like get the pundits on Fox News to scare their viewers into thinking children are being brainwashed by the left. They try to present the subject as a bunch of black people complaining and trying to bully white people. Meanwhile, there's actual evidence of the racial crimes our government is guilty of committing in every time of history and in every level of public policy, and white people can't handle the truth. They deny the truth because, to face the truth, they'd have to stop being racist and quit hording resources and opportunities, and they don't want to do that.
On Critical Race Theory is a book that seeks to clarify the academic subject of critical race theory. The book is an explanation of the subject. It’s written in a slightly technical language, and I thought it was a little hard to follow at times. On Critical Race Theory was a good book, but I don’t think it should be the only book I read on the topic. It was definitely written by an academic and so I should probably keep searching to expand my library full of books that are similar, just to ensure I fully understand all aspects of the subject. With that being said, the book was an enjoyable read and I feel like I’ve learned a lot from it.
The book just clears the air about the subject that has been maligned by people who benefit from the policies of our government. The fact is that critical race theory researches how racism is intertwined with American public policy and the law. There is nothing shocking about this subject, it’s a study of the actual facts. They have data to support their conclusions. Anyone who regurgitates the garbage the right leaning politicians have spouted clearly has no interest in understanding the actual subject. If you have no interest in learning the facts of critical race theory before you run down to your kid's school to make sure he or she isn’t learning them, then I say it's because you are a racist who is benefiting from the status quo.
Racists are, at heart, inherently lazy and mediocre. You know your kid is dumb, so you have to make it harder for other children to enter their classes. You know your work is subpar, so you need less competition around to come and outshine you.
Anyone can win a race if they've crippled the other runners.
Conservatives who oppose critical race theory are ignorant of the facts and are actually choosing to remain ignorant out of malicious and willful stupidity They also have a deep inner knowing that not only are the other races of the world not bad, but in many cases, there are individuals of those other races who are better than they are in every way.
October 11, 2025
Racism has shaped so much in our society. When America decided to declare white superiority it started a movement that has led to discrimination, hatred, destabilization, violence, and oppression towards any one of color. You have to acknowledge a problem in order to solve it. But if we try to ignore it or say it makes people uncomfortable to talk about nothing will change. We will only regress if we refuse to stay colorblind.
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