The latest salvo in the culture wars is critical race theory; an academic exercise promulgated in law school. It examines racial bias in legislation and legal statutes. Politicos are now using this obscure subject as a public education wedge issue among their constituents. It’s merely another distraction to send their base into a frenzy and an attempt to sanitize history. Why do they fear the truth so much?

The intent of critical race theory is to teach the truth to understand why racial inequities continue to exist, and to avoid repeating the same mistakes. We certainly are strong enough as a country to learn and grow from past failures. An inclusive and accurate representation in social studies, history and literature classes somehow threatens the development of young minds?

Will reading Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste, Dee Brown’s Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, Alex Haley’s The Autobiography Of Malcolm X or Jaques Levy’s César Chávez: La Causa turn the next generation into radicals? More likely, the benefits of an expanded worldview will open minds to higher levels of inquisitiveness, enlightenment and critical thought.

Perhaps the best course of action would be to allow our children to choose what they want to read within instructional frameworks and have our educators implement a Socratic teaching methodology.

Manny Washington Santa Fe