I recently revived my Instagram account in an attempt to kill time during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Until three weeks ago, my Instagram feed was filled with cooking photos, quarantine home projects, and the occasional funny meme.
But shortly after George Floyd’s horrifying May 25 killing, my Instagram feed changed course and was filled with commentary on police brutality and race relations.
I’m glad that those I follow on Instagram are speaking out about race relations and abuse at the hands of police officers. But the casual and pervasive use of leftist language to talk about race relations is worrisome.
I decided to respond to one of those posts by a friend and former colleague. She’s a bright, hardworking, and thoughtful woman, and from what I know, relatively apolitical.
When she posted a series of images—what Instagram calls a “story”—that mentioned “systemic racism,” “white privilege,” and a list of required reading that included the writings of Malcolm X, I messaged her directly asking if she was familiar with so-called “critical race theory.”
Critical race theory is a theoretical framework, rooted in Marxism, that posits individuals as oppressed or oppressor based on their skin color.
She replied “yes” and said she had studied it in graduate school. I pushed further to ask about her familiarity with Marxism.
She wrote back that philosophical and policy arguments have no place in this conversation and that her statements were not in any way controversial.
I was relieved to discover that she may not actually believe what she was saying, but was shocked to learn that, from her perspective, this was the only way to have a conversation about race.
Eleanor Krasne – The Daily Signal – June 28, 2020.
