Critical Race Theory Memo
TO: Republican Study Committee members
FROM: Chairman Jim Banks
DATE: June 24, 2021
RE: Lean into the culture war
As Republicans, we reject the racial essentialism that Critical Race Theory teaches. We believe that individuals should be judged based on the contents of their character, not their skin. And we believe that America's institutions should be colorblind, just as our Constitution is colorblind. This is the same vision shared by civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr.
But Democrats want to paint a different picture. The Democrat Party has wholly embraced Critical Race Theory and all its conclusions… that America is a racist country and that our institutions are racist and need to be destroyed from the ground up. This is a revolutionary posture.
But don't just take my word for it. Here's a quote from Richard Delgado, a co-founder of Critical Race theory, defining CRT: "Critical race theory questions the very foundations of the liberal order, including equality theory, legal reasoning, enlightenment rationalism, and neutral principles of constitutional law."
We are in a culture war. On one side, Republicans are working to renew American patriotism and rebuild our country. On the other, Democrats have embraced and given platform to a radical element who want to tear America down.
Here's the good news: We are winning.
According to polling for Heritage Action for America done by OnMessage, Inc. and presented to the Republican Study Committee at the Conservative Consensus Conference hosted by The Heritage Foundation… 79% of those polled agree with Republicans and never want children taught their destiny and inherent value depends on their skin color and want American schools to be teaching children about the American Dream. Only a tiny fraction—16%—want children taught Critical Race Theory.
The same polls reveal a wide rejection of Democrats' vision of America. 64% of Americans disagree that America today has a culture of systematic racism and white privilege and 61% of Americans disagree that America is a racist country.
My encouragement to you is lean into it. Lean into the culture war. Because the backlash against Critical Race Theory is real. We are beginning to see an organic movement from parents across the country in places like Loudon County, VA, Pelham, NY, South Lake, TX, and Bloomington, IL who are fed up with the lessons their kids are being taught. As House conservatives, we should be sending a signal to these concerned parents: We have your back.
At the RSC, we are collecting your ideas, watching the bills you introduce on this topic. Please continue sending our team everything you're working on so we can amplify it.
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