This book is on an important topic, and I'm grateful to have had a chance to take a look at it, but the writing did not spring out to me as particularly memorable.

On Critical Race Theory Why It Matters and Why You Should Care by Victor Ray

205 Pages
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Random House, Random House
Release Date: August 2, 2022

Nonfiction (Adult), Politics, Racism, Multicultural

I have been hearing the wording “Critical Race Theory” a lot especially living in Florida. I wanted to know what it was and what it wasn’t. This book delivered that to me. The author does a wonderful job explaining how and why it is an important topic for all of us to discuss. He uses one of my favorite suffragette’s Ida B. Wells as a source along with W.E.B. DuBois and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to learn more on the subject.

I remember the first time I heard the term “critical race theory.” It wasn’t clear in that first exposure what it meant and whether it was bad or good, the only thing I took away from it was that there were a lot of people who seemed very upset by it, and I didn’t really understand why. I remember being confused and thinking, “isn’t being critical of race a good thing?” I was soon to discover that, according to a huge number of people, no. It’s not. Me though? the more I learn, the more I think it’s not only good – it’s necessary.

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. He discusses famous quotes and ideas on racism, from Malcolm X to W.E.B Du Bois to Angela Davis, and talks through their importance and what they meant (even, sometimes, how they’ve been misconstrued).

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. Through these experiences he has a unique perspective as a Black man who, nevertheless, knows exactly what white people say to each other and how they think when they’re alone. To say that’s a gift and a curse is perhaps giving it a rosy-hued sheen. But it does offer a unique perspective that is interesting and enlightening to hear.

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. It’s not a long book, but it’s accessible and provides a fantastic base of knowledge upon which to build a better understanding of this vital topic. Perfect for anyone who wants to review or learn the basics, or anyone who enjoys intelligent discussion on the topic of race.

Victor Ray has written book that will be championed by proponents of CRT. This book describes what CRT is fairly well. The problem lies in proving it’s validity. Ray acknowledges this when he writes, “This framework includes foundational social science concepts-that race is a social construction, racism is primarily structural, social life is made up of intersecting identities.” CRT is an interpretive lens that colors reality with its own peculiar shade. Ray in his argument for CRT makes this clear.

Lately I have been obsessed with reading books on races coming together and all the things minorities live without because of oppression. When I started reading this book and was reading The authors personal stories I was really enjoying this book but true two other books like this with authors not qualified to write an educational book the author relies on quotes and surveys that are never accredited end gives miss information wanting the reader to think one thing when the opposite of something totally different is the truth. For example in the book she says that after all these years of schools being desegregated people are wanting to segregate schools again but what she leaves out is that it’s only been colleges who’s gotten notice for trying to do this and it’s being done by minorities. It happened at Lewis and Clark college in Washington, Georgetown and many other universities. Also she says in the book that she had to go with other low income students because tuition was raised but what she doesn’t tell you is all tuition was raised on everyone in the book to try to make it like it was just for The low income students and it wasn’t because that would be illegal. Not only that this author went to Vassar university a very elite school that only the truly smart get into into quotes racist things that rich students said to her. As if a rich teenager who’s been coddled all their life represent all of white people. The thing that made me laugh though was when she quoted Derek bells 1982 Book quote the space trader “because in the book the American president said he would trade all the Black people to fix our financial and environmental problems and this is more proof of how white people think today. We have a black female vice president, the Supreme Court is full of minorities we’ve had a black president we have many congressmen who are black mayors even police chiefs judges cops doctors and I am not saying this to say that we don’t have idiots who hold true to white people being superior there just stupid. Utopia is impossible so to think you’ll live in the world when no one will ever be called a racist name or betrayed a different due to their race whether they’re white or black it’s fanciful and not realistic I really had high hopes for this book and I was sadly disappointed if only we could have a real book on race with real solutions and not keep digging up dead people to point at and and say listen to what they said they were so racist back then. I feel like a lot of these books are just beating a dead horse or reading the same plagiarize work as the last person. If we are just kind to each other and people keep achieving new heights and be in positions to change laws will make a difference but will never get away from racist idiots they’ll always be somebody wanting power and to feel superior it’s sad but true. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Victor Ray’s book, On Critical Race Theory, is much-needed! Critical Race Theory has been weaponized to fit a political narrative of fear by many on the right. In this book, Ray tackled the subject in an non-confrontational manner. Ray’s approach dispelled the myths & untruths of critical race theory. This book provides a framework for learning about CRT & how that knowledge can be used to make us better. It time out for all the divisions, it’s time to move forward together.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an incredibly helpful read for me as a school social worker. It's pretty academic and requires a basic understanding of some concepts going into it, so I would primarily recommend it for those who are in professions or careers who would benefit from these conversations and not necessarily the layperson.

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, a shitty 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.

“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.)