Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Executive Officer promoted Critical Race Theory over Juneteenth weekend. The DEI head, Ashford Hughes, encouraged his followers to read “Critical Race Theory: the Key Writings That Formed the Movement.” Among the co-authors of the 1995 book is Kimberlé Crenshaw, a scholar that helped found and popularize Critical Race Theory.
“This Juneteenth weekend I hope we can increase the debate around what Critical Race Theory actually IS by reading the scholarly works that have been written by leaders of the theory for over 30 plus years,” wrote Hughes. “This book should be on your shelf whether you oppose or support [it].”
This Juneteenth weekend I hope we can increase the debate around what Critical Race Theory actually IS by reading the scholarly works that have been written by leaders of the theory for over 30 plus years. This book should be on your shelf whether you oppose or support. 📚 pic.twitter.com/DdUnTi94zZ
— Ashford Hughes Sr. (@ashfordhughes) June 19, 2021
The Tennessee Star first broke the story in March that MNPS may insert Critical Race Theory within its schools under Hughes’s “Equity Roadmap.” While MNPS’s finalized roadmap is pending publication, Hughes did propose a similar initiative when he worked under Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s administration in 2019.
MNPS hired Hughes last June, as the George Floyd riots first broke out.
Hughes applauded President Joe Biden’s decision to revoke previous President Donald Trump’s ban on Critical Race Theory.
“Joe Biden revokes Donald Trump’s order banning ‘critical race theory[,]'” wrote Hughes.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Joe Biden revokes Donald Trump's order banning 'critical race theory' https://t.co/WMYIALhCJx via @MailOnline
— Ashford Hughes Sr. (@ashfordhughes) January 22, 2021
The Star inquired with Hughes about whether certain tenets outlined by opponents of Critical Race Theory were true. Our questions addressed the ideas often associated with Critical Race Theory: that the United States was founded on evils like white supremacy and oppression, all white people are inherently racist, the negative term “whiteness” is inseparable from white people, and free speech is racist.
Hughes didn’t respond by press time.
MNPS’s DEI director has also defended other theories and practices that Critical Race Theory opponents have accused of being Critical Race Theory in disguise, like cultural responsiveness.
In a tweet earlier this month, Hughes claimed that culturally responsive teaching isn’t the same as Critical Race Theory.
“In the spirit of the Saturday morning Freedom Schools here is today’s lesson: Critical Race Theory is NOT the same as Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. Keep calm and carry on. #FixInjusticeNotKids,” wrote Hughes.
In the spirit of the Saturday morning Freedom Schools here is today’s lesson: Critical Race Theory is NOT the same as Culturally Responsive Pedagogy. Keep calm and carry on. #FixInjusticeNotKids
— Ashford Hughes Sr. (@ashfordhughes) June 5, 2021
The Tennessee legislature effectively banned Critical Race Theory from K-12 public schools in the final days of its assembly. State Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge) introduced the ban as an amendment to an unrelated bill on education. Ragan’s original amendment introduced eleven tenets that comprise critical race theory.
After back and forth by the legislature, a special committee convened to debate the amendment. Within a day, the committee added on three additional tenets before approving the bill.
The full list of tenets is reproduced below:
(1) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;
(2) An individual, by virtue or the individual’s race or sex, is inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously;
(3) An individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment because of the individual’s race or sex;
(4) An individual’s moral character is determined by the individual’s race or sex;
(5) An individual, by virtue or the individual’s race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;
(6) An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or another form of psychological distress solely because of the individual’s race or sex;
(7) A meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist, or designed by a particular race or sex to oppress members of another race or sex;
(8) This state or the United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist;
(9) Promoting or advocating the violent overthrow of the United States government;
(10) Promoting division between, or resentment of, a race, sex, religion, creed, nonviolent political affiliation, social class, or class of people;
(11) Ascribing character traits, values, moral or ethical codes, privileges, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of the individual’s race or sex;
(12) The rule of law does not exist, but instead is a series of power relationships and struggles among racial or other groups;
(13) All Americans are not created equal and are not endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; or
(14) Governments should deny to any person with the government’s jurisdiction the equal protection of the law.
The bill, now law, asserted that those tenets couldn’t be taught in K-12 education. To clarify: the words “Critical Race Theory” aren’t included in the law.
Earlier this month, Tennessee Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn promised to publish educator guidance on complying with the state’s new Critical Race Theory ban by August 1.
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Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ashford Hughes Sr.” by Ashford Hughes Sr.
Nashville continues its trend as a Communist City. Seems that Tennessee government needs to be located outside the Communist Zone.
He should be terminated for disobeying the law. Simple as that.
Hopefully parents will remove their children from public schools en masse. It seems that enough of us are sick of this BS to say that we are still the majority , we will not feel guilty and give you whatever you want , and if it’s a fight you want it’s a fight you’ll get. We DO NOT CARE what you think. And we will defend ourselves as necessary if you try us.
Tragic, someone in his position, someone with his authority, promoting racial division which is a way of saying racism.
Well MNPS has managed to pass Shelby Co for last place, but hey let’s teach kids fake history and gender-ism and guarantee they are wards of the state forever.
Teacher’s are as much of the problem as the bureaucracy.
Well, the last time I checked, the USA is still a free country, AND freedom to speak is still protected by our 1st Amendment. And I will always defend another person’s rights to exercise those rights!
Oh, and by the way, Tennessee is a right to work State, where idiots who promote and teach racism and divisiveness can be fired without cause. Fire his *ss!
well as long as orgs/people are allowed just to deny something is CRT and promote it anyway, they’ll still do it. like this guy.
They can promote that all they want. At the end of the day if you still can’t count, you’re still gonna be on the bottom.