November 14, 2021

Dear Editor:

Mark Harper, a News-Journal writer in his article, “Why is critical race theory so divisive?” which appeared on Sunday, November 14, 2021. I enjoyed reading the article. The American Republic was born on the shoulders of racism. Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and other revolutionaries realized that to create the American Republic, they needed to accept racial inequality so that southern states would support the formation of the Republic.

Racial and sexual inequalities remain today even after two hundred forty-six years passed by since the birth of our Republic. The legal scholars Derrick Bell, Allan Freeman and others developed the basis of the Critical Race Theory during 1960-70. Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic explained the essence of the theory as, “It not only tries to understand our social situation, but to change it, it sets out not only to ascertain how society organizes itself along racial lines and hierarchies, but to transform it for the better.” (http://www.nyupress.org/19309chapt1.php)

The Critical Race Theory is not divisive as many whites believe. Their belief based on not to accept the dark truth of our past, as many Germans believe holocaust never happened. Our forefathers created this republic in the deep conviction that America will be a perfect union where justice prevails and all people are free.

Sincerely,

Shukdeb Sen

(Author of Black Education in White America)