NC House Republicans revive anti-critical race theory bill
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Republican lawmakers are reviving an effort to pass an anti-critical race theory bill that was vetoed in 2021 by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.
A bill was filed Thursday and says public schools can’t “promote” concepts such as the idea that “one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex” or that “an individual, solely by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive.”
It also says teachers shall not promote that anyone “should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress” based on their race or sex.
A bill with nearly identical language passed both House and Senate in 2021, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats against it. All African American lawmakers voted against the bill.
When Cooper vetoed the bill, he said it “pushes calculated, conspiracy-laden politics into public education.”
This year though, Republicans have enough votes in the Senate to override Cooper and are one vote short in the House.
Republican lawmakers have introduced bills at
the national and state level targeting critical race theory, which holds that racism has been a systemic part of the nation’s history that still influences society today.
Conservative groups have accused schools of promoting critical race theory. School leaders have denied the charge, saying anything involving the discussion of diversity, equity and race has been conflated to be about critical race theory.
The legislation also would require schools to post online ahead of time whenever they provide instruction related to the prohibited concepts. They’d also have to list when they hire speakers, consultants or diversity trainers who discuss those concepts or have previously advocated those concepts.
In election campaigns
and legislative efforts, Republicans nationwide and in North Carolina have focused on what they describe as protecting parents’ rights and preventing school indoctrination of students, and what opponents criticize as censorship. North Carolina Republicans have also proposed a law known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights targeting instruction in elementary grades on explicit material and LGBTQ issues.
Since January 2021, 44 states have introduced bills or taken other steps that would restrict teaching critical race theory or limit how teachers can discuss racism and sexism, according to an Education Week analysis. Eighteen states have imposed these bans and restrictions either through legislation or other avenues.