A global issue, not just U.S.
Slavery history
Regarding “Battle over 'Beloved' should remind us why we read literature at all,” (Nov. 26): I agree with the writer, Chris Vognar, that opponents of critical race theory can barely define said theory; however, that burden should rightfully be on proponents of the theory, including its supposed ever-continuing applicability to African American economic progress or lack thereof. They seem to have only the vaguest notions of what new insight the theory provides.
Vognar implies that it involves heavy emphasis on teaching schoolchildren the history of slavery in the United States. A minimum condition for agreeing with this demand is that these courses should teach the history of slavery worldwide to provide context.
Then, the progress of oppressed people all over the world in overcoming these impediments can be compared, and an enlightened conclusion might be reached about how much worse our ancestors in the U.S. were. One specific focus of such an AP course might be to determine whether anywhere in the history of the world there has ever been so much sensitive understanding and help extended to minority people by the so-called oppressor class than exists today, right now, in the U.S.
Paul Plummer, Houston
Regarding the current brouhaha over objectionable books in public school libraries, practically all these books were available to Texas schoolchildren when President Donald Trump was in the White House and Greg Abbott was governor, both Republicans. Yet, all we heard was crickets. Now that our president is Joe Biden, a Democrat, suddenly some parents and Abbott are clutching their pearls and insisting that all children must be protected from these books. To me, the timing of this looks suspiciously like a Republican-contrived issue. I think it’s because Democrats in Washington, D.C., are enacting laws to help Americans have better lives, while Texas Republicans have nothing else to talk about except passing a bunch of unpopular laws.
David J. Maschek, Sugar Land
So as I understand it correctly, many parents, mostly in suburban school districts, whose kids regularly view porn on their cell phones, are highly distraught over a few books in school libraries that they view as “smutty.” How many out there think any of these kids are actually reading any of these books? A story on KHOU highlighted a real education problem — kids getting behind because of COVID restrictions. Maybe these parents should focus on a real problem, instead of one fabricated by the Trump “cult.”
Tom Hix, Houston