“Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation in which a person or a group covertly sows seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group, making them question their own memory, perception, or judgement. It may evoke changes in them such as cognitive dissonance or low self-esteem, rendering the victim additionally dependent on the gaslighter for emotional support and validation. Using denial, misdirection, contradiction and disinformation, gaslighting involves attempts to destabilize the victim and delegitimize the victim’s beliefs.”
We can see that with this happen below:
Joy Reid turned the gaslight up to 100 tonight.
She claimed that critical race theory isn't taught in schools and that intersectionality, critical whiteness studies, ethnic studies, and critical pedagogy have nothing to do with CRT.
Let's deconstruct her language games.🧵
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
1. Reid claimed that critical race theory isn't taught in schools. This is a supreme gaslight. I've personally documented more than a dozen school districts that teach the principles of critical race theory, from "intersectionality" to "spirit murder."https://t.co/GtUTeOwZI9.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
An archived copy of that article can be found here.
2. Reid claimed that intersectionality is not related to critical race theory. That would be a surprise to Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term "critical race theory" and invented the concept of "intersectionality."
Even Vox knows the truth: pic.twitter.com/S6jTbrJZgf— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
3. Reid claimed that critical whiteness studies isn't related to critical race theory. In reality, it's an important subfield of critical race theory, and—surprise, surprise—the authors of the introductory textbook on CRT also wrote the introductory textbook on CWS. pic.twitter.com/iaYvuwYU8Q
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
4. Reid claimed that critical race theory doesn't teach that all white people are racist. But critical race theorist Barbara Applebaum and critical whiteness studies professor Robin DiAngelo say it out loud: "all white people are racist"; "White identity is inherently racist." pic.twitter.com/i0j40AmnGy
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
5. Reid claimed that ethnic studies has nothing to do with critical race theory. But EdSource recently published an article pointing out that "ethnic studies without critical race theory is not ethnic studies." It's even an official field of study at many colleges. pic.twitter.com/1VUXcLbJa9
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
6. Reid claimed that critical pedagogy isn't related to critical race theory. In reality, critical race theory, like the original neo-Marxism, has two components: theory and praxis. Critical race theory is the theory and critical pedagogy is the praxis, or how it's implemented. pic.twitter.com/zz7KtR8DWT
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
Here's the takeaway: the political Left is running away from critical race theory as fast as it can. They know it's intellectually bankrupt and politically toxic. They're retreating to language games and shell games because they cannot defend it on the substance.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
As I predicted, we have frozen the brand "critical race theory" and driven up its negatives. According to The Economist, 64% of Americans now know about critical race theory, of which 58% have an unfavorable view, including 72% of independents who think it's "bad for America."
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
We are winning this fight. Parents across the country are revolting against critical race theory in American schools. Keep pushing forward.https://t.co/rBln8Elceq
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) June 24, 2021
Know your sources and be sure, or else.