One of the great ironies with this legislation is that critical race theory essentially predicts it. CRT argues that whiteness will do almost anything to defend itself against critique, that its power comes primarily from the fact that it remains invisible, the norm,

is considered the standard against which all humans be measured. Students can definitely get through our university without ever having to grapple with this idea; most do. It’s just one idea among many they might get exposed to, and you can absolutely succeed and do very well

without having to understand or believe it. But it sure is helpful for understanding why the language from legislators around this stuff is so tortured and the legislation so poorly wrought. They don’t want their whiteness acknowledged, so they aggressively and inaccurately mimic

civil rights rhetoric and tilt at windmills. Pointing out whiteness or difference isn’t in and of itself racist, it doesn’t require you hate yourself or your country or others, but they want us to think that. It’s something to see.

It’s also smart to ask ourselves why this legislation, *this year.* I have some guesses.