Cruz questions SCOTUS nominee Jackson about critical race theory in children’s books
During the second day of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, questioned the judge about critical race theory and whether it is in children’s books at Georgetown Day School, where Jackson is board member.
Video Transcript
TED CRUZ: Judge Jackson, all of us will agree that no one should be discriminated against because of race. When you just testified a minute ago that you didn't know if critical race theory was taught in K through 12, I will confess I find that statement a little hard to reconcile with the public record. Because if you look at the Georgetown Day School's curriculum, it is filled and overflowing with critical race theory.
That among the books that are either assigned or recommended, they include "Critical Race Theory, an Introduction". They include "The End of Policing, an Advocacy for Abolishing Police". They include "How to Be an Antiracist" by Ibram Kendi. They include literally stacks and stacks of books. And I'll tell you two of the ones that were most stunning.
They include a book called "Anti-Racist Baby" by Abraham Kendi. And there are portions of this book that I find really quite remarkable. One portion of the book says babies are taught to be racist or anti-racist. There is no neutrality. Another portion of the book, they recommend the babies confess when being racist.
Now, this is a book that is taught at Georgetown Day School to students in Pre-K through Second Grade. So four through seven years old. Do you agree with this book that is being taught with kids that babies are racist?
KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: Senator, I do not believe that any child should be made to feel as though they are racist or though they are not valued or though they are less than, that they're victims, that they're oppressors. I don't believe in any of that. But what I will say is that when you asked me whether or not this was taught in schools, critical race theory, my understanding is that critical race theory as an academic theory is taught in law schools. And to the extent that you were asking the question, I understood you to be addressing public schools. Georgetown Day School, just like the religious school that Justice Barrett was on the board of, is a private school.
TED CRUZ: OK, so you agree critical race theory is taught at Georgetown Day School?
KETANJI BROWN JACKSON: I don't know, because the board does not control the curriculum, the board does not focus on that. That's not what we do as board members. So I'm actually not sure.
