Mormons and Critical Race Theory

[drumdude]

Page 83, quoted again.

Yes. Because that's the part of the social construct.

I completely agree. So in our social construct, are Jews whites or minorities? How dark/oppressed do they have to be to avoid the charge that they are box-checking? How do we define white and near white?

[Morley]

Yes. Because that's the part of the social construct.

I completely agree. So in our social construct, are Jews whites or minorities? How dark/oppressed do they have to be to avoid the charge that they are box-checking? How do we define white and near white?

From Res Ipsa's earlier post.

F. Basic Tenets of Critical Race Theory


A third theme of critical race theory, the “social construc- tion” thesis, holds that race and races are products of social thought and relations. Not objective, inherent, or fixed, they correspond to no biological or genetic reality; rather, races are categories that society invents, manipulates, or retires when convenient. People with common origins share certain physical traits, of course, such as skin color, physique, and hair texture. But these constitute only an extremely small portion of their genetic endowment, are dwarfed by that which we have in common, and have little or nothing to do with distinctly human, higher-order traits, such as personal- ity, intelligence, and moral behavior. That society frequently chooses to ignore these scientific facts, creates races, and en- dows them with pseudo-permanent characteristics is of great interest to critical race theory.

Another, somewhat more recent, development concerns differential racialization and its many consequences. Critical writers in law, as well as social science, have drawn attention to the ways the dominant society racializes different minor- ity groups at different times, in response to shifting needs such as the labor market. At one period, for example, soci- ety may have had little use for blacks, but much need for Mexican or Japanese agricultural workers. At another time, the Japanese, including citizens of long standing, may have been in intense disfavor and removed to war relocation camps, while society cultivated other groups of color for jobs in war industry or as cannon fodder on the front. Popular images and stereotypes of various minority groups shift over time, as well. In one era, a group of color may be depicted as happy-go-lucky, simpleminded, and content to serve white folks. A little later, when conditions change, that very same group may appear in cartoons, movies, and other cultural scripts as menacing, brutish, and out of control, requiring close monitoring and repression.

It's in your book.

[drumdude]

I completely agree. So in our social construct, are Jews whites or minorities? How dark/oppressed do they have to be to avoid the charge that they are box-checking? How do we define white and near white?

From Res Ipsa's earlier post.

It's in your book.

I'm an admissions advisor. At Harvard. I need to make a list of which people are white, and which are minorities so I can allocate the limited resources. I'm trying to apply this Critical Race Theory to my admissions process. And I have been warned against admitting "box-fillers."

Where do I put Jewish people?

[Res Ipsa]

Who are you arguing with? Who brought up Jews?

critical race theory has created this narrative of whites versus minorities. It's a very simple question, where do Jews sit?

You test theories by throwing edge cases at them. Bad theories fall apart when they become ridiculous.

The fact of whites v. certain minorities existed long before critical race theory.

If you think that ANY theory holds up to edge cases, you really don't understand critical theory at all.

[drumdude]

If you think that ANY theory holds up to edge cases, you really don't understand critical theory at all.

And yet it is being applied to them in the real world.

I'm really interested in how you two would resolve the "box-checking" problem.

[Res Ipsa]

From Res Ipsa's earlier post.



It's in your book.

I'm an admissions advisor. At Harvard. I need to make a list of which people are white, and which are minorities so I can allocate the limited resources. I'm trying to apply this Critical Race Theory to my admissions process. And I have been warned against admitting "box-fillers."

Where do I put Jewish people?

As an individual employee, you do whatever the admissions policy says to do. If you’re designing admissions policy, why would the question be important?

[drumdude]

I don't want to spend all day on it. I do appreciate your perspectives, and I think your hearts are in the right place.

I would love to take a college course or two on critical race theory. I don't think any discussion of criticism of the theory would be allowed, though, given the high emotions on both sides. And that is a huge shame given that colleges are supposed to be a place for discussion.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I would be very apprehensive to speak up.

[Res Ipsa]

If you think that ANY theory holds up to edge cases, you really don't understand critical theory at all.

And yet it is being applied to them in the real world.

I'm really interested in how you two would resolve the "box-checking" problem.

Every theory is being applied in the real world and none of them can handle edge cases consistently.

I suspect I’d handle a box checking problem the way I try to handle all problems: take into account the context and the specific problem that is being examined.

[Marcus]

I don't want to spend all day on it. I do appreciate your perspectives, and I think your hearts are in the right place....

contrary to popular opinion, Res Ipsa IS human, and therefore has only one heart, but your kindness toward him is appreciated.

[Morley]

I would love to take a college course or two on critical race theory. I don't think any discussion of criticism of the theory would be allowed, though, given the high emotions on both sides. And that is a huge shame given that colleges are supposed to be a place for discussion.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I would be very apprehensive to speak up.

Your supposition is correct. You are wrong.