Letter to the Editor:

James Parker takes issue with those of us opposed to the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in our schools (News-Review, Feb. 15). He cites historical data, but views it through a liberal lens. Several Black commentators have a much more realistic approach.

Social justice warriors complain about Blacks not having equal rights, but they come to this conclusion by pointing to unequal results.

In 1991, Orlando Patterson, a Black Harvard sociology professor, wrote, “The sociological truths are that America, while still flawed in its race relations … is now the least racist white-majority society in the world; has a better record of the legal protection of minorities than any other society, white or Black; offers more opportunities to a greater number of Black persons than any other society, including all those of Africa.”

Black economist Walter Williams commenting on the influence of family wrote, “Malcolm X was absolutely right about our finding solutions to our own problems. The most devastating problems that black people face today have absolutely nothing to do with our history of slavery and discrimination. Chief among them is the breakdown of the black family, wherein 75% of Blacks are born to single, often young, mothers.”

Jason Riley wrote in the Wall Street Journal, “The left’s focus on the past behavior of whites, while ignoring the present behavior of Blacks, might offer some people catharsis, and it might help groups like the NAACP or Black Lives Matter stay relevant. But where is the evidence that such an approach facilitates Black upward mobility?”

It is erroneous to look at inequalities between races and blame them on discrimination. Asian Americans have significantly higher incomes than whites and other groups. Does that mean that Asians somehow are not playing fair?

Does bias against one ethnic or religious group always lead to a lower socioeconomic status? In spite of centuries of antisemitism, Jews have been especially prosperous. Though a small fraction of the world’s population, 20% of Nobel prizes have been awarded to Jews.

Parker uses the worn-out term of white supremacy in his analysis of inequalities in our culture. But here is where family structure is shown to be of critical importance. When Black two-parent families are compared with white two-parent families, the socioeconomic differences are small. The larger differences between the races as a whole exist because of the high illegitimacy rate in the Black community.

Rather than teaching CRT in our schools, we can encourage students of color to embrace opportunities for success. There is a proven way to achieve this: Get at least a high school education, obtain a job, get married, and then have children. In that order. Yes, our history of racism is undeniable, but the majority of Americans are pulling for members of all races to succeed.

I have always admired my Jewish friends for their work ethic and strong family structures. They have not been deterred by anti-Semitism, something that today is raising its ugly head again.

I have cared for Black patients and their families, both as a military physician and in private practice. They ranged from those in poverty to others that became successful by working hard against difficult obstacles. It was a privilege to observe their achievements.

We owe our children better schools. In addition to academic proficiency, students should graduate with a respect for our imperfect history, but with the desire to be part of a more united and just society.

Warren Anderson

Conover