A Commonsense Approach to Critical Race Theory

Part 2 of Conversation with Political and Community Activist Nancy Vogl

“Not only do hot-button issues activate the base, they activate the basest of the base.’” -- Swami Beyondananda

One of our missions at Front and Center is “finding the whole truth together”, and on a practical level it means unpacking narratives that have become too volatile to talk about. One such issue is “critical race theory”. To get a “bilateral” view of this hot button issue, we invited Nancy Vogl, who has journeyed across the political spectrum, from Republican to gay activist to evolutionary revolutionary to Common Sense Party advisory board member to offer her wisdom and perspective. As Nancy tells us, in the case of Critical Race Theory (CRT), there has been plenty of heat, and precious little light. She addresses the widespread belief that CRT, supposedly being taught in our public schools, appears to blame white people living now for what happened 200 years ago. That racism is endemic to the United States, no one can deny. And because people of color are easy to identify, they are more easily separated out. As a white kid growing up in a mostly-black neighborhood, I could take the subway to Manhattan and blend in. Not true for my black friends.

As Nancy points out, it’s not CRT itself, but how it is being used to “foment divisiveness and fear.” She continues, “Nobody wants whites to feel guilty. And … people of color and those who've been marginalized by the predominantly male patriarchy want some acknowledgement that that in fact has been done.” The problem is, real conversations haven’t been happening. The issue – pro or con – becomes a political grenade to lob over the wall to the other side, that is used to gather votes or raise money. “And we'll have these conversations,” Nancy says, “when more and more people are tired of the polemics and the criminalization of another point of view.”

If you’re ready for an incisive, compassionate, truth-telling conversation that will liberate you from the “binary” views on all sides, please tune in.

About “Courage” Our Front and Center Theme Song

When I heard “Courage” performed live by Luke Anderson with Aea Luz and Jakob Pek at a gathering this past fall, I immediately recognized it as our theme song for Front and Center. ~Steve

Courage, courage, courage like a lion

Strength of the heart, strength of the spirit to rely on

To truly lift ourselves above the political battlefields so we can populate and animate the new cooperative playing fields requires strength of heart, and strength of spirit. It takes courage to rise above tribal beliefs, to venture beyond the familiar habits of separation to see the bigger picture. And our courage will encourage others to do the same.

You can find out more about Luke Anderson’s music here:

http://www.danceawake.com