Commotion: Critical Race Theory in the CDC

Critical race theory is viewed as controversial, as it acknowledges the extensive effects of racism on culture. The right are particularly offended about it, so Trump made it so that government-funded institutions can’t teach classes about it. Recently, Christopher F. Rufo “leaked” a series of course material, which showed that the class taught critical race theory.

Overall, Misbar found that this story is unusual in that it seems to be formally recognized as true but it is hard to find any evidence. There’s not much basis to support Rufo’s claims. Rufo’s social media presence reveals that he is extremely biased, with tweets like “Marxism is a public health crisis” and retweets of conservative public figures. Rufo did not explain where the documents came from or who may have leaked them. It’s uncertain as to why someone would send them to Rufo, specifically, instead of someone more well-known and credible.

 The CDC’s website doesn’t mention the class, either, or any other racial course material. The instructor, Camara Phyllis Jones, MD, MPH, PhD, is currently an associate professor at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. She is also an associate professor at Morehouse School of Medicine. She seems much too busy to be teaching a CDC class.