Editor's note: Haider Rifaat is a features writer for OK! Pakistan, an international edition of OK! Magazine. He is also a writer for Arabian Moda and South China Morning Post and serves as the creator and host of Pakistan's first web talk show – The Haider Rifaat Show. The article reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Critical race theory (CRT) is gaining renewed momentum in the mainstream press. The theory holds that racism is not merely unique to specific individuals but runs deep in almost every major U.S. institution. Take, for example, deep-seated racism in U.S. law enforcement. The most prominent case that comes to mind is that of George Floyd's murder committed by former police officer Derek Chauvin. Since Floyd's killing, more than 229 blacks have been targeted and killed by authorities [across the U.S. in the year], according to Newsweek. Law enforcement happens to be just one American institution. Imagine others entrenched with racism.

Minorities in the country suffered in silence for decades until last year. Following Floyd's death, systemic racism became one of the central themes during countrywide protests. African-Americans mustered the confidence to break the culture of silence and speak truth to power.

GOP members, however, see CRT as a problem, which is not surprising. The theory only exposes them and Trump supporters for enabling racism and bigotry for four years. Earlier in March, Democrats passed a policing reform bill responsible for setting up a national police misconduct database, enacting new police training mandates, and allowing federal attorneys to hold police officers accountable for their misdemeanors. The bill also prohibited chokeholds and no-knock warrants. Republicans opposed the bill, according to The Washington Post. It is only appropriate to collectively support a policing reform bill that favors blacks. By opposing the bill, Republicans sent across a message to black Americans that police violence is non-existent, and their lives do not matter. 

Republicans were also quick to justify the Capitol Hill riots – an effort that fueled white supremacy. Data gathered by Pew Research indicated that 17 percent of Republicans believed that Trump supporters did not incite the Capitol Hill riots. Instead, they blamed Antifa and Black Lives Matter. Ten percent of Republicans "understood the frustrations" of the insurrectionists responsible for storming Capitol Hill.

A majority of Republicans are inclined to toe the line of Trump and white supremacists in the name of opposing Democrats. They tend to uphold white supremacist ideology when justifying the Capitol Hill riots, or opposing a bill that tries and tests police officers. With CRT rising to the occasion and being taught in American schools, Republicans are growing anxious. They are concerned that CRT would likely unveil more nuanced truths and inequalities in almost every major U.S. institution going forward.

CRT debunks deep-rooted discrimination in the American legal and political systems that affect minorities, particularly African Americans. Recently, American athlete Gwen Berry turned away from the flag once the national anthem began playing at the 2021 Olympic trials. She instead kept a T-shirt on her head that read "Activist Athlete." Berry responded to the backlash in a recent interview with BNC News, saying, in part, "If you know your history, you'd know the full song of the national anthem. The third paragraph speaks to slaves in America; our blood being slain... It's disrespectful, and it does not speak for Black Americans."

According to USA Today, Berry also claimed on June 26 that she hoped to shed light on police brutality and systemic racism. Republicans were quick to condemn her, particularly Ted Cruz and Dan Crenshaw. The latter appeared on the conservative media outlet Fox News and went on a tirade against Berry, claiming, "We don't need any more activist athletes. She (Gwen) should be removed from the team. The entire point of the Olympic team is to represent the United States of America. It's the entire point. This is the pathology that occurs when we are teaching critical race theory into our institutions."

Berry protested about what she felt was wrong with America. For Crenshaw to put her on blast is hypocritical, considering that the U.S. constitution grants Berry the right to protest and express herself as she did. By now, it is evident that CRT is encouraging minorities in America to open up about their personal experiences with racism. Just like Berry felt a certain way for her country, her actions would inspire others to follow suit, and lay bare hardline truths that right-wingers wish to keep hidden.

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