My understanding of Critical Race Theory was that it was originally an optional college-level course that ran alongside a typical Law degree at an American university a few decades ago. It was an academic course designed to examine systemic biases in American jurisprudence which negatively impacted predominantly non-white minorities - the specific wording of law, three strike rules, black men getting stiffer sentences for the same offences than their white peers etc.
It seems to have been taken out of an academic context and broadened and simply misrepresented, which is where just the mention of it gets everyone on both sides’ backs up.
Pre social media, there were loads of crazy and even Fortean-type university modules and courses that you’d never hear about. Ones where academics would be arguing to the point of trading blows about points of obscure philosophy that were far removed from real life. I even did one of the earlier Queer Studies modules at my old alma mater which predated modern identity politics and would undoubtedly be cancelled if presented nowadays - it was originally summarised as ”gay men bleeping with enough Mrs Dalloway and Sylvia Plath to keep the dykes amused”.
I am somewhat skeptical by the dumbed down representation in both mainstream and social media - equally pushed by well-meaning reporters who don’t understand what they are writing about as well as the cynical muckraker types seeking to upset people for clicks and advertising.
I’m not denigrating any BAME-related studies - just trying to add context. I’m white and I don’t pretend to know or understand what the personal experiences of minorities in the UK are (how the duck would I know?) but it seems that there are parallels between people’s defensive responses to discussions and the bollocks men say to women, e.g. NAMALT, I believe in equality, etc etc.
I honestly thing 99% of people are reasonable and try to do their best - social media can amplify and distort things.
I also firmly believe that while working class Brits are fighting amongst themselves over gender and racial politics by our coffee drinking over classes, we are the only ones who are going to suffer - especially as we compete over dwindling resources.
Finally, looking forward to the ”woke” generational types squealing like stuck pigs when their kids cancel them for being bigots…