Critical Race Theory—which posits that current racial inequalities often presented as happenstance are inextricably linked to centuries of overt racist violence and subjugation—is the subject of the Republican party's latest moral panic.
At both state and federal levels, the Republican party has sensationalized the theory, falsely claiming that it's being used to teach children to hate white people. Republican governors like Greg Abbott of Texas have sought to ban it being taught in public schools, though there's little evidence it's taught below the college level in the first place. Congressional Republicans have railed against the theory, though few of them can explain what it actually is.
Nevertheless, in a Congressional hearing regarding the 2022 Defense Budget, Defense Department officials were inevitably asked by Republicans if Critical Race Theory is being taught in military schools, and what their stance on the theory was.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin chastised disgraced Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida for one "spurious" claim he made about the Department's views on the theory.
Later in the hearing, Joint Defense Chiefs of Staff Chairman—General Mark Milley—offered his own insights into the teaching of Critical Race Theory.
Watch why his comments went viral below.
After being asked about Critical Race Theory, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley delivers an answer every American should watch.pic.twitter.com/MrJl5oCvsw— Rantt Media (@Rantt Media) 1624469482
He invoked the Capitol Riots of January 6 in part of his answer:
"I do think it's important actually for those of us in uniform to be open minded and be widely read. And the United States Military academy is a university. And it is important that we train and we understand and I want to understand white rage, and I'm white. And I want to understand it. So what is it that caused thousands of people to assault this building and try to overturn the Constitution of the United States of America? What caused that?"
He continued:
"So it is important that the leaders, now and in the future, do understand it. I've read Mao Tse Tung. I've read Karl Marx. I've read Lenin. That doesn't make me a communist. So what is wrong with understanding, having some situational understanding about what the country for which we are here to defend?
And I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military, our general officers, our commission, non-commission officers of being 'woke' or something else because we're studying some theories that are out there."
Gaetz was left shaking his head.
People praised Milley's answer across the internet.
Oh my god I agree with a General about critical race theoryhttps://twitter.com/JimLaPorta/status/1407747283672784898\u00a0\u2026— The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein (@The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein) 1624473475
Watch this.pic.twitter.com/13h2GMr2Pm— Jamaal Bowman (@Jamaal Bowman) 1624483574
God bless this man, General Mark Milley. Briliantly stated, including that he would have to get read up on critical race theory to understand it, because as smart as he obviously is, he isn't read up either on what it is.https://twitter.com/JimLaPorta/status/1407747283672784898\u00a0\u2026— Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37 (@Joy-Ann (Pro-Democracy) Reid \ud83d\ude37) 1624471396
All of this General Mark Milley, all of this. Not a huge fan, but this was just spot on.pic.twitter.com/ZblWTQIPe2— Ricky Davila (@Ricky Davila) 1624483200
You must watch this! Gen. Milley was absolutely brilliant! \n\nIt is funny how the GOP is using woke maybe they should wake the hell up! Open your minds to the perspectives & experiences of others. \n\nIntellectual curiosity is a requirement for any enlightened society! #BlindersOffhttps://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/1407775546331648001\u00a0\u2026— Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair (@Jaime Harrison, DNC Chair) 1624484368
I certainly hope to see this on all the cable TV news talkfests and in headlines online and in newspapers because this is the best answer I've seen yet to the moral panic about CRT and "wokeness."https://twitter.com/JimLaPorta/status/1407747283672784898\u00a0\u2026— @ijbailey (@@ijbailey) 1624469612
Nevertheless, conservatives were in a tizzy.
BREAKING: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs says Critical Race Theory is important, blames Capitol Riot on \u2018White Rage\u2019pic.twitter.com/6PV1JBW6Rs— Jack Posobiec (@Jack Posobiec) 1624472967
And yet Marx and Lenin aren't on the Milley's recommended reading list. Because the military isn't generally in the business of presenting despicable anti-American views to its members as worthy of consideration.https://twitter.com/JimLaPorta/status/1407747283672784898\u00a0\u2026— Ben Shapiro (@Ben Shapiro) 1624476719
Prediction Which I Hope Is Wrong:\n\nGEN Miley will preside over the United States military when it suffers its greatest defeat since Pearl Harbor at the hands of the enemies he has failed to prepare to fight because he is focused on woke baloney.\n\nLike I said, I hope I\u2019m wrong.— Kurt Schlichter (@Kurt Schlichter) 1624486974
The conservative cries of against a so-called woke military continue.
@GavinNewsom/X
