Reid Defends Critical Race Theory and Accuses Its Critics of Racism

On June 11, 2021, Reid tweeted that critical race theory (CRT) was not being taught in U.S. elementary and secondary schools. She also claimed that people who were concerned about CRT in the classroom were, by and large, hypocrites who had no objection to schools teaching “Confederate Race Theory,” which, by Reid’s telling, taught youngsters that “slavery was not so bad.” Reid also criticized Manhattan Institute senior fellow Christopher Rufo, who has written extensively about how CRT has infected American schools and businesses, as one of numerous conservatives who were “basically using critical race theory as a brand name.”

Following the segment, Rufo posted a tweet challenging Reid to debate him on CRT on her program. “@JoyAnnReid has denounced me by name multiple times on her show,” Rufo wrote. “But she doesn’t have the courage to invite me on as a guest. She knows that I will crush her critical race theory apologetics any day of the week.”

Reid replied by tweeting: “This is a weirdly aggressive way to get yourself on TV, Christopher. Why not just contact my booking producers like a normal person, rather than going with the White Man Demands option? I had never even heard of you until @oneunderscore__ piece exposing your plot to rebrand CRT.”

Rufo, in turn, responded: “I’m not ‘demanding’ anything; I’m challenging you to a debate about critical race theory. The real question: are you going to accept this challenge or not?”