HBO Real Time host Bill Maher has defended parents who are opposed to Critical Race Theory in public schools, saying it is 'disingenuous' to suggest that they are upset with incorporating African American history into the curriculum.
During his panel discussion on Friday night, Maher debated Vanderbilt professor Michael Eric Dyson about the role parent frustrations played in Tuesday's gubernatorial election in Virginia, which GOP candidate Glenn Youngkin won.
Dyson argued that parents were outraged that black history was being 'centered' in schools, saying that they were 'spooked' by CRT even though 'none of them can define it'.
Maher fired back: 'I find that a disingenuous argument because I don't think that is what people are objecting to... They are not objecting to black history being taught. There are other things going on in the schools.'
HBO Real Time host Bill Maher has defended parents who are opposed to Critical Race Theory in public schools
Vanderbilt professor Michael Eric Dyson argued that parents were outraged that black history was being 'centered' in schools, saying that they were 'spooked' by CRT even though 'none of them can define it'
Pressed for examples, Maher said that parents objected to 'separating children by race and describing them either as oppressed or oppressor.'
'I mean, there are children coming home who feel traumatized by this. That's what parents are objecting to,' he added.
Dyson responded by arguing that much of the public discourse over CRT is driven by conservatives who believe the controversial ideology will 'make good publicity.'
'It's not critical race theory, it's the notion of centering black people as historical agents,' he said.
'I think you are underestimating the anti-black sentiment that's deeply
