New Books in Critical Theory David Theo Goldberg, "The War on Critical Race Theory: Or, The Remaking of Racism" (Polity Press, 2023)
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Aug 14, 2025 
David Theo Goldberg, a Distinguished Professor at UC Irvine, delves into the escalating war on Critical Race Theory and its profound impact on American society. He discusses how conservative movements distort CRT to foster racism while promoting colorblind ideologies. Goldberg unpacks the role of think tanks in shaping educational policies and the chilling effect on racial discourse. He connects these issues to broader political shifts and demographic changes, revealing how the narrative around race is manipulated to maintain power dynamics.
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From Apartheid To Interdisciplinary Work
- David Theo Goldberg recounts coming to UC Irvine and his interdisciplinary trajectory from philosophy to anthropology.
- He describes his long-standing research on race, shaped by growing up under apartheid in South Africa.
CRT's Original Legal Roots
- Critical Race Theory (CRT) began as a legal framework analyzing how American law embeds racial hierarchy.
- CRT introduced tools like structural racism, colorblindness critique, and intersectionality to analyze law and society.
How CRT Became A Political Weapon
- Christopher Rufo and right-wing media turned CRT into an undefined political enemy during 2020.
- The campaign targeted school curricula and harnessed parental outrage during COVID lockdowns to mobilize attacks on schools.
