As states including Texas and Florida crack down on the teaching of so-called critical race theory in public schools, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has produced a free e-book that promises to teach conservatives how to spot and fight it in classrooms and communities. 

“Critical Race Theory: A Lecture by Senator Ted Cruz” is a free, 10-page book published in collaboration with the conservative nonprofit Leadership Institute.

What You Need To Know

  • Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has released a new e-book titled “Critical Race Theory: A Lecture by Senator Ted Cruz” that he says will help conservatives identify and fight against the teaching of critical race theory in their communities

  • Critical race theory is a broadly defined as is a way of thinking about America’s history through the lens of racism

  • Conservatives reject critical race theory, saying it is a world view derived from Marxism that divides society by defining people as oppressors and oppressed based on their race

  • The book comes as states including Texas and Florida step up efforts to ban the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 public classrooms

“Leftists use Critical Race Theory to kill the American Dream. But brave conservatives are fighting back,” the Leadership Institute website states in an advertisement for Cruz's book. 

Critical race theory is a way of thinking about America’s history through the lens of racism. It was developed during the 1970s and 1980s in response to what scholars viewed as a lack of racial progress following the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. It centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the nation’s institutions and that they function to maintain the dominance of white people in society.

However, Cruz and other conservatives reject it, saying it is a world view derived from Marxism that divides society by defining people as oppressors and oppressed based on their race. They call it an attempt to rewrite American history and make white people believe they are inherently racist.

While critical race theory is advanced and generally reserved for undergraduate or graduate-level courses, Cruz claims teacher unions are pushing for the concept to be taught in K-12 classrooms. He instructs conservatives to look for words including “systemic racism,” “intersectionality,” “white privilege” and “equity” as key indicators critical race theory is being taught.

“When you read it, you’ll learn how to spot Critical Race Theory concepts and argue against them effectively in your own community,” the Leadership Institute’s website continues.

The book comes as Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is targeting the teaching of critical race theory in his state. DeSantis on Wednesday announced the Stop WOKE (Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees) Act during an event in Wildwood, Florida.

The legislation would ban the teaching of the concept in schools and allow private corporate employees to sue their employers if they are made to undergo critical race theory training. It’s that enforcement mechanism that mirrors Texas’ law restricting abortion at six weeks. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year signed a bill that limits how teachers can discuss American history and current events in the classroom with the aim of banning the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 public schools.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.