Former Rhode Island Republican candidate for Governor and now State Representative Patricia Morgan is facing criticism after she penned a tweet complaining that she lost a friend over critical race theory.
“I had a black friend. I liked her and I think she liked me, too. But now she is hostile and unpleasant. I am sure I didn’t do anything to her, except be white. Is that what teachers and our political leaders really want for our society? Divide us because of our skin color? #CRT”
Critical race theory is an academic concept which asserts that racism is a social construct and not just the product of individual bias or prejudice but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.
The tweet went viral, sparking a slew of witty responses. “Star Trek” actor George Takei responded:
“I had a white friend. I liked him and I think he liked me, too. But then Pearl Harbor happened and whites became hostile and unpleasant. I am sure we didn’t do anything but they sent us to camps anyway. And now they don’t want to teach about this because it makes kids feel bad.”
Ahmed Baba, a columnist for The Independent, wrote: “Patricia Morgan is [the] type who probably referred to her former, and only, Black friend as “my African American” behind her back when trying to use her friendship as evidence that she’s not racist.”
Morgan spoke with The Daily Beast. And while she refused to name said friend, she grumbled about “racial identity politics.”
“I’m sad that she doesn’t feel like she’s my friend anymore,” Morgan said. “I know that she has become a real proponent of racial identity politics. And I’m pretty sure that’s the reason behind it. I’m sad that our country is going down that road. I think it’s bad for our country.”
You can read Morgan’s full response to the backlash over at The Daily Beast.
