Skip to main content

Book Review: On Critical Race Theory

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Manhattan Book Review.

Dr. Victor Ray

 Amid the White backlash against a misconceived scholarly framework, Victor Ray authors the persuasive On Critical Race Theory to clarify misconceptions and create a path for constructive dialogue about race. The book focuses on empirical research and evidence from social sciences to highlight the fundamental tenets of critical race theory (CRT). The book’s interdisciplinary approach mirrors the reality of the effects of race as a social construct within American society. While race has no biological basis, beliefs about race and racism are pervasive, with real damaging consequences for Black Americans and other racialized groups.


On Critical Race Theory is an important read for anyone seeking to understand the elemental roots of the moral panic about an academic theory that has been weaponized to promote White racial animosity. I took to heart Ray’s straightforward and logical presentation of the crucial tenets of CRT. At Vassar University, Ray leads White working-class students in exploring the dynamics of racial inequality in the US. He calls out the normativity and invisibility of Whiteness as a political identity. Because he is well aware of the sentiments and perceptions about racial dynamics, he can effectively confront the fallacy of claims about anti-White discrimination and present arguments about the importance of racial consciousness in a rational manner. 


Buy from Capital Books


Popular posts from this blog

Medicine Wheel for the Planet

Jennifer Grenz, PhD       Working toward ecological healing requires awareness of how Indigenous ancestral knowledge and living ways can complement Western scientific approaches to environmental restoration and protection practices. Dr. Jennifer Grenz (Nlaxa’pamux mixed ancestry) worked for more than two decades as a field researcher and practitioner for environmental nonprofit organizations, where she worked with different levels of government, including First Nations in Canada. "Medicine Wheel for the Planet" compiles Grenz’s most potent realizations about the lack of forward movement in addressing an impending ecological catastrophe.  A warming climate impacts not only human lives but also the natural balance that relies on reciprocal relationships rooted in deep connections to the land. She uses the metaphor of the four directions of the Indigenous “medicine wheel” to invite openness to Indigenous teachings, letting go of colonial narratives, merging lessons f...

Memento - Embracing the Darkness

Dennis "Dizzy" Doan Stories about overcoming and persevering through family dysfunction, poverty, and mental health challenges offer hope and the promise of better days. Dennis “Dizzy” Doan’s memoir Memento: Embracing the Darkness is one such story, with the added complexity of being raised in an immigrant Vietnamese family. Doan’s parents dealt with the mental and emotional aftermath of war, which forcibly uprooted them from their homeland. In the United States, they struggled to create a safe and stable life for their two sons. Doan shares his journey of finding himself, his craft, and eventually a successful tattoo business in Southern California despite personal strife and run-ins with the law. Doan is best known for developing the aesthetic language to combat anti-Asian hate that erupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. His art series titled “Model Minority” went viral, sparking conversation about Asian American identities and harmful stereotypes. In Memento, Doan showcase...

Enlighten Me

Editor's Note: This review was originally published in Los Angeles Book Review . Author Minh Lê Standing up for oneself seems like doing the right thing. Binh did just that in the face of a racist school bully who was poking fun at his Asian heritage. But physically assaulting another student goes against school policy, and it was Binh who got in trouble. Binh shares a silent retreat with his family and younger siblings. Along with other children, he learns about stories from the previous lives of the Buddha. The stories are interesting, but for Binh, it is difficult to sit still and clear his mind when he misses his Gameboy. While he struggles with silence, he learns important lessons about friendship, community, and being present. In the graphic novel "Enlighten Me," award-winning author Minh Lê and bestselling illustrator Chan Chau tell the story of a boy who gains a better understanding of himself as he works on quieting the mind and reflecting on dharma. Lê and Ch...