During Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, questioned Jackson about critical race theory, an academic theory about the systemic impact of racism that has been attacked by conservatives.
Teacher groups and schools tend to argue that CRT is not often taught below the university level.
Jackson – who, if confirmed, would be the first black woman to sit on the Supreme Court – said she “had never studied critical race theory” and “never used it.”
“It does not come up in my work as a judge,” she said, adding that it was her understanding that it was taught in law schools.
Cruz then held out books – including “Antiracist Baby” by Ibram Kendi – which he said were used at Georgetown Day School in Washington, DC, where Jackson is a board member.
An aide displayed posters with enlarged pages from the book behind him.
“Do you agree with this book that teaches children that babies are racist?” asked Cruz.
Jackson paused before responding.
“Senator, I do not mean that any child should be made to feel as if they are racist, or that they are not valued, or even if they are less than, or that they are victims or oppressors,” she said. “I do not believe in any of that.”
Jackson added that such themes “do not come up in my work as a judge, which I respectfully am here to address.”
Earlier Tuesday during her hearing was GOP’s main Twitter account has posted a GIF by Jackson, which included her initials – “KBJ” – which were crossed out and replaced with “CRT.” The Republican Party’s tweet was widely criticized as a “racist dog whistle.”