蜜芽传媒

A virtual visit to a Houston school by the award winning African-American children's author, Jerry Craft, has been cancelled after a group of parents argued it would break a recently passed law which bans the teaching of critical race theory.

The Katy school district in Texas also removed Craft's books from some of its libraries, but said the situation was still under review. It said it was obligated to investigate all parental complaints related to the law.

Critical race theory is based on the argument that race is socially constructed and used to oppress people of colour, and that it's an intrinsic part of the legal and social institutions of the US. Eight states, including Texas, have now passed legislation banning discussion of the theory in schools, saying it unfairly lays guilt on white students.

Parent Angelo Webb is angry about the decision - and is concerned there is now no space for black authors to speak in Texas classrooms.

"The book has nothing to do with Critical Race Theory. It's literally the experience of his children through a fiction book. And it was really an opportunity to build bridges using fictional characters, real bridges in real life to other people who may not look like you."

(Photo: The author Jerry Craft. Credit: Hollis King)

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