“The theory of democratic government is not that the will of the people is always right, but rather that normal human beings of average intelligence will, if given a chance, learn the right and best course by bitter experience.” – W.E.B. Du Bois, educator, civil rights activist, and writer (23 Feb 1868-1963)
This statement by one of the founding figures of Pan-Africanism and civil rights undermines the very premises of Critical Race Theory that an imperfect people should have known and acted on their better premises regarding past wrongful treatment of people. Yes right is always right. This is a sure as wrong is always wrong. People in different contexts had different ideas about these things. It seems almost bad faith to argue for cultural relativism on one hand while simultaneously being hateful about things past. And what of, as I often act against personally, contemporary slavery. I belong to several anti-slavery groups. Incidentally, were you aware there are historically more slaves today than existed in the era of America’s history leading up to our bloody civil war. Where is the outrage toward something we can actually do something about?
