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TULSA, Okla. – Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters lashed out at acclaimed author and historian Ibram X. Kendi, calling him “the godfather of CRT” in a social media post on Sunday. Walters’ attack came in response to comments Kendi made on Threads, where the scholar criticized Oklahoma’s recently revised social studies standards.
Kendi, author of Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America, accused Walters of “seeking to end instruction about racism and sexism” and of revising standards to include unfounded claims about the 2020 presidential election. “He seemingly wants students to believe inequity stems from the inferiority of peoples and the 2020 election was stolen,” Kendi wrote.
In response, Walters fired back on X (formerly Twitter), stating: “The godfather of CRT, who got rich off shaming America and dividing kids by skin color, is furious about our standards. We’re cleaning house. Thanks for the endorsement.”
Contrary to Ryan Walters’ Claim, Kendi Did Not Create CRT
However, experts note that Kendi is not the “godfather” of Critical Race Theory (CRT), as Walters claimed. CRT originated in the late 1970s and 1980s as a legal framework developed by scholars such as Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Richard Delgado, Mari Matsuda, and Charles Lawrence. These legal theorists argued that individuals are not solely responsible for racism; legal systems and policies embed it.
Kendi, by contrast, is a historian and leading voice on antiracism whose work focuses on the historical evolution of racist ideas and structural inequality. His scholarship, including How to Be an Antiracist, has helped shape modern discussions on equity in education, but he has stated that he is not a CRT scholar and does not write within the CRT legal tradition.
Social Studies Rewrite Sparks Accusations of Misinformation and Indoctrination
Oklahoma’s newly adopted social studies standards have sparked significant controversy due to their inclusion of debunked conspiracy theories and religious content. Approved in February 2025 under the direction of State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the standards mandate that students “identify discrepancies in 2020 elections results,” referencing unfounded claims about ballot-counting halts, mail-in voting security, and anomalies in voter turnout.
Critics argue that these standards promote misinformation and embed partisan ideology into education. The revisions also emphasize “American exceptionalism” and incorporate over 40 references to the Bible, raising concerns about the separation of church and state.
Critics have condemned the adoption process for lacking transparency. Educators and board members said officials introduced significant changes just hours before the vote, leaving little time for review. A lawsuit filed by former Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter alleges that the standards were approved without following proper procedures, violating due process.
Despite bipartisan concerns, the Oklahoma Legislature allowed the standards to take effect by default, declining to vote on resolutions that could have blocked them. The state will implement the standards in the upcoming academic year, amid ongoing debates about their impact on education and democratic principles.