The Charlie Kirk Show
Episode: Parents Begin to Fight Back Against Critical Race Theory
Date: April 20, 2021
Host: Charlie Kirk
Episode Overview
In this episode, Charlie Kirk explores the growing resistance among parents to the incorporation of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and related "anti-racism" curricula in American schools. He focuses on two main stories: the viral open letter from Andrew Gutman, a parent at Brearley, an elite girls’ school in New York City; and the ordeal of Avery Severson, a Minnesota high school student falsely accused of racism after trying to start a Turning Point USA chapter. Throughout, Charlie urges adults—especially parents—to take a stand, arguing that the future of the country hinges on reclaiming the education system from what he calls the “woke industrial complex.”
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Why Parents are Speaking Out Against CRT
- Charlie describes a “watershed moment” where non-political friends send him the same story—the Gutman letter—indicating its widespread resonance (03:00).
- Andrew Gutman's Open Letter: Gutman withdraws his daughter from Brearley School, denouncing its focus on race, mandatory anti-racism training for parents, and what he calls the erosion of critical thinking and academic rigor (04:30).
- Kirk emphasizes the importance of Gutman's stand and frames this as a broader movement of parents protesting the way race is being taught.
Notable Quote:
"To say that blacks have not experienced systemic racism since the 1960s is standing up to the ruling class, to the virtue-signaling mob that is all signaling and no virtue and saying no more."
— Charlie Kirk (09:07)
2. Summarizing Andrew Gutman’s Key Arguments
- Gutman's letter objects to the labeling of all disparate outcomes as evidence of systemic racism; criticizes CRT as “precisely the true and correct definition of racism”; and condemns the school’s requirement of mandatory anti-racism training for parents (12:00–14:30).
- Kirk summarizes Gutman’s stance: CRT reduces students to oppressor/victim categories and undermines both free inquiry and community cohesion.
Notable Quote (Gutman, quoted by Kirk):
"It cannot be stated strongly enough that Brearley’s obsession with race must stop. America's obsession with race must stop."
— Andrew Gutman, via Charlie Kirk (06:55)
3. The Need for Adult Courage and Civic Action
- Kirk asks why so many parents remain silent, encouraging decisive and public action similar to Gutman’s:
"Why is it that parents are so quiet?... If every parent in America decided to stand up against the people teaching your child to hate themselves and hate America, this would change overnight."
— Charlie Kirk (11:22) - He accuses schools of attempting “to usurp the role of parents in teaching morality,” likening current practices to Maoist indoctrination in the Chinese Cultural Revolution (21:25, 23:30).
- Stresses the need for parents to reclaim their authority and resist what he describes as totalitarian impulses in education.
4. The Ordeal of Avery Severson (Turning Point USA Student)
- Kirk shares the story of Avery, a Minnesota high schooler falsely accused of sending racist messages when trying to start a Turning Point USA club (18:04).
- FBI found the claims were fabricated; protests and administrative silence followed, illustrating “soft totalitarianism” and the dangers of unchallenged accusation culture (19:30).
- Avery is held up as a model of courage amid adversity.
Notable Quote:
"The moment she started to want to organize a Turning Point USA group, she gets accused of sending out these awful, racist text messages... The FBI got involved. That’s right, the FBI got involved.... It was made up. It was fake."
— Charlie Kirk (18:25)
5. Cancel Culture & Parallels to Totalitarian States
- Kirk argues that cancel culture operates through unpredictable enforcement of ever-changing social rules, quoting a Soviet defector:
"You will not be able to predict what we’ve held against you tomorrow, you have no idea what completely normal thing you will do or say today will be used against you to destroy you."
— Soviet Defector via Charlie Kirk (27:20) - Asserts that cancel culture is about power and fear, causing most parents to remain silent and thus perpetuating divisive educational trends.
6. Recent Successes and Hopeful Signs
- Highlights how parent and community involvement at Loyola Academy led to changes in anti-racism curricula (20:40).
- Suggests elites are beginning to push back as their own children are affected, which may be a turning point for broader cultural resistance (31:28).
Memorable Quotes & Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Context | |-----------|-------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 06:55 | Gutman/Kirk | "It cannot be stated strongly enough that Brearley’s obsession with race must stop. America's obsession with race must stop." | | 09:07 | Charlie Kirk| "To say that blacks have not experienced systemic racism since the 1960s is standing up to the ruling class, to the virtue-signaling mob that is all signaling and no virtue and saying no more." | | 11:22 | Charlie Kirk| "Why is it that parents are so quiet?... If every parent in America decided to stand up... this would change overnight." | | 18:25 | Charlie Kirk| "The FBI got involved. That's right, the FBI got involved.... It was made up. It was fake." | | 21:25 | Charlie Kirk| "Every totalitarian state that has ever existed seeks to disconnect and erode the bond between parent and their child." | | 27:20 | Soviet Defector/Charlie Kirk | "You will not be able to predict what we've held against you tomorrow, you have no idea what completely normal thing you will do or say today will be used against you to destroy you." | | 31:28 | Charlie Kirk| "The way this is going to be fixed is when the ruling class’s kids are really impacted by this. And that's what we're seeing." |
Segment Timestamps
- [00:26] — Episode theme intro (Parents fight against CRT; preview of Gutman letter and Severson ordeal)
- [05:00–15:45] — Reading and analysis of Andrew Gutman’s letter to Brearley School
- [16:42] — Advertisement break (skipped)
- [18:04–21:00] — The story of Avery Severson and fabricated accusations at White Bear Lake High School
- [21:01–27:20] — Further commentary on CRT, historical analogies, and the role of parents
- [27:21–31:28] — Cancel culture discussion, historical warnings, and the importance of direct action
- [31:28–33:58] — Listener question and Charlie’s concluding thoughts on culture, activism, and hope
Key Takeaways
- Growing Parental Backlash: There's increasing momentum amongst parents against CRT and politicized curricula in private and public schools.
- Courage is Contagious: Publicly standing up (as Gutman did) is essential—Kirk emphasizes that silence perpetuates the problem.
- The Role of Cancel Culture: Fear of reputational and professional reprisals keeps parents (especially in elite circles) from speaking out.
- Education as a Battleground: Kirk frames the fight over CRT as central to the nation's future, urging listeners to take action both locally and nationally.
- Hopeful Indicators: Recent wins and the willingness of some parents to risk backlash suggest a turning tide in opposition to CRT in American schools.
Conclusion
Charlie Kirk calls this episode a wake-up call, warning that America’s educational institutions are “past the point of no return” unless parents assert themselves decisively. Both the Gutman letter and the Severson story are offered as examples of courage and the necessity of public action, with Kirk ending on a hopeful note: if more parents act, real change is possible.
Contact and Further Action:
- Email thoughts to: freedom@charliekirk.com
- Get involved: tpusa.com