James Lindsay's "Race Marxism" Book Sparks Debate on Critical Race Theory's Origins

New Discourses, a platform known for its critique of "Woke" ideology, recently promoted James Lindsay's book, "Race Marxism: The Truth About Critical Race Theory and Praxis," through a tweet stating, "Where Race Marxism Came From | @ConceptualJames." The book posits that Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a reinterpretation of Marxist thought, substituting economic class with race as the primary lens for understanding societal inequality.

Lindsay, founder of New Discourses, argues that CRT is a "totalizing religious belief system" aiming to overthrow the social order and integrate itself into every societal facet. He defines CRT as a "Marxian conflict theory of race," asserting that it views racism as the fundamental organizing principle created by white people for their benefit. Critics, such as Jacobin magazine, have described Lindsay's book as "strange" and "bad," accusing him of presenting "paranoid speculations" and lacking substantial argumentation against critical race theorists.

New Discourses, co-founded by Lindsay, identifies itself as a platform for the "politically homeless," aiming to provide tools to understand and discuss the "Critical Social Justice" movement. The organization states its mission is to elucidate how this movement controls societal discourses by altering the meaning of words. Lindsay, a mathematician by training, gained prominence for the "grievance studies affair," where he co-authored hoax articles submitted to academic journals.

The book "Race Marxism" delves into what Lindsay identifies as the core tenets of CRT, including the belief that racism is ordinary and permanent, the interest-convergence thesis, material and structural determinism by racial category, and the social construction of race. He also highlights the concept of a "unique voice of color" (standpoint epistemology), storytelling, historical revisionism, and a critique of liberalism as central to CRT. Lindsay further discusses "whiteness as property," intersectionality, and "antiracism as praxis," which he describes as activism aimed at producing social revolution.

Lindsay's work has generated significant discussion, particularly within conservative circles and among those critical of contemporary social justice movements. His platform frequently links "Woke" ideology to communist principles, arguing that concepts like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are rooted in Marxist strategies. However, his methods and interpretations have also drawn criticism, with some accusing him of promoting "White Genocide Theory" and misrepresenting academic concepts.