Philosopher Herbert Marcuse, an influential figure in the protest movement of “May 68,” was captured in a photograph in Grasse on July 26, 1969 (Photo; Archives/AFPvia Getty Images). It is always intriguing when intellectual history is well-executed, and there have been notable books by conservative thinkers in recent years that have achieved this distinction. These include Matthew Continetti’s “The Right” (2022), George F. Will’s “The Conservative Sensibility” (2019), and Jonah Goldberg’s “Suicide of the West” (2018), which shed light on the ideas that have shaped American conservatism.
Christopher F. Rufo, another conservative writer, has now joined this ranks with his book “America’s Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything.” This New York Times bestselling hardback offers a valuable exploration of the past six decades of leftist ideology in America, tracing its infiltration of universities, the news media, public education institutions, and large corporations.
Rufo’s book is a meticulously researched and precise work, delving into the lives and ideas of influential leftists such as Herbert Marcuse, Angela Davis, Paulo Freire, and Kimberlé Crenshaw. These figures have played key roles in disseminating concepts like “critical race theory” and “intersectionality” that dominate left-wing circles today.
Rufo also reveals how these ideological concepts, along with terms like “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) and “environmental, social, and corporate governance” (ESG), have permeated the rest of society. The book highlights the enduring influence of individuals like Davis and Harvard Law School’s first Black professor, Derrick Bell, who shaped the landscape of higher education with critical race theory in the 1970s.
However, it is in the realm of public K-12 education that the radical left’s vision of America has truly taken hold. The repudiation of the founding ideals and the embrace of identity politics have become deeply ingrained within public education bureaucracies, influencing what is taught to students.
Rufo not only charts the rise of leftism but also exposes how it has manifested in recent years. The murder of George Floyd in 2020 propelled a surge towards the divisive ideologies of the left, with leaders in various sectors rushing to align themselves with these ideas. The rapid shift towards demands for reparations and attacks on property rights reflects the long-term impact of leftists’ infiltration of institutions since the 1960s.
Despite the grimness of this story, “America’s Cultural Revolution” offers more than just a post-mortem. Rufo puts forth an ambitious plan for a counteroffensive against these ideologies, urging opponents of critical theories to expose its true nature and exploit its vulnerabilities. He emphasizes the need to construct a logical alternative that can overcome the dominance of these ideologies.
There are signs that a counterattack may already be underway, with recent news reports suggesting a backlash against DEI and ESG. The question for the center-right is not whether to fight, but when to declare victory. The moment will come when defenders of traditional values secure a strong foothold on campuses, in the media, boardrooms, and most importantly, in K-12 schools. This achievement would align with the vision expressed by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in August 1963, where individuals are judged solely by the content of their character.
In conclusion, Rufo’s book offers deep insights into the left’s infiltration of American institutions over the past decades and provides a call to action for those seeking to challenge these ideologies. It is a thought-provoking work that prompts us to reconsider the current cultural landscape and strive for a society that upholds core American values.
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