The CNO has not had what you would call a good week. First, he got called to the carpet by Representative Elaine D. Luria (D-VA). I highly encourage you to watch this portion here. Then on June 17th, he was pressed on the inclusion (ironic..) of Professor Ibram X Kendi’s book “How to be an Antiracist” into the CNO’s Professional Reading Program. The whole hearing is located here. Washington Post had a good summary here. Now let us tread on ground we have tread before…Professor Kendi’s book does not deserve to remain one second longer on the CNO’s reading list. This horrendous inclusion was the genesis of the authors’ creating this blog. So let’s tackle this again.
CDR Salamander has done an excellent job of laying the groundwork for how Professor Kendi’s work disgraceful and divisive; see here. In particular, pay attention to the screenshot of Professor Kendi’s words at the beginning. Now let’s delve into the CNO’s words:
Congressman Lamborn (R-CO): "Admiral Gilday, I have to ask you about something first, that I'm concerned about and a lot of people in the civilian world. I sent you a letter with two dozen people on it concerned that you recently added several books to the Navy's professional reading list promoting Critical Race Theory, and one of these books is Ibram X. Kendi's "How to be an Antiracist" and it argues that the entire American system is corrupted from top to bottom by racial prejudices which account for all differences in outcomes in out society and one sentence out of that book says that, "The only remedy to past discrimination is present discrimination. The only remedy to present discrimination is future discrimination." Now, I understand that this is a voluntary reading list, but how does exposing to our Sailors to the idea that they are either oppressors or the oppressed, and that we must actively discriminate to make up for past discrimination improves our Navy's readiness and lethality for great power competition?"
CNO Gilday: "Sir, initially you mentioned Critical Race Theory. I am not a theorist, I'm the Chief of Naval Operations, but I can tell you is factually on a substantial enough of time talking to Sailors there's racism in the Navy just like racism in our country and the way we're going to get after it is to be honest about it and that's what we're doing and that's one of the reasons that book is on the list doesn't mean I have any expectation that anybody believe or support everything that Mr. Kendi states in his book. I don't support everything that Kendi says, but the key point here is the Sailors in our Navy, we have to be able to think critically. They have to be able to look outwardly at China and Russia and they have to understand what these societies, why those societies who are potential dangers to the United States inwardly. We have to understand ourselves and we have to understand critically that we value diversity, and I thought okay..."
Lamborn: "Admiral, I agree that we should have a robust and a great discussion and any racism uprooted and taken away. I absolutely agree and I endorse that, but should we have future discrimination? Do you, don't you disagree that particular statement, do you?"
Gilday: "Sir, I have to look at the context of it. I'm not trying to be evasive, but I don't, as I mentioned, I don't support everything Kendi asserts, I don't believe everything that I read. I think that I hope, I think that everyone has to be in a position to weigh facts from fiction. Even our Sailors, they're bombarded every day from misinformation, much of it comes from China and Russia on this issue that's getting in our national psyche. I'm trying to get after it in the Navy."
Lamborn: "OK, well I hope that's one statement you don't endorse and maybe we can follow up on that."
We won’t tread on the ground CDR Salamander conquered, but we will drive further. We shall pull out some of the quotes above and explain why the good Admiral is mistaken in his words.
ADM Gilday: “and that's one of the reasons that book is on the list doesn't mean I have any expectation that anybody believe or support everything that Mr. Kendi states in his book. I don't support everything that Kendi says, but the key point here is the Sailors in our Navy, we have to be able to think critically…We have to understand ourselves and we have to understand critically that we value diversity, and I thought okay...”.
With all due respect to the Admiral, this dodges the point. The book calls for discrimination on the basis of race (it says it…); this is unconscionable and does not deserve the imprimatur of town garbageman in Podunk, USA, let alone the Chief of Naval Operations. While the book may contain intriguing and worthy ideas, the key underpinnings of it are fatally flawed by its call to discriminate on the basis of race. Controversial ideas are great; we should engage in a robust, open and honest debate. But we should not, must not, tread on ground that calls upon us to renege on sacred pledges of faith to each other. Quoth the Sailors Creed: “I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all”. How does Prof. Kendi’s book support that? Is it not in total and complete opposition to our creed? How, then, can the CNO support this work remaining on his professional reading list? If the politicians want to debate the book and it’s ideas, great. Let them. Let us, the uniformed services, be laser focused on preparing to fight and win our nations wars. Any and all forms of racial discrimination are a cancer that undermines the trust and confidence that Sailors have with each other, with their chain of command, and with their country. We should zealously fight racial discrimination; therefore, strike Prof. Kendi’s book from the CNO’s Professional Reading list and let it never return.
Also, if the thought process behind including the book was to understand critically that we value diversity…is this really the work to support? Isn’t there another book out there? Perhaps one that conforms with the core values of the United States Navy rather than one that suborns our creed?
Rep Lamborn: "Admiral, I agree that we should have a robust and a great discussion and any racism uprooted and taken away. I absolutely agree and I endorse that, but should we have future discrimination? Do you, don't you disagree that particular statement, do you?"
ADM Gilday: "Sir, I have to look at the context of it. I'm not trying to be evasive, but I don't, as I mentioned, I don't support everything Kendi asserts, I don't believe everything that I read. I think that I hope, I think that everyone has to be in a position to weigh facts from fiction. Even our Sailors, they're bombarded every day from misinformation, much of it comes from China and Russia on this issue that's getting in our national psyche. I'm trying to get after it in the Navy."
Lamborn: "OK, well I hope that's one statement you don't endorse and maybe we can follow up on that."
Again, with all due respect to the Admiral, this is a dodge. The context of it? The context is that it is a key recommendation of Prof. Kendi’s book. It is the belief that gets the most mileage of all of Prof. Kendi’s work. It is, perhaps, the most important single thing in the book. This was a terrible missed opportunity. This was the moment for the Admiral to stand tall and say, “I oppose any and all discrimination on the basis of race; such discrimination is antithetical to our country’s core values, the values of the United States Navy, and my oath of office”. Or something to that effect. Later in the hearing he does say that “he does not agree with everything in the book”. Which is welcome, but by making that concession, he shows that his position is untenable.
Let’s see what else is in the book. “But there is no neutrality in the racism struggle...One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an antiracist. There is no in between safe space of ‘not racist.’ The claim of ‘not racist’ neutrality is a mask for racism” (Kendi, 2019)”. “The most threatening racist movement is not the alt right's unlikely drive for a White ethnostate but the regular American's drive for a 'race-neutral' one.” (Kendi, 2019). Does the CNO believe any of this? Inquiring minds want to know. And we deserve to know. After all, this is what the CNO recommends we read to lead Sailors?
Now to the Russia and China angle. Going back to the Soviet era, the Russians have exploited racial tensions in the United States; and now China is following suit. That is a true statement. But Kendi’s presence on this list does nothing to counter that…this is a non-sequitur; if anything, a book like this pushing for legalized discrimination inflames the racial tensions in the force.
Overall, a very depressing performance by the CNO. We need leaders pushing to unify the force in spite of our differences, not highlighting them and fracturing us along those cleavages. We are at a loss as to why the CNO things this is a good path to go down. Though, there is a clue:
ADM Gilday: “I'm trying to get after it in the Navy."
Ah…the politicians fallacy: We must do something! X is something, let’s do X, it must be the solution! Perhaps it’d be best to take the “L”, Admiral, and call this a teachable moment. The CNO’s desire to ensure we properly address race in the force is laudable; his inclusion of Prof. Kendi’s work on his professional reading list is NOT laudable. We as a force have bigger fights on our hands; take Prof. Kendi off the list.
And almost as a postscript, let’s be clear what the objection is: the fact that the book is on a reading list that bears the name of the Chief of Naval Operations, under a section about “Sailors”. We’ve read some spurious comments that those of us who oppose this book being here, just don’t want to read opposing views. NO. Nothing could be further from the truth. People SHOULD read the book; it’s controversial and relevant and we never oppose people reading controversial topics. The problem is that this book, by its appearance on the CNO’s reading list, appears to carry the seal of approval of the CNO. If the book is there, absent any disclaimers, our assumption is that the CNO approves of its content. Indeed, the book is under a section of the reading list that says:
“Develop a Seasoned Team of Naval Warriors
Objective: A dominant naval force that can outthink and outfight any adversary. Our Sailors will remain the best trained and educated force in the world. We will cultivate a culture of warfighting excellence rooted in our core values.”
That certainly seems like the books contained in the list are rooted in our core values. But Professor Kendi’s work is decidedly not in our core values. Discrimination on the basis of race is not now, and should not ever be, a core value of the Navy. Any book that recommends such does not deserve to be present on the CNO’s Professional Reading list.
*The authors wish to remain anonymous for now. Still. Maybe forever.