In a surprising turn of events, a federal judge recently upheld most of Oklahoma’s HB 1775, a law widely perceived as banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the state. However, the ruling delivered an ironic twist: Judge Charles Goodwin—a Trump appointee—clarified that the law does not prohibit teaching about race, racism, or related concepts like implicit bias. Instead, it compels such instruction, exposing a significant gap between the law’s text and the partisan rhetoric and public understanding surrounding it.

This ruling has broad implications for similar “anti-CRT” laws across the country, challenging the narrative that laws like Florida’s Stop WOKE Act silence discussions about racism in education. As stakeholders fight back and courts continue to weigh in, this decision could signal a major shift in the fight against discriminatory censorship in American classrooms.