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Who is Kate Slater? Brandeis University official says 'all White people are racist', sparks outrage

Defending the critical race theory Brandeis assistant dean Kate Slater said: 'I don't hate white people - I hate whiteness'

Brandeis University's Assistant Dean, Kate Slater sparked a new debate and outrage on the anniversary of George Floyd's murder. She made an Instagram post stating that 'all White people are racist' and that she hates 'whiteness,' despite being one herself. Slater made those controversial comments on her Instagram account of 5,424 Instagram followers on May 25.

Her comments have fanned a raging debate over critical race theory and how public institutions discussed racism in the days after Floyd's death at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a White former Minneapolis cop. 

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What did Kate Slater's 'controversial' Instagram post say?

The educator at the university in Waltham/Boston, Massachusetts defended the 'critical race theory' in her post and wrote, "Yes, all White people are racist in that all White people have been conditioned in a society where one's racial identity determines life experiences/outcomes and Whiteness is the norm and the default. That includes me!" She continued, "I don't hate white people - I hate whiteness."

"For all white folx, I invite you to take a moment today and reflect on the past year - a year of "racial reckoning". How have you been paying attention, interrupting and holding yourself accountable? How ill you commit and recommit to racial justice, to disrupting and divesting from whiteness, and to building a more equitable world that's free of racial subjugation?" she added.

As her post sparked a huge controversy on social media, Slater made her account private on May 26.

Who is Kate Slater?

Slater was hired as the assistant dean of graduate student affairs at Brandeis University six months ago. Slater's education info on her LinkedIn states that she has a Bachelor's degree in English and theatre from Skidmore College, a Master's degree in education from Northeastern University, and a PhD in educational policy from University of New Hampshire

According to her website, Slater's doctoral research was focused on 'the experiences of underrepresented minority students in higher education, and in particular, at predominantly White institutions.'

What is Critical Race Theory?

The widely debated theory says that the law and legal institutions in the United States are 'inherently racist' and function to create and maintain social, economic, and political inequalities between whites and nonwhites, based on their beliefs. The fight over critical race theory in schools has escalated dramatically in the US over the past year.

The movement has been promoted by civil rights scholars and activists over the past 40 years. It recently came under the radar of conservative educators and politicians, prompting Republican-led legislatures to ban public schools and colleges from teaching it in several states.

Concerns surrounding the widely proclaimed theory notes that children are being indoctrinated from the beginning into thinking that White people are 'inherently racist' or sexist. This approach reduces people to the categories of 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on their skin color, which is a terrible way of running a society, argued by those against the theory. Some critics also believe that it is rooted in Marxism and is used to sow racism.

However, supporters emphasize that the theory is crucial to ensure the elimination of racism as it checks the ways in which race influence American politics, culture and the law. Just days ago, the Governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp had issued a warning about critical race theory being taught in schools. Kemp wrote to the Georgia state board of education stating that he was "extremely concerned "about the spread of CRT in schools, and he had spoken to parents who were "alarmed this divisive and anti-American curriculum is gaining favor."

Internet reacts to Slater's post

People were quick to slam Slater on her controversial post on social media. Tweets like, "How can she teach anti racism if all whites are racist? What a moron. She should give up her cushy job to a person of color, get a new job in the hood to help people. This nut case is teaching, " began to pour in. "@BrandeisU If Kate Slater says all whites are racist including herself she should be fired. Why would Brandeis employ a self professed racist?" asked one social media user.

"@BrandeisU I am a graduate with two teens. I am ashamed of your hire of Kate Slater. She is a racist. My children will never attend Brandeis. You have taken a tragic turn, " shared another on social media.

Some other tweets read, "@BrandeisU what a ignorant person. Stating that 100% of people are anything based on their skin color is racist. If Kate Slater hates herself so much that’s fine but she only speaks for herself. But I wouldn’t want my kids going within 10 miles of her poison, " and "She is a extremist and they all stick together. Her rascim is unacceptable and should be fired. No parent should want to spend hard earn money to tell their child their parents and them are racist because they are white."

Brandeis University is a $57,000-a-year private liberal arts university in Massachusetts. Only about 5 percent of 5,800 students are black and more than 45 percent are White at the university. The University officials were not available to comment on Slater's remarks.