‘It doesn’t make any sense’: Kansas bill seeks to ban race talk in college courses | Opinion

The latest attempt by some Kansas Republican lawmakers to erase parts of American history that tell the truth about the bigotry involved in the fight for equal rights, equal justice and fair treatment of Black and brown Americans, women and those who identify as LGBTQ or other, is greatly flawed.

It reveals that the legislators pushing for a bill that would dumb down college coursework might themselves be confused. Or, they are trying to confuse the rest of us.

I’m certainly confused by the seeming contradictions in the legislation that’s been proposed, and here’s why.

Earlier this month, lawmakers held a hearing on an unpopular and controversial proposed bill that would prohibit public colleges and universities in Kansas from teaching courses for graduation that include topics on “critical theory, whiteness, systemic racism, institutional racism, anti-racism, microaggressions, systemic bias, implicit bias, unconscious bias, intersectionality, gender identity, social justice, cultural competence, allyship, race-based reparations, race-based privilege, race-based or gender-based diversity, race-based or gender-based equity, or race-based or gender-based inclusion.”

That’s a lot of America’s history not to teach.

That same bill proposes that all freshmen at colleges and universities receive an orientation program that includes “a section describing to all students the policies and rules and regulations regarding free expression,” and resources discussing the importance of “free speech, viewpoint diversity, and protecting unpopular speech in the United States.”

Wait, I thought they were suppressing free speech by prohibiting specific topics from being discussed and taught.

The proposed legislation goes on to say it’s OK to identify and discuss “historical movements, ideologies or instances of racial hatred or discrimination, including, but not limited to, slavery, Indian removal, the Holocaust or Japanese American internment.”

My problem with that, and I would wager — if I were a betting woman — that professors would have the same problem: The bill also prohibits teaching about whiteness, systemic racism, institutional racism and anti-racism, all of which would seem necessary topics when addressing how those historical movements evolved, and are tied to racial hatred and discrimination.

Are you seeing my confusion?

Free speech: yes or no?

I can’t make sense of this bill — H.B. 2428 — that, on one hand, proposes suppressing the free expression and discussion of ideas in college coursework when those ideas, albeit historically proven and documented, happen to be ideas that right-leaning conservatives don’t like.

On the other hand, it pretends to support protecting free speech and the free exchange of ideas.

“It doesn’t make any sense,” said Jamila Jefferson, a law professor at the University of Kansas. “You can’t even talk about the Constitution of the United States without talking about race. It is not possible to teach history of any sort without talking about race,” Jefferson said.

“You can’t talk about the movement of indigenous people without talking about white supremacy, you can’t talk about slavery without talking about racial hatred. You can’t talk about the internment of Japanese Americans without talking about the fact that German Americans were not interned. ”

This kind of nonsensical legislative mumbo jumbo is exactly why lawmakers should stay out of classrooms and lecture halls when it comes to setting curriculum and let the professors do their jobs. They know what coursework is necessary to prepare students to work in whatever field they are pursuing, and they know what students need to navigate the real world. It’s a diverse place.

Jefferson agrees. She said the arrogance displayed by the proposed bill represents “an utter disregard for expertise.” Many of those who spoke against the bill during the hearing are professors.

One of the things I loved most about college was all the different people I got to meet from all over the country and the world. My favorite classes were the ones that allowed us to engage in conversations and debates on a variety of topics. As a young Black woman from New York, much of what I learned about my own history and other cultures I learned in college. It didn’t always change what I believe, but it did help me understand what others believe.

‘Freedom from Indoctrination Act’

The bill is co-sponsored by Republican state Reps. Kristey Williams of Augusta, Susan Humphries of Wichita and Bob Lewis of Garden City.

Williams testified in support of the bill, which she referred to as “the Freedom from Indoctrination Act.” She told the committee that numerous studies showed as many as 90% of U.S. college faculty self-identified as liberal. She argued that the Legislature needs to block “compelled speech” to counter “the indoctrination” happening on Kansas college campuses. You know, because of all the liberal minds.

Perhaps conservatives believe that legislating a ban on discussions about racial oppression, homophobia, hate and more, while insisting on more talk about white men in powdered wigs, patriotism and promised liberties never intended for Black people and women brings balance to lecture halls. It doesn’t.

Rep Williams shared, by email, her testimony from last week’s House Committee hearing with me. In it, she wrote, “It remains imperative to promote a diversity of ideas, rather than promote a favored political or ideological viewpoint. ” I agree, but would add to that statement that this bill, which attempts to eliminate viewpoints conservatives disagree with rather than add their own viewpoints to the discussion, does exactly the opposite of what she proposes.

She also says in her testimony supporting the proposed bill that “state resources should not be used to compel belief, promote ideological conformity, or stifle or discourage dissenting viewpoints.” I agree with that too.

What I don’t get is if you can make such a statement, why, then, support a bill that proposes to stifle and discourage, ignore and even forbid not only viewpoints, but also historically proven circumstances created by systemic racism and anti-LGBTQ beliefs used to marginalize and oppress groups?

We know these things happened, and not talking about them, especially in college lecture halls designed for the exchange of ideas, doesn’t mean they didn’t happen. What it assures is that we end up with poorly educated graduates. Hence, my dumbed-down assessment.

Going after DEI

This isn’t the first time Kansas Republicans have gone after what they deem to be diversity, equity and inclusion and so-called “critical race theory,” without really defining either.

In 2025, the Kansas Legislature passed a budget provision requiring all state agencies and public universities to eliminate DEI positions, programs, trainings and grants. That move did not impact what’s taught, discussed and debated in college lecture halls.

Whether you agree or not with the government trying to tell college professors how to teach and what to teach and discuss — I don’t think lawmakers have any business meddling with college curricula — this proposed legislation is flawed. Confusing at best.

“I think that the vagueness and the convoluted and illogicalness of it all is the point,” Jefferson said. “I do think that it is aimed at destroying the gains that minorities have made” in this country.

Legislators shouldn’t waste time trying to whitewash American history. Kansans care more about the economy, health care, food and housing affordability, reproductive rights and access to water.

I’m all for conservatives ensuring their ideas are a part of class discussions, but those ideas should not be the only discussions allowed.

I think we should do with this bill what anyone would do with anything irreparably broken, rotten or stinky: Toss it.

This story was originally published February 16, 2026 at 5:04 AM.