Revolutionizing Critical Social Justice:

The Promise of an Empowered Humanity

A Call For A Counter-Culture 

Since the summer of 2020, cries for "revolution" have grown louder, become corporatized, and received government-stamped approval. In the years leading up to this, I desperately tried to raise awareness of not only what these cries meant but also where they were originating from and what their human and societal impacts were. My professional and personal experience with the revolutionaries and understanding of how these ideas are impairing humankind’s social-emotional and psychological well-being inspires me to ignite a counter-culture revolution.

The present-day revolution relies on dividing us from each other, putting us in boxed-in groups, and granting acceptance or justifying exclusion based on our biological markers. Arranging society and people’s thinking, feelings, and behavior in accordance with contemporary revolutionary ideals and practices negatively impacts social-emotional and psychological well-being. If happiness, well-being, and liberation are the goals, we need a counter-culture revolution to gracefully remove the walls of indignity that have been built between us.

To dismantle these walls of indignity, we must understand the ideas that built the bricks, the mortar that connects them, and the institutions constructing the walls. This essay explores all of these and proposes a way for humankind to move forward in a more empowering and dignified manner. In short, the idea that built the bricks is Critical Social Justice (CSJ); the mortar connecting the bricks is diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), antiracism, and Social Emotional Learning (SEL); and the institutions building the walls are K-12, Higher Ed, and the workplace. I believe the idea behind the counter-culture revolution is Empowered Humanity Theory. Counterculture leaders will be the professionals and advocates who value the well-being and liberties of all people. Those who have been sounding the alarm that contemporary DEI, antiracism, and SEL are being utilized for revolutionary purposes rather than human-centered solutions are instrumental to the counter-culture revolution as well.

Navigating the Maze of Modern Activism

This essay also details my decade-long relationship with Critical Social Justice, DEI, SEL, antiracism, and the revolutionaries in those systems and structures—a journey that began with absolute rejection and avoidance in 2011 to full immersion from 2014 to 2021. While my direct journey began in 2011, many of the ideas and experiences that influenced my conclusions and solutions have been ongoing since childhood. I conclude that contemporary Critical Social Justice is colonizing the liberal world order through K-12, Higher-Ed, and workplace initiatives, including DEI, SEL, and antiracism. Suppose these frameworks don't shift to human-centered solutions within the next six to ten years. In that case, the liberal world order will be lost, and therefore, recent human concepts of "believing in equality and individual liberty, supporting private property and individual rights, supporting the idea of limited constitutional government, recognizing the importance of related values such as pluralism, toleration, autonomy, bodily integrity, and consent" will also be lost.

I started questioning Critical Social Justice (CSJ) in 2017 because I understood how applying it to one's thinking, feelings, and behavior impaired one's emotional well-being. I also saw it as a tool to undo liberalism rather than enhance the human experience and relationships. I believe the concept of fundamental human freedom is the triumphing achievement of our species, and this generation must safeguard this concept. My concerns and critiques have consistently been met with defiance, anger, and insults by “both sides” of the political spectrum. 

Beyond The Political Divide

At first glance, my thesis may seem “political,” but rest assured, my intentions, aspirations, attachments, and affiliations have never been “political,” nor will they ever be. My only “line in the sand,” so to speak, is prioritizing the health and well-being of our species and maintaining a free society. Pretty vanilla, right? I agree, and I believe deep down, this is most people’s “politics.” So again, please don’t think of this as another reactionary political piece contributing to our daily divide, chaos, and harm but me reaching out to those who value the well-being and liberty of all people and pointing out that contemporary DEI, Antiracism, and Social Emotional Learning frameworks are antithetical to both well-being and liberty. By gracefully confronting these challenges head-on, we will forge a path that preserves our liberties, enhances our well-being, and strengthens our shared humanity for us now and the generations that follow.

Seeking Shelter From The Storm

My awareness of Critical Social Justice was first alerted in 2011. Looking at American society and the world in 2011, I envisioned a metaphorical snowball being pushed up a mountain slope.  Over time, this snowball would grow in size and ultimately come down the mountain, causing a disastrous avalanche. Rather than hunker down and prepare for when the avalanche hit, I made an exodus so that my family and I were nowhere near the path of destruction. 

The snowball represented a new fundamental neo-Marxist culture that would eventually engulf and destroy the traditions of liberal culture of the U.S. and liberal democracies around the world. After the cultural conquest, the emerging neo-Marxist political and economic world order would officially replace the liberal world order. In other words, tyranny would win out in a battle of liberty vs. tyranny. Instead of living in fear or apathy, my family and I responded to this by pursuing our "American Dream" abroad. The goal was to find a remote corner of the world so that when the avalanche hit, we would not feel the brunt of the destruction because we had escaped its direct path. Our exodus in 2012 first took us to China for only a few months rather than the expected two years. Then, unforeseen circumstances brought us to Benin, Africa. Benin was the remote corner of the world, shelter from the storm I envisioned. The exodus proved to be short-lived, and in an ironic twist of fate, I found myself back in Texas working in a profession advancing the very idea that influenced my “permanent departure” from the USA.  

The Essence of Critical Social Justice

What is this idea that influenced my departure from American society in 2012? A commonly used term that was once self-proclaimed but now may be considered derogatory is "woke." However, Critical Social Justice (CSJ) is a more objective descriptor for this social and political worldview. The fundamental difference between Liberalism and the Critical Social Justice worldview lies within how a person identifies themself and others. In a Liberal society, people primarily view themselves and others as individuals and residents of their nation. In contrast, those who adopt the CSJ worldview see themselves and others primarily as part of a racial, gender, and sexuality group that carries an "oppressor" or "oppressed" label and disavow their nation as inherently a racist, patriarchal, bigoted place that must be dismantled.

A primary tool of the CSJ worldview is Critical Theory, which emerged from the Frankfurt School in the early 20th century. The Frankfurt School was a think tank of Marxist scholars frustrated and curious as to why the communist revolution did not happen in post-WWI Germany, even though the conditions were ripe. They also noticed that the Bolshevik revolution in Russia was not a unified proletariat vs. bourgeois revolution. So, they set out to pontificate and develop strategies and methods to successfully erode the Liberal world order (revolution).

 Frankfurt School scholar Max Horkheimer developed Critical Theory. In his works, Horkheimer critiqued liberal societies for perpetuating inequality and failing to achieve true freedom and justice. He expressed the desire to replace a liberal society with a Marxist society, aiming to dismantle existing power structures and create a more equitable social order. He believed that Critical Theory could reveal the underlying mechanisms of oppression within liberal democracies, thus paving the way for revolutionary change towards a Marxist framework.

Another primary tool of the CSJ worldview is Intersectionality, a concept developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw in the late 20th century. Intersectionality is a framework for understanding how different aspects of a person's identity—like race, gender, sexuality, class, and ability—overlap and intersect, influencing their experiences of discrimination (oppressed) and privilege (oppressor). This way of thinking strips individuals of their individuality and reduces them to mere representatives of social groups labeled "oppressed" or "oppressor." For example, a straight, white, non-disabled male-identifying person carries four "oppressor labels," and a non-straight, non-white, disabled non-male carries four "oppressed labels." Intersectionality is the cultural/sociological mechanism for creating multiple "oppressed groups" and uniting them against a single oppressor. Intersectionality in 2024 is the normalizing and institutionalization of the Frankfurt School scholars of the 1920s, reworking Marxism from a clash between a single oppressed group against its oppressor to multiple oppressed groups united against a single oppressor group.

Disillusionment in the Heart of Education

In 2014, I returned to education leadership as an Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialist for the Austin Independent School District. Austin was one of the first urban school districts to implement SEL in 2010. In 2011, Austin ISD was one of the original with CASEL, Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning. CASEL was formed in 1994 and serves as the "authority" on SEL. If a school district is incorporating SEL, most likely, it is CASEL-sanctioned. I initially viewed SEL as the missing piece to public education and something beneficial to a person's life and society. Before 2021, CASEL defined SEL as, "Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions." Human beings are social-emotional creatures by design and nature, so managing emotions and developing positive social skills are essential for living an empowered and dignified life. The content I was learning at work was meaningful enough to apply to my personal life, and the interconnectedness of my working group was something I had not experienced before. I thought I had won the "job lottery" the first three years I worked as an SEL Specialist.

By the end of 2020, my dream job had become a hellish nightmare. This unraveling process began during the 2017-2018 school year when half of my working group participated in a racial equity learning cohort. This cohort signaled a professional departure from using traditional Liberalism-based philosophies for addressing social-emotional well-being to the Critical Social Justice framework. I realized then that the idea that pushed me to forgo 90% of my belongings and leave the country for what I thought was forever was now encroaching on my professional responsibilities and personal relationships. The year-long racial equity learning cohort was the process by which half of my working group acquired the Critical Social Justice worldview lens. This was the beginning of the end of our close-knit professional team, positive work environment, and personal friendships. During one team meeting, an equity cohort member  proclaimed, "Well, y'all just aren't woke." "What does that even mean?" replied a non-equity cohort member. The moment got chaotic, so we took a short break and never returned to the discussion. Years went by without a discussion. Despite my asking, even pleading to have a professional conversation about the new tools we were using, their intent, and their impact. My coworkers were wittingly or unwittingly pushing a cataclysmic avalanche up the mountain slope and unwilling to discuss it.

I did not participate in the racial equity cohort but was encouraged to attend antiracism workshops to understand what the cohort was learning. One such training was the "Undoing Racism" workshop facilitated by the People's Institute For Survival and Beyond (PISB). Something that stood out to me was that during the introduction, the lead facilitator gave the organization's history and mentioned that the founder of PISB was a direct student of Saul Alinsky. I immediately recalled Alinski's quote, "The issue is never the issue; the issue is always the revolution." "revolution" refers to overthrowing Liberalism and capitalism. The facilitator later informed me and all white-skinned participants that we were inherently racist due to our white skin, even if our thoughts, feelings, and behavior were not overtly racist. After 2018, all of the professional developments I attended and many I facilitated were from the CSJ perspective.

Transformative SEL: A Shift Towards Collectivism

Not only did half of our team engage in pushing a destructive force up the mountain in 2018, but CASEL began shifting the entirety of SEL from its traditional framework of developing personally responsible citizens within a liberal democracy to promoting a critical democracy framework that emphasizes collectivism. In November 2018, a paper titled "Equity & Social and Emotional Learning: A Cultural Analysis" first introduced the concept of "Transformative SEL." Rather than focus on individual social-emotional health and development, this paper emphasizes the role of SEL in transforming neoliberal cultural, political, and economic systems. It even goes as far as blaming health problems, unethical behavior, and climate change on American society, stating, "Despite its connection to health problems, unethical behavior, and climate change, the cultural orientation toward acquisitive individualism continues to be a dominant theme promoted within U.S. cultural institutions, including schools" (Ryan et al., 2018; Watson, 2016). "Cultural analysis suggests that issues of racism derive largely from an over-emphasis on the accumulation of wealth within American culture." The paper further addresses education's role in transforming neoliberalism into collectivism by advocating for a shift away from promoting personally responsible citizenship towards preparing students for critical justice-oriented citizenship. "This justice-oriented citizenship is concerned with institutional and system change efforts and aligns with critical democracy principles by promoting building personal identities with Intersectionality. "We agree with Nagaoka et al. (2015) that an integrated identity is a desirable developmental outcome among young people. Understanding the nature of healthy integration requires an intersectional approach." Jager later explains, "Programs that focus on identity development and systematic efforts to integrate issues of race, class, and culture into the academic content can have greater utility to the degree that they advance a notion of citizenship that is global and justice-oriented."

Resistance, Hope, and the Struggle for Professional Integrity

The metaphorical snowball I envisioned in the distance during 2011 was now directly in front of me, and my profession was beginning to ask me to push it uphill. I declined to adopt the CSJ worldview and continued asking for conversations about the newly imposed ideology and its impact on social-emotional and psychological well-being. My hope then was for my professional team to see the fallacies and harm caused by this worldview and reverse this trajectory. Still, they rejected every attempt at conversation with hostility. Despite my efforts from 2018 to 2021, this conversation never materialized. During their racial equity cohort training, my colleagues and friends learned that people who question the Critical Social Justice (CSJ) approach are evil individuals upholding white supremacy. Despite our years of friendship, the knowledge they gained during their racial equity training justified their refusal to engage in conversation and led to my isolation, ostracization, and bullying for years.

I hoped that our SEL department would transition from CSJ practices towards a neuroscience and human-centered framework to comprehensively shape Social Emotional Learning before CASEL shifted it to the "global citizens for critical democracy" framework. However, in December 2020, I realized it was too late when CASEL rebranded SEL as Transformative SEL. Subsequently, the Austin ISD SEL department merged with the Cultural Responsive & Inclusion departments, resulting in a new job description that mandated adherence to the critical social justice worldview. Faced with the choice of advancing the CSJ worldview to retain my job and benefits or not advancing it and losing my employment and benefits, I made one final attempt at conversation by stating, "At the core of this (CSJ-inspired) movement is a rejection of human dignity and the entirety of The Enlightenment." A colleague immediately responded, "It sounds like you want to go a different direction than we are." So, I left hoping to reverse the normalized and institutionalized ways contemporary SEL, Diversity, Equity and inclusion, and antiracism were impairing humankind's social, emotional, and relational well-being. 

Pitfalls of Critical Social Justice 

Applying Critical Social Justice (CSJ) as the mainstream approach to social-emotional well-being is problematic because it can impair mental health and relationships, negatively affecting human well-being indefinitely. Studies and history reveal that viewing others as "different" or less human leads to dehumanizing atrocities. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (Lammers et al., 2012) found that emphasizing group differences increased prejudice and reduced participant empathy. The CSJ worldview inherently encourages individuals to think, feel, and behave in ways that amplify innate capacities for prejudice, aggression, and cruelty. Viewing others as part of a different group strengthens primitive tendencies that lead to dehumanizing and harmful behavior. For example, Efferson, Lalive, and Feh (2008) noted that excluding individuals from the "us" circle leads the mind to devalue them and justify poor treatment. Historical atrocities such as slavery, Jim Crow era violence, the Holocaust, communist revolutions, and the Rwandan genocide exemplify how dehumanizing others justifies atrocious behavior. Human social-emotional wiring reacts disastrously when we see others as inherently different or less human. The Critical Social Justice framework perpetuates a divisive worldview, portraying individuals as victims and perpetrators, hindering genuine human connection and understanding. Instead of fostering human potential and improving the human condition, the CSJ approach to well-being and social cohesion is more adept at eroding liberal and capitalist societies. It sows discord and emphasizes grievances over cooperation and progress, ultimately failing to enhance human potential, well-being, and relationships.

The Neuroscience of Well-Being and Critical Social Justice

Research on psychological well-being indicates that those who think, feel, and behave according to the CSJ worldview may have lower mental health outcomes than those who do not. Ritchie Davidson and his team at The Center For Healthy Minds identified four neuroscientifically validated constituents of well-being. (positive) outlook, resilience, kindness, and attention. Each constituent also demonstrates plasticity, which means they strengthen with practice and atrophy without practice. Therefore, psychological well-being is a skill learned, just like learning to play a musical instrument, a new language, and a hobby are all learned skills.

Applying the Critical Social Justice lens to one's thinking, feeling, and behavioral frameworks can impair the neural circuitry associated with psychological well-being in several ways. Firstly, it undermines resilience by framing challenges and setbacks not as opportunities for growth but as insurmountable obstacles (Doe et al., 2021). This perspective diminishes individuals' ability to bounce back from adversity, as they may perceive themselves as powerless victims rather than agents of change. Additionally, adopting the belief that one's country is inherently evil and systematically unjust fosters a sense of hopelessness and despair (Smith, 2020). This pessimistic outlook erodes trust in societal institutions and fellow citizens, leading to feelings of isolation and alienation (Jones et al., 2019).

Consequently, individuals may struggle to find meaning or purpose in their actions, contributing to a negative psychological outlook. Furthermore, within Critical Social Justice literature, kindness is sometimes viewed skeptically for its potential to perpetuate systemic injustices (Johnson, 2018). Critics argue that prioritizing individual acts of kindness without addressing underlying power structures can foster complacency and detract from efforts to achieve substantive social change. Therefore, the Critical Social Justice lens can hinder the development of psychological well-being by undermining resilience, fostering pessimism, and questioning acts of kindness.

The Critical Social Justice worldview fosters an environment that amplifies primitive traits like fear, intolerance, and cruelty rather than tempering them. Centering on grievances, power dynamics, and collective identity exacerbates division and hostility among individuals and communities. This focus on group conformity and the demonization of perceived oppressors can fuel an "us versus them" mentality, fostering tribalism and distrust instead of genuine connection and understanding. Moreover, the narrative of systemic injustice can breed a pervasive sense of victimhood and resentment, perpetuating cycles of aggression and retaliation rather than fostering reconciliation and cooperation.

The human brain wires itself to accept the culture it inhabits. The recent adoption of CSJ practices in SEL, DEI, and antiracism shapes brains in a way that perceives human existence as a clash of groups competing for resources and power. This thinking also atrophies the neural circuitry linked to psychological well-being, increases the innate capacity for prejudice, strengthens ingroup bias preference, and concentrates brain activity in the amygdala (fight or flight). Therefore, it shapes people's brains in ways detrimental to their well-being and ability to cooperate. Once the "new normal" of CSJ culture is fully actualized and institutionalized, the metaphorical destructive avalanche will be perpetual.

Embracing a New Dawn

Recognizing these foreseeable implications, it becomes clear that shifting away from the Critical Social Justice framework is not about “politics” but about safeguarding our mental and emotional health. By embracing resilience, optimism, and the transformative power of genuine kindness, we strengthen our well-being and cultivate a society built on empowerment, dignity, and compassion. CSJ pins societal issues (i.e., poverty) and negative behaviors (i.e., racism) on liberalism and its economic partner, capitalism. However, I contend that merely swapping the liberal framework for a Marxist one will not eradicate racism, hatred, and human suffering, but understanding the psychological root for primitive, harmful behavior and intentionally decreasing these capacities will produce a world with less poverty and racism than we have today.

All humans across space and time share approximately 99.9% of DNA. Therefore, beyond race, gender, romantic preference, and religious and political differences, we share common tendencies, capacities, and motivations. These traits encompass curiosity, altruism, creativity, impulsivity, selfishness, fear, cruelty, group conformity, and intolerance, reflecting our inherent duality—our capacity for both connection and barbarism. Furthermore, the attitudes, practices, and habits we adopt, and the environmental conditions we engage in mold our inclination toward one "side" or the other.

Crafting a New Narrative: Empowered Humanity Theory

In response to the challenges posed by the CSJ model, I embarked on a journey to develop a neuroscience-informed alternative. This journey led to the creation of Empowered Humanity Theory (EHT). EHT is a framework designed to align with the positive intentions behind initiatives like Social Emotional Learning (SEL), diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and antiracism efforts.

The Heart of EHT: Three Attitudes

Defining a Value-Centered Identity

The first attitude emphasizes establishing a Value-Centered Identity and encourages individuals to define themselves based on their values rather than societal group identity stereotypes. Research indicates that individuals who prioritize their core values experience greater psychological resilience, satisfaction, and authenticity in their lives (Hofmann et al., 2016). Individuals cultivate a sense of purpose and meaning by aligning actions and decisions with deeply held beliefs and principles, increasing life satisfaction and fulfillment (Park et al., 2010). Moreover, focusing on core values promotes a more stable sense of self, reducing susceptibility to external pressures and societal expectations (Crocker & Wolfe, 2001).

Embracing the Dignity Lens

The second attitude focuses on cultivating a Dignity Lens to view and treat oneself and others. A Dignity Lens recognizes every individual's inherent worth and value for their existence rather than the socially constructed group stereotypes assigned to them. Applying a Dignity Lens differentiates "human" and "being" in human beings. The human is the culmination of an individual's biology and personality. All humans are unique. The being rests deep below our human elements and is interconnected with all other beings in two simple ways. The first is the desire to avoid suffering, and the second is the desire to alleviate the suffering of others when encountered. By cultivating a Dignity Lens, we can forge deeper connections by decreasing the innate human capacities for prejudice, intolerance, ingroup bias preference, and propensity to harm "others." While CSJ forsakes the individual and strengthens prejudice, intolerance, and ingroup bias preference, cultivating a Dignity Lens diminishes those primitive instincts.

Mindsets of Inquiry and Compassion

The third attitude prioritizes Mindsets of Inquiry and Compassion over fear and judgment. Fear and judgment-based thinking are instinctual reactions that can limit our potential and damage relationships. Replacing unnecessary fear and judgment (when physical safety is guaranteed) with inquiry and compassion strengthens understanding and interconnectedness. Acts of kindness and compassion strengthen relationships, nurture emotional regulation, and ease moments and periods of suffering. Prioritizing Mindsets of Inquiry and Compassion contrasts the fear and judgment-based mindsets prioritized by the Critical Social Justice framework. Research indicates that fear-based thinking activates the amygdala, the brain's center for processing fear, leading to heightened stress levels and decreased cognitive function (Phelps et al., 2006).

The 3 Pathways of Practice

Empowered Humanity Theory's Three Attitudes are strengthened by routinely engaging in 3 Pathways of Practice. Incorporating the 3 Pathways of Practice into personal routines and habits strengthens the neural circuitry linked to social, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Practices That Build Awareness and Equanimity

Primary examples include mindfulness and other meditative practices, reflective journaling, and observing and accepting thoughts and emotions without judgment. These practices cultivate inner balance, resilience, and deeper connections with others, offering a refuge from stress and anxiety while nurturing a sense of calmness and presence in our daily lives. Extensive research studies show that mindfulness interventions lead to reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress (Khoury et al., 2015). The EHT lens advocates for intentionally incorporating practices that build awareness and equanimity into daily lifestyle habits and routines.

Practices That Celebrate Our Common Humanity

Focusing on similarities rather than differences among humans holds significant potential for diminishing innate capacities for prejudice, aggression, and cruelty. By highlighting shared attributes, experiences, and aspirations, individuals foster empathy, understanding, and cooperation, fostering a sense of common humanity. Research suggests that emphasizing commonalities can reduce intergroup biases and enhance social cohesion (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). Conversely, accentuating racial, gender, or other differences can fuel prejudice, aggression, and cruelty by reinforcing stereotypes, promoting social categorization, and nurturing an "us versus them" mentality (Van Bavel et al., 2012). The EHT lens advocates for intentionally incorporating practices that celebrate our common humanity into daily lifestyle habits and routines.

Practices That Build Kindness and Compassion for Self and Others

Building kindness towards ourselves and others is essential for nurturing a compassionate and empathetic community. Kindness, defined as acts of care, consideration, generosity, and compassion, characterized by actively alleviating suffering and empathizing with others, forms the cornerstone of positive social interactions. Research demonstrates that engaging in acts of kindness and compassion benefits recipients and enhances the well-being of the givers. Studies have shown that individuals who regularly engage in acts of kindness experience increased happiness levels, improved mental health, and greater life satisfaction (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005; Otake et al., 2006). The EHT lens advocates for intentionally incorporating practices that build kindness and compassion into daily lifestyle habits and routines.

The Avalanche and Its Aftermath

By the close of 2020, the metaphorical snowball that impelled me to relocate abroad had begun its descent with force. The killing of George Floyd and subsequent months of protests, which resulted in the loss of twenty-seven lives and over two billion dollars in property damage, marked the onset of a destructive avalanche. At the forefront of these protests, advocating for the reality that "black lives matter," stood the self-proclaimed Marxist organization Black Lives Matter (BLM). Not only did BLM spearhead the demonstrations in the streets, but it also gained endorsement from media outlets and corporations, positioning itself as a critical social justice movement leader. Since the summer of 2020, BLM and critical social justice-inspired practices have permeated mainstream American boardrooms, classrooms, sanctuaries, and communities. Consequently, an intersectional Marxist worldview is encroaching upon the liberal world order within our workplaces, institutions, and the hearts and minds of those within them, often at the expense of personal well-being and interpersonal relationships. This turmoil and destruction constitute the "avalanche" I had hoped to evade by leaving the country in 2012.

As the illiberal Critical Social Justice (CSJ) worldview cements its dominance in American and Western culture, its global influence extends to political and economic systems through initiatives outlined by central planning authorities like the UN and the World Economic Forum. These systems are gradually finding their way into state, federal, and local policies worldwide. Consequently, illiberal revolutions from both the top-down and bottom-up corners ensnare the principles of human liberty and sovereignty. Notably, the World Economic Forum directly ties SEL initiatives and CASEL to its endeavors for the political and economic transformation of the liberal world order. 

A Call to Action: Building a Future of Dignity, Liberty, and Compassion

Reflecting on our turbulent society, I see that the metaphorical snowball I foresaw in 2011, representing a neo-Marxist cultural, political, and economic shift, is now hurtling down the mountain with increasing momentum. The events of 2020, marked by protests, societal upheaval, and the ascent of Critical Social Justice (CSJ) ideologies, have set the stage for a seismic transformation of the liberal cultural, political, and economic systems.

While we’ve felt the initial shock of the avalanche and continue to feel periodic disruptions to our peace, it has not yet reached the point of constant cataclysmic destruction. Therefore, there is still time for us to take action and remove these ideas from our institutions and communities to build environments and systems that promote positive brain health and human relationships.

If human well-being and liberty are to thrive, the newly embedded Critical Social Justice worldview must be removed from all DEI, Antiracism, and SEL frameworks. A countercultural revolution that values the dignity of all people and works to strengthen their well-being by connecting our shared humanity must replace the CSJ-inspired ideology that's captured our workplaces, institutions, and society. Empowered Humanity Theory is the philosophical framework to guide the needed countercultural revolution.

We must safeguard personal liberties and the overall well-being of the human species. The countercultural revolution requires a concerted effort to dismantle the systems perpetuating the CSJ worldview and replace them with EHT, a framework for building an empowering and dignified life. These systems are SEL curricula, DEI offices, and initiatives and ways of being "antiracist." EHT prioritizes human dignity, the well-being of all people, and their interconnectedness. 

Human history has seen a multitude of successful and failed social movements. The common thread of successful movements is that a specific cause or purpose drove them, and they were for the issue instead of fighting against the issue. By letting go of antiquated political affiliations and preconceptions about "others," we can come together in the pursuit of liberty, dignity, compassion, and the overall well-being of humanity. A collective shift in this direction resembles the countercultural revolution that future generations hope we initiate and triumph in. Our time on Earth is limited, but the impact of our actions extends indefinitely into the future. Shouldn't we strive to live in a way that not only secures our well-being and liberty but also secures theirs? Every day presents us with the opportunity to do so. I encourage us all to cultivate these habits of the heart and mind guided by the principles of Empowered Humanity Theory.

As for me? In 2023, I finally found my remote corner of the world for my own sense of peace. Now, after seven years of attempting dialogue,  I have made peace with the fact that the societal shift away from institutionalized CSJ theory and practice may not happen within my lifetime, but I remain optimistic about a future spirit of compassionate rebellion taking the reins and uniting the future of “us” in the profound ways our ancestors have sought for millennia. I also have no ill feelings towards those who have treated me awfully for advocating for human dignity. Finally, I wrote a book, Empowered Humanity Theory: A Framework For An Empowering And Dignified Life. describing my story, the tenets of Empowered Humanity Theory, and 100 “practices” to inspire widespread change and graceful rebellion. As far as us? As of this moment, we’re stuck. The division grows, and the violence, poverty, discrimination, and hate are all intensifying because we’ve been utilizing the Critical Social Justice framework for solutions. As previously noted, there’s something within our DNA that’s responding in the most barbaric ways to Critical Social Justice theory and practice. The way for us to get unstuck is to abandon Critical Social Justice theory and practices and adopt Empowered Humanity Theory as a framework for not only personal development but also the societal institutions of “diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism, and Social Emotional Learning.” By uniting in our commitment to the well-being and liberties of humankind, we can overcome the divisive forces that seek to tear us apart. Let us stand together to empower every one of us guided by the belief in the inherent worth of every individual and work towards a future where dignity, liberty, and compassion reign supreme.

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