The only mention of CRT is in non-descript font at the bottom of the page. It is not in the summary at top of the legislation. It is not found in the bill’s three-page text. The unusual structure of the legislation means that there is a good chance that the phrase “Critical Race Theory: Prohibit” won’t be included in Mississippi’s legal code. Or, to put it another way, the possibility exists that critical race theory teaching will not be prohibited even after Gov. Tate Reeves signs the bill into law as expected. Rep. Robert Johnson (D-Natchez), the House minority leader and also an attorney, stated that “You can teach critical racism theory because it’s not in this bill.” READ MORE: The anti-critical race bill was passed to the governor despite objections from all Black Mississippi legislators. Each year, the Mississippi code publisher (or laws) incorporates new laws passed in Mississippi. This updating process is not perfect. The code is overseen by a joint legislative committee, which meets rarely. However, the members are not required to meet and the task of updating the code is left to the legal staff and editors. The editors might look for the title “Critical Race Theory : prohibit” and incorporate these words into the code. There is a good possibility they won’t, based on precedent. It is possible that the bill’s actual language is what is actually being incorporated into the code. That is, no university, community college, or public school “shall direct or compel students” to declare that any sex or race, ethnicity or religion is inherently superior, or that individuals should not be treated differently based on these characteristics. Supporters of critical racism theory disagree. CRT focuses on the effects of racism on society, particularly the legal system. Rep. Joey Hood (R-Ackerman), presented the bill to the House last week during six hours of heated debate that exposed old and new racial wounds. Hood stated that critical race theory teaching would be banned if it adhered to the bill’s tenets of making people feel inferior or superior. Hood was asked whether the University of Mississippi Law School’s only course in critical race theory would need to be cancelled if the bill becomes law. He replied, “That will up to Ole Miss.” During debate, both the House and Senate presented the bill. The primary author of this legislation, Sen. Michael McLendon (R-Hernando), said that he had heard from many constituents who learned about critical race theory via “the national news” and wanted it to be banned in Mississippi. So why was the Black House trying to kill the bill last week when it is so vague or does not accomplish anything? All 14 African American senators walked out of the Senate in a rare move just before the vote on this bill. READ MORE: All 14 Black Mississippi senators marched out before their white colleagues voted against critical race theory. Black legislators claimed the bill sent the wrong message and may have even made teachers hesitant about teaching the state’s history, which is fraught with racial strife. The white majority opposed attempts by Black legislators to amend the bill in order to continue teaching the state’s history and all its warts. The better question is: Why did legislators spend so much energy and time passing such a vague bill, which might not achieve the intended goal? Some believe it’s politics. The conservative media has made anti-CRT sentiment a major topic. Reeves and Philip Gunn, the House Speaker, could face off in the Republican gubernatorial primaries next year. They both spoke out last year at the Neshoba Country Fair about the dangers of critical race theory. Representative Willie Bailey (D-Greenville) stated that the bill was only presented so that some of us can go home and have something to promote.” Although it is uncertain whether the critical race theory ban would be included in the legal code at all, the language could still be seen on the screens of the House and Senate during the debate. It was also on the legislative calendar as well as in the legislative computer system. So, legislators could claim they voted to ban critical race theories even though the state’s law does not reflect that vote. READ MORE: Mississippi’s only class on critical-race theory