A rally against Critical Race Theory (CRT) being taught in schools in Leesburg, Virginia. Underpinning CRT, Malik argues, is 'social pessimism', or the idea 'that racism is permanent'. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Discussing ideas about racism as a white person can be tricky. Will I inadvertently cause offence? Will I be told to “stay in your lane”? What first-hand knowledge have I got of racial discrimination? In his new book on race, acclaimed author Kenan Malik describes something this reporter has never experienced – being beaten up because of his skin colour. Malik is unable to remember the...