Abstract <p>This article is devoted to the study of the influence of the academic movement represented by supporters of critical race theory (CRT) on the development of modern American society. The ideological origins of CRT, rooted in the legacy of the Frankfurt School, are examined. Special attention is focused on the consideration of the most significant CRT concepts, based on the assertion of systematic discrimination against racial and ethnic minorities in the United States, which can only be overcome through radical sociocultural and legal changes. The consequences of the influence of CRT on the American education system as an area that was directly exposed to the practical influence of its concepts are analyzed. Finally, the transition of disputes regarding CRT to the political plane, in conditions where the Republican Party views its spread as a vital threat to the traditional foundations of American society, is demonstrated.</p>