'Slavery is still here': Portland State professor is caught making incendiary claim on video with 1619 Project creator Nikole Hannah Jones - as Tucker responds 'So the Civil War never happened?'

 Tucker Carlson on Thursday slammed a Portland State University professor who said 'slavery is still here', branding him a 'low IQ vandal wrecking the school system'. 

The Fox News host shared a clip of Ethan Johnson, who chairs the black studies department, in conversation with 1619 creator Nikole Hannah Jones. 

In it, Johnson says: 'One of the things that is really important, I think is, to not frame slavery as our legacy but as it's still here. 

'It's legacy suggests that it's over and there's some remnants of it moving forward. And I would suggest that, no, slavery is right here. 

'The idea of what a slave is, is still here. And we're living that.' 

After airing the clip Tucker hit back, telling viewers: 'Ok, so the Civil War never happened. Turns out that your ancestors weren't killed or maimed trying to end slavery. Abraham Lincoln never signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Slavery is still under way. 

'That's the view of some guy who is literally claiming to be a college professor. 

'But he's not alone, people like that are in charge of the schools now. Low IQ vandals wrecking what they did not build, from the very bottom to the very top. 

'They are everywhere.' 

+5

Tucker Carlson on Thursday slammed a Portland State university professor who said 'slavery is still here', branding him a 'low IQ vandal wrecking the school system'

+5

The Fox News host shared a clip of Ethan Johnson, top center, who chairs the Black Studies Department, in conversation with 1619 creator Nikole Hannah Jones, top left, and others 

+5

In it, Johnson says: 'One of the things that is really important, I think is, to not frame slavery as our legacy but as it's still here. It's legacy suggests that it's over and there's some remnants of it moving forward. And I would suggest that no, slavery is right here. The idea of what a slave is, is still here. And we're living that'

+5

After airing the clip Tucker hit back, telling viewers: 'Ok, so the Civil War never happened. Turns out that your ancestors weren't killed or maimed trying to end slavery. Abraham Lincoln never signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Slavery is still under way. That's the view of some guy who is literally claiming to be a college professor'

Carlson had earlier blasted Critical Race Theory as 'obviously, aggressively, flamboyantly racist'.  

That came after three Republican-led states officially banned it in public schools with nearly a dozen others currently trying to pass similar laws. 

Oklahoma is the latest state to sign into law a ban on teaching critical race theory in public schools, with Gov Kevin Stitt arguing that it will allow history to be taught without labeling a 'young child as an oppressor'.

Idaho and Tennessee have already approved similar bans. 

Other attempts have been floated in New Hampshire, Missouri and Louisiana over the past few months, though those measures are unlikely to pass.

North Carolina House Republicans also approved a plan on Wednesday to prohibit public schools from embracing certain ideas that critically examine how race and racism influence American politics, culture and law. 

Critical race theory highlights how historical inequities and racism continue to shape public policy and social conditions today.  

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Thursday defended American colleges and universities teaching theories of systemic racism as 'responsible' as she was forced to deny allegations that it amounted to 'liberal indoctrination.'

The issue has become one of the frontline skirmishes in the country's culture wars in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests.

Conservatives allege that students are being taught a warped version of American history that claims the impact of slavery remains present throughout society.  Critics say the teachings reduce people to 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on skin color.

But supporters say it is vital to understand how race impacts society in order to eliminate racism.      

Cases have emerged in recent weeks across the country of teachers and parents saying their children are being forced to learn critical race theory.

Parents in America's wealthiest suburb have also released a campaign ad to oust members of a Virginia school district board after it pledged to push Critical Race Theory onto their children. 

On Tuesday, 'Fight for Our Schools' - a group made up of dozens of parents from the wealthy enclave, where the median household income is $142,299 - released the campaign ad on Twitter.