Rev. Brian Hawkins doesn’t try to hide his troubled past. He believes in learning from mistakes, and he admits he’s made a few. An ex-felon who spent 10 years in state prison for a series of low-level crimes, Hawkins eventually turned to faith. He is now a married Christian pastor and a devoted family man who cares deeply about his children’s education. Last year, he was elected to the city council in San Jacinto, Calif., and he’s running for Congress in 2022. Hawkins, 43, believes in truth, forgiveness, and redemption, which are some of the many reasons he rejects critical race theory (CRT). “I’m teaching my children how to respect people, how to care for all people. We’re teaching our children to not think of themselves more highly than anyone else, to have work ethic and positive attitude and mindset,” he said. “I’m exposing my children to the history of …