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This essay presents two strands of arguments against radical or critical emancipatory multiculturalism. In strand 1, "'Culture' is...whatever..." the looseness of the core concept of "culture," which can refer to anything at all concerning a social group that itself may exist only theoretically, is shown. In strand 2, "From ideology to leveling, propagandizing curriculum," the thinking behind the education that an article by Cameron McCarthy, "Multicultural Discourses and Curriculum Reform: A Critical Perspective," and others advocate as emancipatory but that reads anything but is examined. The paper suggests that adherents to multiculturalism may not be interested in school reform but in building separatist communities. The essay concedes that multiculturalism can add to an educational program: (1) by giving students fuller and better balanced views of history, art, and society; (2) by developing a richer appreciation of literature of other peoples; and (3) by addressing directly the problems inherent in prejudice and discrimination based on ethnic heritage. Contains 28 notes with numerous references. (EH)