for patricia hines, Critical Race theory is a needed injection in society
Patricia is the Program Manager for the Regional Municipality of Durham's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Department. In her role, she develops and facilitates DEI Programs for employees and the Durham community, including anti-racism education. But Patricia isn't a rookie, she has been in the field passionately advancing DEI on both a municipal and organizational level for over ten years.
In an interview, Patricia delves into the lens of fear psychologically driving the protestors' cause and jeaporadizing the progression of DEI and social justice. She draws on her professional experiences to discuss how CRT is integral to remedying the "severe infection" of systemic racism in North America, and around the world.
Photo Credit: "Patricia Hines.," n.d.
As a professional educator, how does this protest make you feel?
CRT in my view is one of several essential injections that is needed in the society to stem the severe infection of systemic racism across the world and in North America in particular. Having provided education at the secondary and corporate levels myself, the protests confirm my observation of a high level of ignorance, resistance, privilege and a need to remain comfortable in our space.
If we look at CRT as an injection, a medical solution, we can see that many people fight against injections because they are painful and uncomfortable. Despite the evidence-based effects of injections, the fight goes on because many people prefer to remain comfortable with a roasting fever - face the fact that racism is man-made, watch Black people be slaughtered by White people (including Police Officers), see racism and inequity in healthcare, education, sports, social services and the justice system. They prefer to witness these injustices and watch populations die. The protests drive me to realize that protestors fear that racialized people will one day be the dominant group.
"They prefer to witness these injustices and watch populations die"
Photo Credit: Caballero-Reynolds, 2021 (AFP via Getty Images)
Many protestors feel that CRT is anti-white because it makes a virtue of white guilt and white shame (Oliphant et al, 2021). What do you make of the protestors' anti-white claims?
When people are fearful and anxious, they don’t always see the reality as it is because they are using a lens of fear, rather than lens of justice. CRT brings to light historical evidence of White domination and suppression of other races. It brings to light centuries of discrimination, hatred and injustice at the hand of White power. That is why it will seem like the narrative is anti-white. However, those who are making this claim are looking superficially rather than looking at what the facts reveal. These are not assumptions or opinions they are historical and present-day facts of White domination. Why do we still have more racialized people in the poorest neighbourhoods, in the least resourced schools, in the worst jobs and with the most healthcare needs?
"They are using a lens of fear, rather than a lens of justice"
Ben Carson (2021), a Black political figure, wrote an opinion piece for the Washington Post. He argues, "rather than teach[ing] our [Black] children that they are victims of a racist system [with CRT] [...] we should teach them that they are in charge of their own dignity and their future" (Carson, 2021). Do you agree that CRT is counterproductive by creating a narrative of Black victimhood to Black children?
I disagree! The purpose of CRT is not to create or identify victims and it does not promote division. CRT confronts and exposes systemic racism. It teaches children how to identify racism, how to recognize barriers to their success and how to rise up and navigate those barriers and also how they should not create barriers themselves, for others who may be different from them. CRT also helps children to realize that many of their ancestors have crawled in mud and grime, were beaten and imprisoned so that today they can stand tall in their achievements. They can ensure no one pushes them down and trample on them.
You have an extensive career as a DEI education curriculum creator and educator. Can you describe your process in developing DEI curriculums and, if applicable, how CRT is factored into these curriculums?
I use CRT to form the foundation upon which other learning can be built. In my many cases it provides the context which is needed for additional or deeper content. For example, the topics of privilege and bias have deep routed foundation in CRT and can be expounded by the historical context and impact of racism.
In developing DEI curriculum, my process follows these steps:
Needs assessment – Who is the audience? What are the needs of the audience/learners? What learning gaps need to be filled? This can be determined by different ways such as, formal surveys, informal discussions, the socio-political climate, legislation, or current events.
Type/Method of education – How will the information be delivered? In-person workshop/seminar/conference, webinar, virtual training, eLearning?
Content to be covered and the length of education – What will make up the content? How long will it be? One-time session or series of sessions, different levels, e.g. basic, intermediate advanced?
Evaluation – determine if the training was successful and impactful; what do learners think about it?
Photo Credit: Lam, 2014
"CRT ALSO HELPS CHILDREn TO REAlize THAT MANY OF THEIR ANCESTORS HAVE CRAWLED IN MUD AND GRIME, WERE BEATeN AND IMPRISONED SO THAT TODAY THEY CAN STAND TALL IN THEIR ACHIEVEMENTS"
Photo Credit: Education Week, 2021
We hear the words diversity, equity, and inclusion a lot these days. Scott Ziegler, the superintendent of the school board, said after the protest that "it [has] become difficult to even talk about things like equity and diversity because those two words have been placed by some under the umbrella of [CRT]" (Blitz, 2021). Do you believe that CRT is ultimately damaging progress in racial equality and equity in the U.S?
I believe in CRT and believe that there is a solid place for it in the U.S and North America. Those of us who have witnessed and experienced the evolution of systemic racism, the murders of Black people on live TV, the macro and micro aggressions on social media and mainstream media, the politicizing of racism, the weaponizing of Police Officers; those of us who have seen our children denied opportunities, expelled and suspended from schools; those of us who could not access post-secondary education or housing in certain areas and those of us who do not see ourselves represented in senior leadership or in Board rooms have a responsibility to ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion must remain a central part of the discourse on all forms of equity in the US and North America.