Critical Race Theory
What's all the controversy about?
By: Dawn Corporan
Embedded Files
Learning Targets
By the end of this lesson you should be able to...
1. Define Critical Race Theory (CRT).
2. Explain why Critical Race Theory is a controversial subject.
3. Explain the importance of teaching Critical Race Theory in school.
“The dilemma of this country is that it has managed to believe the myths it has created about its own past”
(Speech by James Baldwin, 1963)
What is Critical Race Theory?
Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a collegiate field of study that was developed in the 1960's with a goal of analyzing and identifying the institutionalized racism present around us. The scholars who developed this field of study claimed that the racism found in our country is more than just the unjustified bias and ideological differences, that it can also be seen in the discriminatory infrastructure of the institutions our nation has built as well as in the policies that claim to be racially neutral (Applebaum, 2023). CRT aims to bring attention to the role racism and race play in influencing systemic oppression by thinking critically on the presence of ubiquitous oppression and privilege that can be felt by certain groups of people, whether that be due to race, color, religion, or gender, and identify where these faults lie, what form they take, and the effects they have on those that it benefits and those it does not.
Why is Critical Race Theory so controversial?
Unfortunately, the academic subject of CRT has become a scare tactic political tool for conservative elected officials. Being that CRT is an academic subject of higher education and over 60% of Americans 25 years and older do not possess a college education, it is no surprise these conservative politicians can so easily manipulate and mislead those who are uneducated in the subject (Benedetti & Holba, 2022). Many groups, such as “Moms for America”, perpetuate these misconceptions and supposed true motives of CRT, whether because of their own misconceptions on the subject, conservative values, and or their own personal racial beliefs. Organizations such as these have continued to incite fear in those who are unfamiliar with the subject, they do this with the use of fear-based phrases like “Critical Race Theory Teaches Our Children to Hate Their Country, Neighbors, and Themselves.” This phrase is the title and subject of one of their blogs that was posted on June 4, 2021 where the author claims CRT to be an attack on conservative values, teaches children to be unpatriotic, hate their country, hate white people, and their whiteness. With all the misinformation and downright lies that are perpetuated by the anti CRT groups, it has convinced many parents that the aim of CRT is to point the finger at anyone who is white and tell them they are oppressors and everyone else is oppressed, you are either a racist or the victim of racism (Fletcher, 2021).
Why Critical Race Theory is important
There is no changing the past, but if we ever hope to change the future, we must start with identifying the things that are keeping us from moving forward and developing a fair social structure and society. This can be done with the study and understanding of CRT, this would allow even our youngest population to have an age-appropriate level of understanding of our nation’s history and the areas of concern that keep us from moving forward and becoming a fair society that benefits us all equally. As it stands, US history and social studies teachings in school textbooks are very one sided and minimize the issues of the past in order to instill and maintain nationalistic patriotism (Willever, 2022). Scholars of CRT emphasize the importance of counter-story telling and encouraging viewing the racial injustices from the point of view of those who are subjected to the systemic injustices. Not talking about and acknowledging race and racism only serves to covers up the outcome systemic racism produces and does nothing to address or revers it (Applebaum, 2023). An educated understanding of CRT is essential to correcting social injustices and ensuring the development of a fair and equal society for all.
Summary
If children are the future, why would we hide or lessen the truth. Without it how can we expect them to bring change. CRT aims to bring awareness and progress to social change. The children of this country will slowly grow to one day be part of that change, but only if they are taught to think critically on the issues of race and the manner in which our society is structured around it. CRT is not about pointing a finger at those who had nothing to do with things of the past just because they have the same skin color as they did, it’s about pointing out how the things of the past are still perpetuated in today’s society through methods of systemic racism that many of us are unaware of because of its subtlety and because it only affects a particular group individual’s. CRT must be contemplated if we are to affect significant change towards fairness and equality. Acknowledging wrong doings, even if it is not by your hands, can be difficult and uncomfortable, but doing so will lead to a better world we can be proud to have been a part of shaping.
Pop Quiz!
1. Which of the following best describes what Critical race theory is.
a. An indoctrination technique used to create more hate and devision.
b. A higher education class used to convert people who take it into liberals.
c. A class taught in grade school to indoctrinate kids into being unpatriotic.
d. A collegiate field of study developed with the goal of analyzing and identifying the institutionalized racism present around us.
2. What tactics are employed to mislead people into believing CRT teaches hate?
a. critical thinking
b. fear based
c. patriotic
d. empowerment
3. What do anti CRT supporters claim CRT to be?
a. A necessary subject all need to be informed about.
b. Brainwashing that makes kids hate school.
c. An attack on conservative values that teaches children to be unpatriotic, hate their country, hate white people, and hate their whiteness.
d. Teaches inclusion and acceptance.
4. What points would you make when explaining the importance of CRT to a concerned parent who doesn't know what CRT is or its purpose?
a. Talking about and acknowledging race and racism helps shine light on the systemic racism in our country, educating people on the subject will help address inequalities, learning about CRT does not promote white hate nor does it want to.
b. Talking about and acknowledging race and racism only serves to further the racial divide, it promotes white hate, and teaches white children to hate their color.
c. Talking about and acknowledging race and racism requires a very careful approach and is best left alone. CRT should never be taught in a k-12 setting because children are very impressionable.
d.Talking about and acknowledging race and racism will only make things worse and not better. CRT promotes racial hate between racial groups and makes you anti American.
Quiz Answers
Quiz Answers
1. d
2. b
3. c
4. a
Sources
Applebaum, B. (2023). Willful Hermeneutical Ignorance and the “Critical Race Theory” Controversy. Educational Theory, Educational theory, 2023.
Baldwin, J. (1963). “The Negro Child -His Self-Image"; originally published in The Saturday Review. Retrieved from https://www.spps.org/cms/lib010/MN01910242/Centricity/Domain/125/baldwin_atalktoteachers_1_2.pdf
Benedetti, C. (n.d.). Finding “Pity” within the “Haggle and Nag” Rhetoric around Critical Race Theory. Nonpartisan Education Review / Essays, 18(3). Retrieved from https://nonpartisaneducation.org/Review/Essays/v18n3.pdf
Critical Race Theory Teaches Our Children to Hate Their Country, Neighbors, and Themselves. (n.d.). Retrieved from Moms for America website: https://momsforamerica.us/blog/critical-race-theory-teaches-our-children-to-hate/
Group protests Critical Race Theory at district that said they don’t teach it. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://youtu.be/O7L4_uQO88Y
Speech by James Baldwin (1963). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://collectiveliberation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Baldwin_1963_speech.pdf
WATCH: What is critical race theory? (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved February 19, 2023, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gdxrkwpPKc&t=13s
Willever, D. (2022). Race consciousness and the teaching of American history. Agora (Melbourne, Vic.), 57(3), 32-35.
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