The term ‘Critical Race Theory has been making rounds all across the media. It has exploded, mainly in K-12 and, several legislatures are debating bills to ban its use in classrooms. Here is a crash course on what it means and the whole commotion.
What is the Critical Race Theory?
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Critical Race Theory or CRT is a 40+ years old academic concept. It is based on the idea that race is a social construct. According to the CRT, racism is a result of not just prejudice and individual bias but is also a part of the legal policies and systems. Created in the late 1970s and 80s by legal scholars like Derrick Bell, Richard Delgado, Kimberlé Crenshaw, and many more.
“CRT just says, let us pay attention to what has happened in this country, and how what has happened in this country is continuing to create differential outcomes. it is more patriotic than those who are opposed to it because we believe in the promises of equality. And we know we can’t get there if we cannot confront and talk honestly about inequality, ” said Crenshaw. After all, the main goal is to get everyone close to the promises made in the constitution. It focuses on institutions in general, not on individuals.
Do they teach CRT in schools?
There is little to no evidence behind this. CRT is a difficult academic theory and is difficult for children in K-12 to understand. This is the same reason why concepts like stochastic calculus, cultivation theory, or structural functionalism aren’t for children. Additionally, it is a law school course and a part of various graduate-level courses. However, some documents and court decisions led to the understanding that its components are likely taught in some schools.
The concept received a great deal of attention as people and politicians express their concerns that it is being taught to kids, as young as those in elementary schools. “[The CRT has] become a catch-all phrase among legislators attempting to ban a wide variety of teaching practices concerning race,” said David Miguel Gray, an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Memphis’ Institute for Intelligent Systems.