Critical Race Theory & Us: How does this impact us and why should we care?

Reesa Venterea, Journal Activist and Principal at Self First.

There have been many arguments over the inclusion of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in American public school’s required curriculum within the past decade, reflecting many political leaders’ agendas. Despite its popular controversies and intricacies, the fundamentals of CRT remain a mystery to many communities who are impacted most by its teachings. Learning its relevance and how to move forward is crucial to national growth.

What Is Critical Race Theory Anyway?

Critical Race Theory highlights how the concept of race does not have a biological foundation, but instead, is a socially constructed idea that has been historically embedded into our institutions and culture. The theory challenges everyone – regardless of ethnic identity – to look at how their experiences with racism actively contribute to those systems.

Why The Fuss?

Why is this up for debate? Many politicians, educators, and social theorists, have proposed that CRT possesses the connotation that to achieve social equity, blaming and even being ‘racist back’ to white people will assist us in getting there. As of April 2023, 18 states have banned the teaching of Critical Race Theory in K-12 education, and 17 others currently have a bill introduced to congress to ban/restrict. The banning of such teaching refers to imposed restrictions on how educators can go about teaching race, ethnicity, and religious-based practices, emphasizing that the U.S. cannot be promoted as historically or inherently racist.

"Any anti-racist effort is being labeled as critical race theory,” said Jonathan Chism, assistant professor of history at the University of Houston–Downtown and co-editor of Critical Race Studies Across Disciplines.

Historical Fact Not Personal Opinion

Critical Race Theory highlights how the concept of race is a socially constructed idea that has been historically embedded into our institutions and culture.

The United States built its values, its economy, its finances, and its culture - on wholly repressive ideals. From the subjugation of Africans in the practice of slavery, to the forced removal of Native Americans from their land, and the omnipresent assimilation of Africans, Native Americans, Jews, Catholics, Hispanics, Asians, and more, into white culture. To know that future generations may not learn about the Civil Rights Movement, Japanese Internment, Jim Crow, Brown v. Board and political backlash, nativism, the Know Nothing Party, and so, so many more — is saddening. This is withholding the truth that generations must have to go forward and not repeat the mistakes of the past.

Others argue, however, that the inclusion of race-based ordeals and historical events in academics will influence reverse-racism efforts. They fear that those identifying as white may become part of an out-group and this curriculum could instill guilt into their own family history and personal identity. Additionally, education about white privilege can be difficult! But teaching that those possessing a white skin tone will systematically and socially face a lower level of racial subjugation and discrimination as compared to their BIPOC peers, is crucial. Without these young minds knowing their place in both modern and historical American society, it will be impossible to overcome the unfair boundaries in practice today.

We Have To Protect Our Teachers

There is also the argument that banning CRT and identity-based teachings discredits our right to free speech and censors the history that has been consistently looked over in textbooks. This sparks a lot of fear in K-12 educators, as they worry they may lose their jobs if they educate students on topics of sexism or racism. If they go out of their way to cover current events, including racial violence and sex crimes, in an attempt to help the future generation, they risk their income and occupational stability. And there is the concern that even if what they teach is following the book, a student or family could interpret it differently than anticipated.

Those possessing a white skin tone will systematically and socially face a lower level of racial subjugation and discrimination than their BIPOC peers.

An excellent example of this is Tennessee of 2021, in which a group of parents protested against the curriculum taught to 2nd graders: books covering the Civil Rights Movement, Martin Luther King, and Ruby Bridges’ own biography. This parent group claimed this teaching went against Tennessee’s recent ban on Critical Race Theory-oriented studies. These individuals were concerned their children were being exposed to the brutality that white people imposed on others, painting them as ‘evil.’ However, the contrasting argument highlights that this is not CRT, this is just plain old history that cannot be sugar coated. School board member Gini Pupo-Walker speaks on how educators are affected by these accusations and complaints:

“We have to protect our teachers," Pupo-Walker said. "Our teachers are going to be the ones attacked, the ones questioned, the ones judged. ...I will take the hits, I will take whatever it is I have to, to carry the load for [teachers] to do what they need to do."

Advice For Parents

Where do we go from here? As parents, pursuing access to meaningful and unbiased content can be especially crucial. Although our children’s access to rounded academia is up for question, the themes we evoke at home continue to hold impressive volume. Speak with your kids about the content they are being exposed to and be receptive to any lingering questions they have that have gone unaddressed at school. These conversations hold a great influence over the way our youth interacts with the world and even mobilizes their future curiosities. As well, enhancing exposure to BIPOC creators, media, and non-fiction literature, can give children access to a world that may one day go censored in the classroom. Conceptions like intersectionality, black-female authors, queer studies, and more, can be shared and celebrated in the home and community environment.

Advice For Students

If you are a K-12 student living in an area in which CRT has been banned from your school curriculum, reach out to your parents! Explain how you feel in regards to your education being skewed due to limited exposure to race and sex-based concepts. Learning is a collaborative effort and one that can strengthen a familial connection and interests. Do you have a teacher you trust? Ask if they would like to share how they feel about this limitation, and possible resources to look towards to get a proper education. Most importantly - prioritize yourself! Expose yourself to as much historical truth as you can. If this means signing up for classes outside of your school, at local libraries, through College Board, utilizing YouTube, Khan Academy, and even reading online — legislators can not deprive you of the truth we live through every day.

Reesa is from the Twin Cities of Minnesota and is extremely passionate about social justice and self-empowerment strategies. Her Self First Blog has allowed her to combine two things she’s most passionate about: researching social and systemic issues while creating a positive coping outlet for her own and others' learning processes. This blog post was first published at Self First.