What is Critical Race Theory and Why is It Such a Hotbed Issue?

In recent years, the phrase "Critical Race Theory" has become a hotbed of division and disagreement. These three words are media buzzwords that trigger people to staunchly defend one side or the other, so much so that the actual meaning behind this scholarly framework has been so distilled and reappropriated for political purposes that few people arguing for or against teaching Critical Race Theory can even correctly concisely explain what it is and why it is important.

So what is Critical Race Theory, and why is it so controversial? According to the Legal Defense Fund, "Critical Race Theory recognizes that racism is more than the result of individual bias and prejudice. It is embedded in laws, policies and institutions that uphold and reproduce racial inequalities." So, in simple terms, CRT is an examination of how systematic and institutionalized racism have influenced our current social climate. Instead of simply identifying problems like: higher mortality rates amongst Black Americans, police brutality, the school-to-prison pipeline, housing inequality, and the disproportionate access to healthcare among people of color, CRT aims to trace these issues back to their roots, so that we can examine how we got here, and, hopefully, with this newfound understanding, make way for a more equitable future.

Critical Race Theory first came about in law schools in the 70s and 80s, when Civil Rights scholars realized that simply changing one law would not change years of ingrained systemic racism and prejudice. The goal was to examine the history of slavery, segregation, and racism in our country and connect it to modern day injustices, in hopes that we could become collectively more aware of our own inherent biases and blind spots. In layman's terms, it means putting the adage: "knowledge is power" into practice.

CRT asserts that simply identifying that racism is a problem and providing simple solutions such as changing certain legislation, isn't enough to enact the change needed to genuinely grapple with the weight of the issues at hand. Through education, thorough examination of how we got here, and a concerted effort to work together to reconstruct the narrative, the hope is that we will be able to enact policies and laws that will result in real, long-lasting systemic change

The controversy surrounding CRT has become so large, that it's taken on a life of its own. The meaning of the theory has been skewed and distorted to meet the needs of each political party instead of serving its original purpose—helping us understand the roots of racism so that we can learn from the past and create a future society based on fairness and equality. So, it leads to questions such as: Does Critical Race Theory mean victimizing white people and making current citizens pay for actions of the past? Does it mean teaching kindergarteners about race and class and privilege—concepts that will embed themselves into their psyches and influence the way they see the world forever?

Here's an illustrative metaphor—a man who binged on sugar his whole life is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in his 60's. A good physician would never say, "This outcome is completely separate from anything you ever did in your life. It's a shame that you got here, but thinking about what you did and what you can do to help yourself is unnecessary. In fact, we should never talk about your diet or exercise or sugar intake again. Instead, I'll give you medicine, and we'll pretend like this never happened." A good physician would look at the diagnosis holistically. He would want to understand the root cause, approach it from all angles, in hopes to facilitate a healthier future for the man and others like him.

In my opinion, that's all educators are trying to do when teaching CRT. They are looking at the bigger picture, examining history, and tracing the causes and effects of disparate outcomes, so that we can come together as a people and do better. The onus is not on the individual. The responsibility is on us all.

It's a shame that Critical Race Theory is being used for political scapegoating and bipartisan debate and as a means to divide us further instead of bring us together. My hope is that, in time, it will be seen as a pathway toward reform, justice, and a future where everyone is afforded the same opportunity and access.