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Critical Race Theory should be taught to K-12 teachers

Mar 03, 2023

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Across the country, from school board meetings to state legislatures, heated debates about whether Critical Race Theory (CRT) should be taught in K-12 classrooms have reached a flashpoint. A number of states already banned CRT instruction, with many others sponsoring bills that are moving through their legislatures.

Straight Arrow News contributor Rashad Richey argues that Critical Race Theory is a framework that should be taught to our K-12 teachers so their students can learn to think critically about race.

First of all, it’s been here for decades — it is an advanced theoretical construct. The problem is not that CRT is taught in K-12 education, because it’s not — that’s not your problem. The problem is: It’s not taught and it should be. Let me explain.

While the mechanisms, the theoretical construct of CRT, is too advanced typically for any K-12 learner, some of the elements could be taught to those who teach students. You see we all understand that thinking critically is a good thing. Critical Race Theory, which is one of many theoretical frameworks that looks at social design in order to understand contrast outcomes — this particular theoretical framework simply poses a question: Why?

In that comes a critical analysis of race — not race in the sense of demographics. Let me explain. Critical Race Theory actually teaches that race is a man-made construct. Yes, that’s what it teaches — that race itself, the category, is a man-made construct. But because of that man-made construct, real social dynamics have been produced. Some are adverse, especially to people of color, because people of color have not been the dominant group in the United States of America. This is why you have such extreme numbers as it relates to whites in America, and everybody else. That is simply once again, a theoretical framework.

Okay, I’m gonna do something a little bit different today. Let me talk about racism in America. There’s this denial that racism exist. There’s this pushback that says, America is not a racist country. Well, let me ask you this. Is America a race free country? Is America a racist, free country? Does America have issues dealing with racism? Or racial elements involved? My point is this. Forget the terminology. Let’s call it what it is. Does racism exist in America? Yes. Virtually everyone agrees? Then it gets complicated for some. When they say, well, Doc, yes, racism exists. But I don’t know about systemic racism, or structural racism. Let me explain why that is one of the biggest hypocrisy he’s in statement. Because if you believe racism exist, you also believe that systemic racism exists. Because all it takes to go from individual racism to systemic racism is to put the individual racist in a position of systemic power. So if an individual racist becomes a manager, or director, a politician, a policymaker, a judge, then that racism that bias becomes systemic or structural, it is now contextualized through a system rather than simply through an individual to individual contact, that is your big difference. So we are basically agreeing, while claiming we are disagreeing, what is critical race theory, this big fear thing, in the conservative movement, first of all, has been here for decades, it is an advanced theoretical construct. The problem is not that CRT is taught in K through 1212. Education, because it’s not.

That’s not your problem. The problem is, is not taught, and it should be. Let me explain. While the mechanisms the theoretical construct of CRT is too advanced, typically, for any k through 12, learner, some of the elements could be taught to those who teach students. You see, we all understand that thinking critically is a good thing. Critical Race Theory, which is one of many theoretical frameworks that looks at social design, in order to understand contrast outcomes. This particular theoretical framework simply poses a question, why?

In that comes a critical analysis of race? Not race in the sense of demographics? Let me explain. Critical Race Theory actually teaches that race is a man made construct. Yes, that’s what it teaches that race itself, the category is a man made construct. But because of that manmade construct, Real Social Dynamics have been produced. Some are adverse, especially to people of color. Because people of color have not been the dominant group in the United States of America. This is why you have such extreme numbers as it relates to whites in America, and everybody else.

That is simply once again, a theoretical.

Anti CRT is one of the most insane movements, I can think of you know why? Because literally, it only challenges a person to think critically. If you don’t believe that a particular impact or outcome, had anything to do with race, after a critical analysis, that’s fine. But at least you thought critically about it. You see, they don’t want you to think, is the issue. It’s not about race. It’s about your thought process. They want you to accept whatever they give you. I want you to be a thinker. I want you to have a critical analysis of the facts. I want you to be a thoughtful

person who engages with the content. That is what we should all strive for. Food for thought, is race, an issue that at some point, in the future, we will actually be able to agree about 

 

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