Surely I'm not this dumb. What in the heck is Critical Race Theory?

[SteveG]

nothing wrong here

what's all the hoo-ha about?

The way the CNN item explains it, it's about teaching the history of discrimination in the U.S. and the various ways it was enforced.

I thought everyone knew about this. I guess not.

[Lemon Drop]

If you're watching Joy Reid right now.. whoa

[PeterB]

Steve G. wrote:

nothing wrong here

what's all the hoo-ha about?

The way the CNN item explains it, it's about teaching the history of discrimination in the U.S. and the various ways it was enforced.

I thought everyone knew about this. I guess not.

No, not everyone is taught all about these things, and particularly not the history ... which is why I posted that CNN article, and yes-- those photos are deeply disturbing ... but as they say, those who do not remember history are doomed to repeat it. Also, the CNN page has a number of very interesting, informative videos, links, and references, if anyone wants to learn more about a particular subject.

[Ca Bob]

A Harvard law professor asked himself whether it might not be true that all of American law is and was fair and race neutral, going back to the days of the American Revolution. He interested a couple of students and other faculty members. The "critical" part, I suspect, refers to the process of thinking about things critically -- that is to say, carefully -- and does not automatically mean "negative." The right wing chorus has glommed onto this little three word phrase because it sounds inherently critical (in the sense of being negative) of American history and American institutions. Anybody with half a brain and any sense of decency will recognize that there are issues to be confronted, but the right wing terrifies its followers with the idea of such thinking. Remember when they criticized Obama for doing an "apology tour?" It's basically the same idea -- that any American who ever finds fault with our history or our behavior is to be scorned because reasons.

[mrbigstuff]

hal wrote:
I think a good non eye glazing summary is simply that the success of the USA was greatly dependent on slavery (and later other limitations of freedom of minorities) and that much of this system is actually still in place today and needs to be addressed.

And the fact that some academics needed to come up with a new buzz phrase so they could pique interest in their course/book/speaking engagement. This will be called something else in 10 years. Or less, at the rate we are going.

[Acer]

This is such a fake problem. Just another cause celebre to fleece white conservatives for donations and poorly-informed votes.

[Lemon Drop]

mrbigstuff wrote:
[quote=hal]
I think a good non eye glazing summary is simply that the success of the USA was greatly dependent on slavery (and later other limitations of freedom of minorities) and that much of this system is actually still in place today and needs to be addressed.

And the fact that some academics needed to come up with a new buzz phrase so they could pique interest in their course/book/speaking engagement. This will be called something else in 10 years. Or less, at the rate we are going.
Well it's been called "critical race theory" since 1981.

This isn't new at all.

What is new is conservative political strategists deciding to throw together everything their base hates about "woke culture " and rebrand it as CRT. It's the new Red Scare.

[mrbigstuff]

Lemon Drop wrote:
[quote=mrbigstuff]
[quote=hal]
I think a good non eye glazing summary is simply that the success of the USA was greatly dependent on slavery (and later other limitations of freedom of minorities) and that much of this system is actually still in place today and needs to be addressed.

And the fact that some academics needed to come up with a new buzz phrase so they could pique interest in their course/book/speaking engagement. This will be called something else in 10 years. Or less, at the rate we are going.
Well it's been called "critical race theory" since 1981.

This isn't new at all.

What is new is conservative political strategists deciding to throw together everything their base hates about "woke culture " and rebrand it as CRT. It's the new Red Scare.
What Hal described is more typically known by the terms systemic or institutional racism, I'm just saying that it's an academic term. And, honestly, i was in college taking courses on racism, sociology and American society and I never heard the term.

[Lemon Drop]

mrbigstuff wrote:
[quote=Lemon Drop]
[quote=mrbigstuff]
[quote=hal]
I think a good non eye glazing summary is simply that the success of the USA was greatly dependent on slavery (and later other limitations of freedom of minorities) and that much of this system is actually still in place today and needs to be addressed.

And the fact that some academics needed to come up with a new buzz phrase so they could pique interest in their course/book/speaking engagement. This will be called something else in 10 years. Or less, at the rate we are going.
Well it's been called "critical race theory" since 1981.

This isn't new at all.

What is new is conservative political strategists deciding to throw together everything their base hates about "woke culture " and rebrand it as CRT. It's the new Red Scare.
What Hal described is more typically known by the terms systemic or institutional racism, I'm just saying that it's an academic term. And, honestly, i was in college taking courses on racism, sociology and American society and I never heard the term.
It's a law school term. Yes, an academic term.

"In 1981, a group of Harvard Law students, led by Kimberlé Crenshaw, organized an “Alternative Course” on race and law at Harvard Law School to boycott a mini-course on race offered by HLS administration as a failed attempt to appease students demanding a discussion of race and law. The Alternative Course was in many ways the first institutionalized expression of CRT. Since then scholars, lawyers, and activists have utilized CRT principles to conceptualize how systems of oppression are designed to marginalize peoples at the intersection of race and their other identities, including gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, and class. Today, lawyers are still left grappling with how to dismantle these systems of subordination in partnership with communities, as well as the relevance of CRT in guiding that work. "

https://orgs.law.harvard.edu/blsa/conference/

[DeusxMac]

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