I Really Need to Understand This ...

 ... or how calamari and gnocchi alla gorgonzola led to lots of reading about critical race theory. 

Last week John and I went out to lunch with two other couples. The men all worked together for 25 years or more, and the wives have all known each other for about the same length of time. John was the last person in the bunch to retire, so we got together for a celebratory lunch.

At first, we chatted about what everyone has been doing, their health, Ukraine, and the general state of the world. After we had ordered, one of the wives got a book out of her bag and said it was so good she had read it twice. The title of the book was Reasons to Vote for Democrats: A Comprehensive Guide. I know that all four of the others are Republicans, so my first thought was "How nice! This is a genuine effort to understand the other side." But when I opened it up, the book was blank, except for a Table of Contents, which listed chapters on Economics, Foreign Policy, Civil Rights, Education, etc. I chuckled, smiled, handed the book back to her, and wondered how I could break into the blank book market. 

The conversation then veered toward their grandchildren. They vary in age from newborns to teenagers, but most of them are in school. The woman who brought the book is involved in starting a school at their church because she doesn't want her grandchildren to be taught any critical race theory. I had already defended covid vaccinations and mask-wearing, so I poured another glass of wine and asked her what exactly critical race theory was and how they were teaching it to kindergartners. She couldn't give me an answer that made sense to me, but on the way home I thought "I really need to understand this." I've certainly heard the term but haven't really understood what it is and why everyone is so up in arms about it. Many people seem to try and label ideas as simply good or bad, but I think that critical race theory is more complex than that (as are many things!) The term seems to have become a catchall for conservatives for teachings about race that they oppose.

After reading this weekend, I'm still not sure I have a thorough understanding, but I think I know a little bit more. One of the best definitions I found comes from the NAACP Legal Defense Fund: "Critical Race Theory, or CRT, is an academic and legal framework that denotes that systemic racism is part of American society — from education and housing to employment and healthcare. 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." I personally don't see this as untrue, but quite a few conservatives seem to have taken this as a personal affront and feel as if they are being accused, shamed, or labeled as bigots. “The problem is not bad people,” said Mari Matsuda, a law professor at the University of Hawaii who was an early developer of critical race theory. “The problem is a system that reproduces bad outcomes. It is both humane and inclusive to say, ‘We have done things that have hurt all of us, and we need to find a way out.’”

After protests over the police killing of George Floyd prompted new conversations about racism in the United States in 2020, Donald Trump issued a memo to federal agencies that warned against critical race theory, labeling it as “divisive". He issued an executive order barring any training that suggested the United States was fundamentally racist. The Biden administration has rescinded Trump's order, but many Republican state legislatures have latched onto the cause and an alarming number have passed state laws that restrict education on racism and bias. You can see some interactive maps here. 

From just a simple lunch, I can see how the topic has exploded, without people having an understanding of what it actually means. Several of the people at lunch told me that their grandchildren had been taught that Jim Crow laws prevented Blacks from voting and been forced to learn that Blacks are more likely to be killed by police. Well, Jim Crow laws did prevent Blacks from voting and minorities are still being prevented from voting; Blacks are more likely to be killed by police. I don't think banning topics in the teaching of history, English, literature, and even math (I'm looking at you, Florida) and quashing discussion of them is going to resolve anything, but I now understand what a hot topic it is. Maybe I'm sheltered and naive, and I don't often have political discussions with people, but I've been thinking about this discussion quite a bit (thus this blog post). Maybe we need to have lunch with acquaintances who are more open to ideas and more tolerant of others' viewpoints. (The food was good!)

I'm not sure I understand everything that critical race theory says, but I do know that we can't just make laws prohibiting it. Victor Ray, a sociologist at The University of Iowa points out, “Making laws outlawing critical race theory confirms the point that racism is embedded in the law.”

My Sources:

What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Is It Under Attack?

Critical Race Theory

What Is Critical Race Theory, and Why Are People So Upset About It?

Critical Race Theory FAQ

Critical Race Theory: A Brief History

Why Are States Banning Critical Race Theory?

CRT Map