2. Key points of Critical Race Theory
5 key issues:
Centrality and Intersectionality of Race and Racism
Challenge to Dominant Ideology
Commitment to Social Justice
How white supremacy and the “less than”ness of people of
color was created and kept in America
Understand (and change) the connections between the law and
racial power
This theory is over 40 years old. We already know that
racism is a social construct, as race is. We are all members of the same race, homo
sapien sapiens, after all. It is not,
as some say, about blaming white people. It is about learning what sustains
discrimination, prejudice and stereotyping. As we learn what we are doing, we
can then learn to correct those patterns, in law and society.
An example of white supremacy that sustained discrimination
was redlining. This was the practice of drawing an actual line around a
neighborhood or larger area where realtors would not show homes, and banks
would not provide mortgages for people of color. That this happened throughout
the country cannot be swept away by a refusal to teach about it. Current
residential patterns in Hartford, CT, for example, are based on this practice
in the 1930’s, begun with the New Deal. While the standard for purchasing a
home is currently more about how much money one has, these old patterns continue
to influence our banking and real estate industries.
While racism intersects with classism which also intersects
with sexism, racism persists as the most dangerous of them all.
Intersectionality is the concept that while one may be subject to classism, the
way classism connects to racism is more than a double whammy. Add sexism to
that and you have a trifecta of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination.
Stereotyping is the fixed and overgeneralized belief about a
group of people, often based on false information. One ignores the individual
to tag the group and all within it. Prejudice is the attitude/belief/assumption
about a person based on that person’s membership in a group (often based on
appearance alone). Discrimination is the action taken based on stereotyping and
prejudice. Of course we all do this! Often in silly ways that seem ridiculous
when we look at them under a magnifying glass. Think about shoes, for example.
Who looks at people’s shoes? Do you judge people based on their shoes? We look
at people’s pants all the time (People of Walmart – all the PJ pants?). Categorization is how our brain organizes what
comes in through our senses. It is when judgement enters the mix that the trifecta
takes hold.
The dominant ideology changes based on where you live in the
country. Texas and California still purchase most textbooks, so the changes
Texas request often make it into the textbooks sold around the country. However,
today, history is more often taught using an online platform that can be
customized based on requests from school systems in various states. As such,
there is less reliance on a single narrative for all U.S. History courses
taught in high schools. Most U.S. History courses now begin post-Reconstruction
so as to avoid the Civil War/War Between the States concerns. Dominant ideology
changes based on geography. Now, many look to change it based on Red/Blue State
ideology. What happens when people attend colleges in a different state?
As we know, college changes all of us, as does reading. Once
finished with K-12 courses, we enter a much freer curricula with choices
galore, less reliance on school system decisions. We are able, as well, to gather
information on our own, without reliance on a locally funded library which may
not support this type of free information. It is a much different world today,
with access to information (which has its own challenges!).
Next up – moving away from a Eurocentric notion of history?
By the way, I was accused of not doing my research a few weeks ago...that's why I'm including references. Yeah.
McGann, Shaun. “The Effects of “Redlining” on the Hartford
Metropolitan Region”. 3/18/2014. https://connecticuthistory.org/the-effects-of-redlining-on-the-hartford-metropolitan-region/
, Accessed 6/29/2021.
Sawchuck, Stephen. “What is Critical Race Theory, and Why is
it Under Attack?”. Education Week. 5/18/2021. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05
, Accessed 6/29/2021.
