Keys (not those kinds of keys)

 

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.