Critical race theory, a once-obscure academic concept, has recently emerged as a source of contentious debate. Unfortunately, the term is misused and profoundly misunderstood. The right-wing rebranding of CRT is weaponizing the concept against the American people, creating toxicity where none should exist.
CRT is an academic framework – an intellectual tool used to examine systemic racism. It maintains that racial inequality is embedded in the U.S. legal system and culture, negatively affecting people of color in their schools, jobs, doctor’s offices, the criminal justice system and other aspects of their lives.
CRT is being falsely equated with any examination of systemic racism, especially in schools. In fact, CRT is not part of most K-12 school curricula and is not used in Durango School District 9-R.
Critics allege that CRT teaches white people that they’re racist just for being white and that they should admit their individual guilt for historical wrongs. However, CRT does not attribute racism to white people as individuals but systems that maintain embedded racism.
It seems that the real fear is around teaching history truthfully and acknowledging America’s checkered past. This serves to preserve the mythology of America as a country of equal opportunity and unlimited freedom for all. Taking a critical view of our country’s racial history threatens this mythology and the power structures perpetuating racial injustices. The uninformed objections to CRT are not intellectual or thoughtful – they are emotional, based on a fear of disruption of the status quo.
Claire Ninde
Durango
