Critical race theory (
CRT) is a legal and sociological framework for analyzing how racial power relations in society work to maintain unequal socioeconomic outcomes for people of different racial groups, often in such a way that benefits the dominant racial group at the expense of marginalized racial groups. Beyond merely analyzing racial power relations, CRT also seeks to actively change the status quo to allow for a more equitable society for people of all racial groups.
Origins:
CRT has been influenced by fields such as Critical legal studies and Feminist legal theory and began in the 1970s when scholars and activists sought to understand why the social progress from the civil rights era had seemingly stagnated.
Scholars and authors:
Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, Richard
Delgado, Cheryl Harris, Jean Stefancic, Alan Freeman, Charles R. Lawrence III, Mari
Matsuda, and Patricia J. Williams.
Assertions and terminology:
(1)
Systemic racism is the default and perpetual state of affairs in society.
(2) Race is a social construct that arose as a means by which to further expand class stratification.
(3) White people have benefited the most from civil rights legislation.
(4)
Color blindness perpetuates racial inequality.
(5) Whiteness as property.
(6) Interest Convergence.
(7) Storytelling/Counter-Storytelling.
Disclaimer: These are just the arguments made by proponents of CRT, not universal absolute truth.
Person 1: "Have you heard that they're trying to implement
Critical race theory into the k-12 curriculum? How do you feel about it?"
Person 2: "I have heard of it. But since I am not especially educated on the topic of
CRT, I think it's best for me to
withhold judgement before making irrational and erroneous claims about a concept that I can't even adequately define.