How You Can Turn the Critical Race Theory Controversy into a Useful Dialogue
/The recent controversy about Critical Race Theory (CRT) strikes some people as a manufactured controversy, intentionally created to reverse recent gains in the anti-racism movement; while others see it as a welcomed pushback against arguable excesses by the anti-racism community that have been ignored for too long. Certainly there are good reasons for differences in people’s reactions. On the one hand, the primary initiator behind this anti-CRT movement has been explicit about his efforts as trying to make CRT - a set of concepts taught in law school - into a pernicious term, and then associating all manner of cultural insanities into that brand that has purposely been made toxic. Moreover, conservative-minded community organizers are arming parents – and operatives – with extensive manuals that give them specific strategies that help them create viral moments at local school board meetings.
On the other hand, it can be disquieting to learn that 3rd graders, who clearly are only at the start of their journey toward identity formation, are being guided to label themselves “oppressor” and “oppressed” based on a combination of their racial and class privilege.
Despite the arguably cynical origins of this debate, it may be useful to look at the critical race theory controversy as a useful dialogue opportunity, especially if exchanges can be productively reframed. In 2018, the portion of US school children who are white dipped below 50 percent for the first time in the nation’s history. This being the case, it is highly appropriate for the nation and your local community to have a conversation about the question: What is a good and age-appropriate anti-racist education?
There are some key facts and frameworks that need to be kept in mind if such a dialogue is to be productive. For starters, we all must remember at the start that there are deep divisions around how to look at racial issues, particularly among white people. Survey data has consistently shown across many years and multiple surveys that white folks are split in about half on whether racism against people of color is a bigger national problem than racism against white people. (Examples of survey data on this are here and here). By contrast, POCs tend to be split about 80/20 on this question.
Unfortunately, this difference of opinion has ideological and political dimensions, which makes it even harder to make progress in this highly politically charged time. To illustrate, 63 percent of Republicans feel that the bigger problem in race relations is people seeing racism when it is not there, where 79 percent of Democrats think the bigger problem is people not seeing racism when it is there.
Given these vast differences between people, it is useful for communities to wrestle with the question: What should we teach the next generation about racism?
As a company that promotes honest dialogue, we would suggest that each person devoted to shifting public opinion on race can add to this discussion by being honest. Framing the problem of racism and racially problematic thinking as something that has affected their own minds and hearts in an honest and open way will be a good first step in healing this nation. Children are no different than adults when it comes to being able to detect disingenuous behaviors and attitudes. Just like with other sensitive topics, adults being able and willing to speak openly, honestly and with vulnerability about race and racism to children can help them contextualize history, understand how they fit into the longer trajectory, and engage in healthy identity formation that includes their racial identity as Americans.
An overwhelming portion of us have anti-black biases and moments of racist thinking, but because of the shame we feel about these we don’t admit them to other people. If we are to move toward honestly wrestling with the question of what to teach the next generation about racism, those who think we should be more energetic about teaching about racism in the past need to do more than criticize the anti-CRT crowd because the movement was started somewhat cynically and largely distorts what CRT is. Instead, people who want to make a difference should bring that same energy into creating honest dialogue that starts with vulnerably disclosing how that racism from the past still sometimes reaches into our hearts and minds today. After disclosing what goes on within us, we can then ask others: do you ever have thoughts like that? And then: what should our kids learn so they become less likely to do so?
If you want to get concessions from the other side about the reality of societal racism, allies need to make more confessions about the racism that still sometimes lurks within their own hearts.
The Dialogue Company is giving a free 90 minute workshop based on the ideas above on August 5, 2021 from 8-9:30pm EDT. To register, go to: