Critical Race Theory- Pro or Anti-American?

MARCH 2023

by Kim Harris, M.Ed.

Distinctive Voice Consulting

 

One of the things I value most about being American is the freedom to choose our religion, the freedom to choose our careers, the freedom to choose where we’d like to live, but most importantly I value freedom of speech. Our country was founded on democracy and in a democracy, we listen to various perspectives which stems from our diverse backgrounds. As a diversity trainer and consultant, I honor various perspectives and focus on elevating diverse perspectives so that we can learn from one another and respect our differences.

 

In 2020 the United States and the world experienced a racial awakening. We witnessed disparities in health care and wellness which Covid-19 highlighted and we recognized disparities in policing in black and brown communities.  Having taught about equity, diversity and inclusivity since 2013, I was overjoyed to see every day Americans talking about systemic racism, inequity and disparities of achievement in black and brown communities as compared to their white counterparts. When I started my business in 2013, people asked me why I was talking about diversity and inequity, fast forward to 2020 and I felt as if the world was ready to hear what I had been teaching about for so many years. People were ready to talk about systemic racism and I was overjoyed. Then the pendulum began to swing in the other direction. Some people felt that the open discussions that our country was having about race and inequity was not a good thing. It made people feel uncomfortable. And when you look at equity like a piece of pie, and someone points out that some people have been receiving more pie while others are receiving less pie, unrelated to the work ethic of both groups, it can be uncomfortable. And instead of being fair, those that are enjoying more pie decry, “Why don’t the other people make another pie for themselves?” They can’t. There’s only one pie!

 

And in some respects, we cannot point the finger at those who are enjoying more pie for taking advantage of a system that is structured for them to receive more pie whether they have achieved it or not. This system is referred to as systemic racism. This is behind the creation of Critical Race Theory (CRT). CRT helps to explain systemic racism through an academic and legal framework. This framework allows people to analyze American systems such as laws, policies and institutions that uphold and reproduce racial inequalities in America leading to some folks getting more than their fair share of that pie.

 

The theory is credited to have been initiated by the late Harvard law professor Derrick Bell. Bell initiated teaching about racial disparities in law and how race and law interact. Bell resigned from Harvard over what he claimed was discriminatory hiring practices. Later, student Kimberle Crenshaw enrolled at Harvard after Bell’s departure and picked up the torch along with other fellow students to explain the importance of understanding racial inequities through a legal lens.

 

The inequities in 2020 gave rise to a resurgence in the discussion in this theory but as stated earlier, the pendulum swung leading to a backlash by conservative Americans, who did not want the fact that some people were having more pie, exposed. CRT had been transformed into the new anti-American theory that is dividing our nation. In other words, exposing systems of inequity and looking at the history of these systems became synonymous with being divisive, blaming white people for what others did in the past, and teaching Americans to hate America. Proponents of CRT believe that it provides a lens to teach the whole truth about systemic inequity in America and that actions to shut down CRT provides a cover for those who are not comfortable hearing the truth about the history and state of race relations in the U.S.

CRT opponents have taken their opposition to the political realm where legislation has been created at both state and the federal level to ban CRT teachings. Common elements of some state legislation include:

• Banning any discussion or teaching that the U.S. is inherently or fundamentally racist
• Bans on divisive concepts
• Teachers being required to teach without giving deference to any one perspective
• A ban on discussions of systemic racism and sexism that would make someone feel guilty about their skin color
• Drastic funding cuts for anti-bias training
• Provisions allowing the state to withhold funding for schools that violate these bans

 

Action at the Federal level includes the former presidential administration’s “Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex Stereotyping” in September of 2020. This Order directed federal agencies to end trainings about diversity, equity and inclusivity and discussions on critical race theory. There was even a phone number for people to report their employer for hosting such trainings. Thankfully, a federal judge later blocked the directive and the Biden Administration has rescinded the Order.

And in the spirit of this rescinded order, I aim to continue to speak the truth about inequitable systems that privilege certain people over others which create disparate outcomes, by offering a workshop on Critical Race Theory. I offer this workshop, not in the spirit of making anyone feel badly about who they are because talking about systemic racism is not personal or race blaming, but to raise awareness about inequity so that we can do better. Thinking critically about America requires Americans to separate their personal identities from American institutions and to think about inequity from a systemic perspective. Once we do this, we can have a real conversation about equity and inclusion that will make America great for everyone.

 

Are you interested in having a respectful conversation about whether Critical Race Theory is pro or anti-American? If so, please visit to register for this workshop: https://www.distinctivevoiceconsulting.com/store/critical-race-theory-pro-american-or-anti-american-workshop-saturday-march-18-2023-1000-am-12-noon-pst-via-zoom