Critical Race Theory: What is it? Where is it taught? How is it weaponized?
People protest outside the offices of the New Mexico Public Education Department's office, Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The education department proposed changes to the social studies curriculum that critics describe as a veiled attempt to teach critical race theory. Supporters say the new curriculum, which includes ethnic studies, is "anti-racist." AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio
The latest flashpoint in America’s culture war is the once obscure academic concept known as Critical Race Theory. Many Republicans have pledged to “ban” it in classrooms across America, both on the campaign trail and through recent legislation. But Critical Race Theory has a specific academic definition — it’s a framework, often taught in law school and in higher education that’s used to examine cultural bias and not a catch-all term for a curriculum on race.
Today we spent our show understanding what Critical Race Theory is, why it’s become so weaponized and what examining systemic racism in a classroom setting looks like. To talk about it, we were joined by a professor of information sciences, a professor of education who teaches Critical Race Theory, a professor from NIU's Center for Black Studies and a public policy reporter.
This show originally aired November 17, 2021.
GUESTS:
Emily Knox
Associate Professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the author of Book Banning in 21st-Century America
Adrienne Dixson
Professor in College of Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the author of Critical Race Theory in Education teaches CRT
Joseph Flynn
Associate Director for Academic Affairs, Center for Black Studies Associate Professor, Northern Illinois University and the author of White Fatigue: Rethinking Resistance for Social Justice
Daniel Vock
Public Policy Reporter who’s covered Critical Race Theory
Experts in critical race theory say it’s about acknowledging how racial disparities are embedded in U.S history, and the concept is being mischaracterized by conservatives. But GOP lawmakers around the country have put it at the top of legislative agendashttps://t.co/6dvMTURl7R
— Ohio Capital Journal (@OhioCapJournal) May 24, 2021
Prepared for web by Owen Henderson
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