The Critical Race Theory Debate
November 6, 2021
The modern United States has always had a cultural issue that sparks rage, division, and conflict among its citizens. In the past, this issue has been gay marriage, affirmative action, and abortion. However, over the past year, we have observed the emergence of the latest cultural phenomenon that generates controversy: Critical Race Theory.
After the Black Lives Matter protests, many Americans gained an increased sense of racial awareness and some school districts, including Abington, began to include more material in their curriculum that illustrates America’s long struggle with racial issues. As a student, I noticed this change almost immediately, since for the first time in my English classes, we were discussing books such as Between the World and Me and authors like Frederick Douglass.
However, this inclusion of more racially diverse material led to the accusation that schools like Abington were instilling Critical Race Theory into their curriculums. In short, some people believe that Critical Race Theory is a practice by school officials to teach students that America is a racist country and that white kids should feel guilty of their race. The truth, however, is that Critical Race Theory is mostly a concept taught in law schools and graduate courses that tries to form a connection between racism and our legal system. In reality, Critical Race Theory has little association with its current perceived meaning.
Nevertheless, “Critical Race Theory” has become the focal problem nationwide in school board meetings, conservative talk shows, and local politics. For example, in the recent Virginia Gubernatorial Election, eventual winner Glenn Youngkin claimed that “On day one, I will ban critical race theory.” More locally, Republican Abington School Board candidate Paul Morse stated in an interview with Patch that one of the issues defining his campaign platform was to “Get rid of Critical Race Theory indoctrination.” This perception of Critical Race Theory has disseminated into the political culture of our country and is being used by politicians to brew culture wars and solidify support for their side.
Even more astonishing and terrifying, some parents around the country, especially in conservative states like Texas, are pushing for their children to never be exposed to any tough racial subjects. For example, in a school district in the Dallas suburbs, parents and advocates were pushing for the removal of the school’s African American studies and Mexican American studies courses. Going back to Virginia, one of Glenn Youngkin’s ads illustrated the fight a mom in the D.C. suburbs had with local and state officials to push for the banning of the novel Beloved, a book that deals with the topic of slavery, and one I’m scheduled to read later this year in my AP Literature class.
As as student, my message to these parents and officials pushing for the banning of Critical Race Theory is that instead of being enraged at an imaginary education system that supposedly teaches students to be racist, perhaps you should be mad about the fact that I was only truly exposed to deep conversations on race starting in my Junior year of high school. My Junior year! I went through 8th grade, freshman year, sophomore year, and barely learned about Black authors, Black books, Black history. If you care so much about our education, wouldn’t you want us to receive a more in-depth view of our world and history through more racially aware material?
Sources:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/so-much-buzz-but-what-is-critical-race-theory
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/05/29/critical-race-theory-bans-schools/
https://patch.com/pennsylvania/abington/election-profile-paul-morse-jr-abington-school-board
