Critical Race Theory divides America
Sarah Arturi

BY RACHAEL EVANS

A debate surrounding the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools has swept across America, causing several states to pass anti-CRT legislation.

To date, eight states in the US have passed laws banning CRT including Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Arizona, Tennessee, Idaho, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. 

A further five states have taken other state level actions prohibiting discussions around race. In seven other states, anti-CRT legislation has been proposed, or is moving through the state legislature. 

In a speech, Republican senator Ted Cruz said CRT teaches students “every white person is a racist”.

However, Professor of Education at Villanova University, Jerusha Conner, said CRT is not being taught in K-12 schools. 

Prof. Conner said another misconception is that CRT focuses on individual acts of racism.

“CRT focuses on the policies and societal conditions that have led to vast systemic inequities,” she said.

Villanova University Professor Jerusha Conner has studied the positive effects of student engagement with Critical Race Theory through youth-organising groups. Photo: Supplied.

There have been reports that anti-CRT legislation could have harmful effects on how educators talk about race and racism in schools.

Prof. Conner said America’s already polarised political climate has meant many teachers have for years been shying away from the content they fear is potentially ‘political’.

University of Memphis Associate Professor of Philosophy David Miguel Gray said that “there’s a kind of mistake...some thinkers make, which is to say that if you think the US is essentially racist, the only thing that you are actually advocating for is revolution”.

Assoc. Prof. Gray said framing the US as ‘essentially’ racist suggests nothing can be done to change it.

“If you think [America is] foundationally racist, well that’s just to say that...regardless of the foundations of this country, perhaps things can change,” he said.

Philosopher of Race and Racism, David Miguel Gray, says while there are many people in the history of America who have advocated for revolution, this is not part of Critical Race Theory. PHOTO: supplied

Further, concerns about CRT have also surfaced in Australia. In June, the Senate voted in favour of a motion by Pauline Hanson’s One Nation to reject Critical Race Theory from the national curriculum. 

The Greens’ senator for New South Wales, Mehreen Faruqi, said that the motion was a “hate-filled stunt”.

The proposed national curriculum will not teach CRT. However, what it does include are revised accounts of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander histories.

In an article for The Conversation, Associate Professor Stewart Riddle from the University of Southern Queensland, said the changes put forward “a more accurate reflection of the historical record of First Nations people’s experiences with colonisation”.

Final revisions of the national curriculum will be provided to education ministers for endorsement before the end of 2021.