In order to advance racial equality and diminish discrimination we cannot be afraid to have tough conversations.
2020 was a challenging year. Not only were we dealing with the effects of COVID-19 but the issue of police brutality caught the media’s attention due to the unjust murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police.
Although police brutality against the Black community has been prevalent in the United States for the vast majority of its history, 2020 was witness to the mobilization of entire communities against Black injustice as well as the publicity of other victims of police brutality including Breonna Taylor and Manuel Elis. These events have ignited discussions about race, not only in public forums but also within classrooms. Unfortunately, some states have taken measures to prevent these conversations from happening.
In an effort to censor our American educational system, states such as Texas, Tennessee and Florida have started to remove the teaching of critical race theory from the school curriculum.
By removing critical race theory from the educational curriculum, states are essentially saying that the injustices and oppression that the Black community still face are not worthy of being taught to America’s young minds. That the struggles and obstacles that Black people are forced to overcome are not as important as learning how to write in cursive.
The Black community’s struggle against racism, discrimination, and police brutality needs to be addressed by every school system. Black oppression is not a thing of the past; the Black community is still actively fighting against the injustices projected by many of the institutions that have been fundamental to America since its birth. Change needs to happen within our country and it should start in the educational system.
What is Critical Race Theory (CRT)
Critical Race Theory (CRT) can be defined as the examination of the effects of systemic racism on institutions that have been fundamental to America. This discipline seeks to educate children on the ways that certain systems and institutions within America have been responsible for the injustices and oppression that Black people have suffered from.
CRT was created for the sole purpose of acknowledging the fact that not everyone is treated equally within this country. We may have laws and legislations that articulate the idea that everyone is equal and should be treated as such but in practice it is a different reality. America, as a nation, needs to do its due diligence in addressing and rectifying the injustices that Black people and other minority groups are forced to confront. The only way that this can happen is by creating spaces where tough but necessary conversations about race can be had.
The Reasons People Want CRT Removed
There have been many criticisms against CRT. Some believe that it is part of the “woke agenda” and is therefore being used to indoctrinate the youth while others believe that it is being used to make white children feel shame and guilt over slavery, segregation, and racism. What these critics fail to realize is that CRT is not about indoctrination, it is about education.
There is a large demographic of Americans that are trying to hold on to this wholesome and faithful picture of America, even if it means ignoring a large and fundamental part of our history. Facing the realities of this country’s past and having the courage to rectify them are essential to the success of the American nation.
Why CRT is Essential to the School Curriculum
The only way to create a solution to a problem is by first acknowledging that the problem exists.
Regardless of whether it is admitted, race is a social construct that affects everyone in America. Systems and institutions whose main goal is to incite racial inequality in America are widespread. We, as a nation, must endeavor to fully understand and effectively acknowledge the problems that are prevalent within our society. The issues of racism and discrimination can only be solved by first acknowledging that they are in fact problems that need to be solved.
We cannot eradicate racism and discrimination if we keep trying to teach the next generation that they don’t exist. Therefore, we must be willing to allow critical race theory to be taught in our schools in order to fight off the social inequalities that have penetrated our society.