Critics of CRT believe that teaching about racism and our racial history will result in white children feeling guilty or fearful, feeling hate from black children, or that this will cause “reverse racism.”  To begin with, CRT is not a curriculum, but a lens with which to view our history and institutions.  Learning about our past mistakes and current problems can be uncomfortable, but good educators offer age-appropriate understanding of racism and don’t promote blame or shame. Children from marginalized groups are quite aware of their group(s) being treated unfairly.  What better way of helping all children feel better about themselves and our country than by learning both the problems of our history AND the many brave efforts to correct our shortcomings?  Moving toward a more equitable society doesn’t bring gains for some and losses for others. It actually improves life for everyone by making the community work better together.

Some critics of CRT refer to it as Marxist, which is a way of arousing fear over racial justice issues rather than understanding.  Both CRT scholars and Marxist scholars offer explanations for the inequalities in U.S. society. CRT theorists view race as a key issue, while Marxists view class as a key issue.), but that does not make CRT a Marxist theory.  Even Martin Luther King was accused of being a communist because he espoused equality. The potent fear of Marxism, held by many people in power, is being used to arouse fear of CRT, when there is not much connection.

Listen to this interesting MSNBC interview with Kimberlé Crenshaw.