Really Understanding Critical Race Theory

Simplifying Critical Race Theory<= /h2> Dr. Sara Demoiny Auburn= University

Our recent conversation with Dr. = Sara Demoiny on the podcast was incredibly thought provoking.  Dr. &nb= sp;Demoiny is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Education in the Departm= ent of Curriculum and Teaching at Auburn University.  Her research int= erests focus on the manner in which race and whiteness are taught in social= studies teacher education. In our conversation with Dr. Demoiny, she broke= down what Critical Race Theory is and what it is not.  
Over the past few years C= ritical Race Theory or CRT has been weaponized. People incorrectly call CRT= anti-American.   As author, Frederick Joseph said,  =E2=80=9CYou= can=E2=80=99t be anti-racist.  You can=E2=80=99t be anti-history.&nbs= p; But you can grab on to CRT and be anti-Critical Race Theory=E2=80=9D.&nb= sp; Opponents believe that CRT is being taught in schools across the countr= y; however, CRT is often utilized at a graduate level as a framework to exa= mine how slavery and segregation are rooted in the U.S.=E2=80=99s legal sys= tems and policies.  CRT is a complex framework taught at high levels o= f education and not taught in K-12 curriculum.  At its core, CRT aims = to combat racism.
Critical Race Theory emerged in the United States in the late 1970=E2=80= =99s as a framework for legal analysis. Critical race theorists believe tha= t racism is an everyday experience for most people of color.  There ar= e basic tenets of CRT. 

1. Race is not biological but socially constructed and signifi= cant.
2. = Although individuals can be racist; racism is perpetuated through cu= ltural norms, institutional rules, and laws and regulation.
3. Racism is codified in= law, embedded in structures, and woven into public policy
4. Race intersects= with other identities, including sexuality, gender identity, and others.&n= bsp;
5. = People of color are uniquely qualified to speak on behalf of other me= mbers of their group regarding the forms and effects of racism.

By understandi= ng how embedded racism is in systems and policies one can then move toward = change.
Check out this video to learn more: