Teaching Truth

GuestOpinion

By James E. Ford

Don’t Believe the Hype About Critical Race Theory

“D on’t Believe the Hype” was a phrase popularized in 1988 by the overtly pro-Black political rap act Public Enemy in their self-titled smash hit. The song was a call, admonishing citizens to not be so easily swayed by the media or buy into controversial stories. Fast forward to the present. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re probably at least vaguely familiar with the hoopla surrounding so-called “Critical Race Theory” in schools. While it may be 2021, and I’m certainly not lead emcee Chuck D, I also want to encourage you to not “believe the hype.”

For the past few months, nearly every day of coverage on the news has been dedicated to discussing this decades-old legal theory created by Black and Brown scholars to understand the function of systemic racism in American policies and law. In the process, the reputable academic framework known as Critical Race Theory (CRT) has instead been wildly misrepresented and used as a catch-all phrase to reference any discussion or analysis of racism whatsoever. Critics across the country are alleging that it is pervasive in public school classrooms and teaches white children to hate themselves or feel guilty due to the color of their skin. Supporters assert that educators are not teaching CRT, but rather — they are giving students a more accurate historical picture of the country that confronts the true legacy of racism. I am transparently the latter.

So, how did we get here? The short answer is, an organized and well-funded disinformation campaign led by far-right think tank personalities like Christopher Rufo, Senior Fellow of the Manhattan Institute, who by his own admission sought to lump all matters dealing with race and diversity under the term CRT and make it toxic in the eyes of the public. In some respects, he has been successful -- mostly with white citizens -- with the assistance of groups like Parents Defending Education in fomenting reactionary outrage. The so-called “anti-CRT” movement thus far inspired a rash of bills in state houses across the country seeking to limit how racism is taught. North Carolina has one such bill under consideration (HB 324) that would prevent any honest investigation of issues of race or gender. It was passed in the House but remains in the Senate, sitting in committee.

The longer answer is, we’ve always been here. This sort of thing is part of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. refers to in Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? as the “white backlash.” The allergic and apoplectic reaction to even the slightest cultural shift in the direction of non-white people is sadly predictable. Dr. King writes, “It is a surfacing of old prejudices, hostilities, and ambivalences that have always been there …The white backlash of today is rooted in the same problem that has characterized America ever since the black man landed in chains on the shores of this nation.” The tragic irony is opponents have attempted in vain to use King’s words to denunciate any recognition or study of race, arguing that he had a dream for individuals to be judged by “content of character” and not color.

So, what should we do about it? An accurate rendering of history tells us everything we need to know. Regressives always do this. With every advancement, every modest push for reform, every step in the direction of progress, they cry “bloody murder.” Whether it be abolition, desegregation, or simply a more inclusive history curriculum, they can be seen kicking and screaming about the sky supposedly falling. They use the same ultra-thin playbook, labeling every counter-cultural idea “socialist,” “Marxist” or “Communist,” hoping to use fear to motivate. Charges of CRT are no different. They did the same thing to Dr. King. Our charge is to keep pushing forward and do what we’ve always done — lead in the face of opposition.

In sum, it’s important to know this debate is actually not about Critical Race Theory at all. It is about a fear of being “replaced.” Many white Americans struggle with the fact the country has changed — both in culture and composition. They cannot see a world where other stories and perspectives are part of the narrative within a multiracial democracy. They instead choose to see it as losing their way of life. But facts are stubborn things, and another way is possible. We cannot go back to the America of 50, 100, or 200 years ago. However, we can learn from the critical mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them in the future. But this means we must let go of our favorite myths and teach students to confront hard truths. Yes, this includes systemic racism. P

Screen capture of Christopher Rufo’s Twitter account James E. Ford is an award-winning educator and consultant on equity issues based in Charlotte. He is the Executive Director of the Center for Racial Equity in Education (CREED) and an at-large member of the North Carolina State Board of Education.