Looking For a Good, Short Definition of Critical Race Theory? It Doesn’t Exist. Here’s One Anyway.

Michie

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Actually there is no short, one-paragraph definition of critical race theory, but here's a pretty close shot at one anyway.
Kimberle_Crenshaw.jpg
Wikimedia/Mohamed Badarne, CC-BY-SA-4.0
Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term "Critical Race Theory" (per the American Bar Association)


What is critical race theory? As controversial as it is, we really ought to know. I’ve written a longer version looking at it from two sides, but what if you want it just in one paragraph?

Someone sent me a request for a shorter version like that. I told them it would be tough: There isn’t one definition for CRT, there are a thousand definitions. Still I said I’d take a shot at it, and still I found I couldn’t do it. Here’s my best shot at coming close it it, though. First, a condensed version of the way the original critical race theorists (“crits”) view it, followed by CRT’s expanded meaning that holds among the rest of us.

Critical Race Theory: A Bare-Bones Definition
CRT began among legal scholars, where it was a critique of classical, liberal approaches toward ending racial inequalities embedded in American politics and the economy. The classical liberal strategy on racism, which focused on addressing racist attitudes and changing discriminatory laws, wasn’t progressing quickly enough for them. It didn’t get to the root of the problem, which was power; unequalpower, that is. “Systemic racism” — racism embedded in American power structures and language (where much power resides) — still left blacks oppressed. And it wasn’t about to get better very easily, because whites never release power to minorities unless it somehow gains more power back for themselves. Therefore, crits believe, racism can finally be ended only by upending existing power structures, especially through new legislation and case law.

There’s critical race theory’s legal version in a one-paragraph, sawed-off, condensed form, with apologies to crits for all I had to leave out. That’s your short definition — except it isn’t. I’m sorry, but it can’t be. Here’s why.

The Sawed-Off Version Doesn’t Cover It

Continued below.
Looking For a Good, Short Definition of Critical Race Theory? It Doesn't Exist. Here's One Anyway. | The Stream
 
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JimR-OCDS

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@Michie,

Or you could have pulled it down from Britannica.com.

God bless,
Ted

Yeah but the problem is CRT definition has changed and is different today than when it first started.

Today's definition follows more the line that white men are racists, misogynistic and power hungry. Their oppression of other's is why we have the problems we have today.
 
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Michie

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From the op:


The term has expanded. Once “critical race theory” entered our language, it became strongly associated with add-on terms such as “white privilege,” “white fragility,” “woke,” and “anti-racism.” It also got tied together with the idea that all whites are racist, while people of color can never be.

Meanwhile “intersectionality,” which legal theorists saw mostly as a question of anti-discrimination law, expanded to include “lived experience”: the idea that persons with multiple minority status have a private knowledge of reality that all persons must treat with special respect. Also, academics in other fields, especially history and the humanities, began dismantling “oppressive whiteness” from their disciplines. Even math and logic have non-white, non-male versions now; and not necessarily mathematical or logical, either


Those are just a few of the ways CRT’s meaning has expanded beyond its original scope. Some of these later ideas came from writers who aren’t actually critical race theorists themselves. The original crits may say, therefore, that not all of it really is CRT. Their attempts to control its meaning must prove futile, though. Popular usage affects language in ways academics can’t control.

So it’s generally safe to assume when people mention CRT, they’re not just talking about the original academic version. They have the rest of it in mind, too.
 
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SummerMadness

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There is a short a definition, the other stuff mentioned like intersectionality, white privilege, wokeness, etc., are not critical race theory, those are just all the things conservatives don't like, so they decided to call whatever they dislike critical race theory.
 
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Ignatius the Kiwi

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There is a short a definition, the other stuff mentioned like intersectionality, white privilege, wokeness, etc., are not critical race theory, those are just all the things conservatives don't like, so they decided to call whatever they dislike critical race theory.

Where are the CRT advocates who speak out against things like the idea of white privilege then?
 
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SummerMadness

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Where are the CRT advocates who speak out against things like the idea of white privilege then?
White privilege has nothing to do with critical race theory. Like I said, this is just conservatives attaching a term to something they don't understand and then attaching some other terms they don't like to it. Where are the CRT advocates that say cucumbers taste better pickled?
 
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Ignatius the Kiwi

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White privilege has nothing to do with critical race theory. Like I said, this is just conservatives attaching a term to something they don't understand and then attaching some other terms they don't like to it. Where are the CRT advocates that say cucumbers taste better pickled?

Why then do advocates of CRT (like yourself) not speak out against white privilige and wokeness?

It's disconcerting for CRT advocates (like yourself) when you say there's no connection and say nothing against the blatant racism of those who are clearly reading the world through the lenses of CRT to reach a political conclusion about systemic white oppression. OR how whiteness is a disease which must be dealt with.

Find me one CRT advocate who speaks against the sort of rhetoric we see coming from the left in the America regarding white people.

BTW, do you think the Catholic Church is guilty of too much white privilege?
 
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JimR-OCDS

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White privilege has nothing to do with critical race theory. Like I said, this is just conservatives attaching a term to something they don't understand and then attaching some other terms they don't like to it. Where are the CRT advocates that say cucumbers taste better pickled?

White privilege is a myth of itself.

Instead, we should call it "majority privilege." There is a benefit in being part of the majority in a
country. Go to China and see how the Chinese are benefited where non-Chinese are not.
 
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miamited

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Yeah but the problem is CRT definition has changed and is different today than when it first started.

Today's definition follows more the line that white men are racists, misogynistic and power hungry. Their oppression of other's is why we have the problems we have today.

@Michie,

Well, there may actually be some truth to that. I would agree that a lot of the probles of our having blacks who are, predominantly, less educated than whites, is because we don't, as a society, give the same curriculum and opportunities to black children who grow up in inner city schools. Depending on community, there are still groups and organizations that are flat against allowing black people into their membership. As recently as just a few decades ago, the Trump organization was accused and found guilty of turning away black rental applicants. There are still a lot of places where being black will keep you from renting or buying property. And it isn't as brazen as owners saying that they won't rent or sell to blacks, no!!! There are just excuses made or extra requirements laid out that a black person won't meet and so they are refused on something other than just 'you're black'. Because, hey, it's illegal to discriminate against a person's race in such transactions. You just find some other reason to say no.

My wife has a friend who still to this day, constantly calls black people the 'n' word and just as constantly disparages them without any knowledge of one's individual accomplishments or lack thereof, but just because they're black. It is still here living among us. However, most white people don't see it and don't run into it and so they believe that it's all better. I would challenge you to go black face for a year and tally how many times people sneer at you because you're black or make derogatory remarks under their breath about your race. In today's society it is almost a generally accepted understanding that all black people are lazy and living on welfare and won't get off their a__ to get a job because we give them handouts. But the average white person doesn't see it and thinks that it isn't happening. But I contend that if you are black...it's still happening.

God bless,
Ted
 
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Michie

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@Michie,

Well, there may actually be some truth to that. I would agree that a lot of the probles of our having blacks who are, predominantly, less educated than whites, is because we don't, as a society, give the same curriculum and opportunities to black children who grow up in inner city schools. Depending on community, there are still groups and organizations that are flat against allowing black people into their membership. As recently as just a few decades ago, the Trump organization was accused and found guilty of turning away black rental applicants. There are still a lot of places where being black will keep you from renting or buying property. And it isn't as brazen as owners saying that they won't rent or sell to blacks, no!!! There are just excuses made or extra requirements laid out that a black person won't meet and so they are refused on something other than just 'you're black'. Because, hey, it's illegal to discriminate against a person's race in such transactions. You just find some other reason to say no.

My wife has a friend who still to this day, constantly calls black people the 'n' word and just as constantly disparages them without any knowledge of one's individual accomplishments or lack thereof, but just because they're black. It is still here living among us. However, most white people don't see it and don't run into it and so they believe that it's all better. I would challenge you to go black face for a year and tally how many times people sneer at you because you're black or make derogatory remarks under their breath about your race. In today's society it is almost a generally accepted understanding that all black people are lazy and living on welfare and won't get off their a__ to get a job because we give them handouts. But the average white person doesn't see it and thinks that it isn't happening. But I contend that if you are black...it's still happening.

God bless,
Ted
Did I say it wasn’t happening at all anymore? I don’t think I did. Reading the op helps.
 
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JimR-OCDS

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@Michie,

Well, there may actually be some truth to that. I would agree that a lot of the probles of our having blacks who are, predominantly, less educated than whites, is because we don't, as a society, give the same curriculum and opportunities to black children who grow up in inner city schools. Depending on community, there are still groups and organizations that are flat against allowing black people into their membership. As recently as just a few decades ago, the Trump organization was accused and found guilty of turning away black rental applicants. There are still a lot of places where being black will keep you from renting or buying property. And it isn't as brazen as owners saying that they won't rent or sell to blacks, no!!! There are just excuses made or extra requirements laid out that a black person won't meet and so they are refused on something other than just 'you're black'. Because, hey, it's illegal to discriminate against a person's race in such transactions. You just find some other reason to say no.

My wife has a friend who still to this day, constantly calls black people the 'n' word and just as constantly disparages them without any knowledge of one's individual accomplishments or lack thereof, but just because they're black. It is still here living among us. However, most white people don't see it and don't run into it and so they believe that it's all better. I would challenge you to go black face for a year and tally how many times people sneer at you because you're black or make derogatory remarks under their breath about your race. In today's society it is almost a generally accepted understanding that all black people are lazy and living on welfare and won't get off their a__ to get a job because we give them handouts. But the average white person doesn't see it and thinks that it isn't happening. But I contend that if you are black...it's still happening.

God bless,
Ted

Talk to teachers who teach in predominately black schools and ask them why they don't have the same curriculum as white kids. They'll laugh. They don't have the same curriculum as kids in advance classes, but in general, they're the same. The problem is the kids attending the schools who have parents who don't give a damn.

It isn't white privilege so much as being raised with two parent privilege. 70% of black kids today are born who have no father in the home. Many don't even know who their father is.

As far as black kids, it was reported a few years ago that being cool was more important to blacl high school kids than getting an education. Charter schools in my area, are for advance kids, black and white who are bullied by gangs in the regular school system.
 
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miamited

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Did I say it wasn’t happening at all anymore? I don’t think I did. Reading the op helps.
@Michie
My apologies, that post was actually meant for Jim, whose post I copied. That was merely an old man slip up that I addressed it to you.

God bless,
Ted
 
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miamited

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Talk to teachers who teach in predominately black schools and ask them why they don't have the same curriculum as white kids. They'll laugh. They don't have the same curriculum as kids in advance classes, but in general, they're the same. The problem is the kids attending the schools who have parents who don't give a damn.

It isn't white privilege so much as being raised with two parent privilege. 70% of black kids today are born who have no father in the home. Many don't even know who their father is.

As far as black kids, it was reported a few years ago that being cool was more important to blacl high school kids than getting an education. Charter schools in my area, are for advance kids, black and white who are bullied by gangs in the regular school system.
@JimR-OCDS

Hi Jim,

I didn't mean to infer that it was a similar problem in every school, or that it was the only problem that set black children behind their white peers. You're right fatherlessness makes it hard for children to grow up happy and well adjusted. You're right that many blacks see gang relationship as a 'goal' to be attained. However, neither of those problems address the totality of the problem. The following link is from a research work done by the Brookings Institute, which I believe most hold in fairly high regard for their research work. Unequal Opportunity: Race and Education

You will read early on in the paper that the wealthiest school districts in America spend some 10 times what is spent in the poorest school districts. The majority of largely black attended schools are generally in the poorest districts. They are school structures built in predominantly black neighborhoods and surrounded by generally poorer households. Now admittedly, there are variances of that spending difference across the nation, but if you're one of the children in those poorer neighborhood schools, then it's going to be pretty tough to have the same curriculum and opportunities that those schools that largely, and by quite some measure, outspend your school.

I don't really have any idea where your 'facts' are coming from, but differences in school spending per student between weathier and poorer schools has always been an issue. While the government has attempted to address it by passing certain rules/regulations to even out the spending flow, it is still, by far, a perfect system.

Views of racial inequality in America

Here's further research by the Pew Research Foundation. Another well respected research firm that 'most' people generally regard as accurate in their studies and findings. So, while I'm certainly willing to agree with you that education and employment opportunities aren't the 'only' issue that continues our racial divisions and inequality, it would seem that nearly half of all Americans do think it's an important piece of the puzzle...still. Keep in mind that this is current data points. Many of the adults in the workplace today are of middle age and they went to school in the 70's, 80's and 90's when the picture was less rosy.

As I wrote previously, my wife actually has a friend who still will use every opportunity to denigrate and impugn the character and abilities of a black person for no other reason than the color of their skin. I worked with a man who embarrassed me terribly sitting in a McDonalds having lunch one day and with out lowering his voice one decibel, proclaimed that his sons weren't ever going to work any '[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]' job like those who were working behind the counter of the particular McDonalds that we were in. Those attitudes do still exist and every once in a while, and probably more often than we will ever know, blacks run into such people.

Trump supporters may well, although I'm sure they'd never make the correlation, be feeling a lot of what a black person in America feels. With all the hate, anger and mocking that they are often feeling when outside of their Trump world.

Btw, telling someone to talk to one or two or a dozen teachers in their little world only aware of what goes on in their little piece of paradise, doesn't really give one a picture of the scope of the problem, as a nation. I'm not particularly sold on the idea that a few teachers in Podunk, KY have any idea the scope of the problem in Neverbeenthere, WI.

God bless,
Ted
 
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SummerMadness

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White privilege is a myth of itself.

Instead, we should call it "majority privilege." There is a benefit in being part of the majority in a
country. Go to China and see how the Chinese are benefited where non-Chinese are not.
My post was not about white privilege, I don't really understand why you responded that way. :scratch:
 
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SummerMadness

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Why then do advocates of CRT (like yourself) not speak out against white privilige and wokeness?

It's disconcerting for CRT advocates (like yourself) when you say there's no connection and say nothing against the blatant racism of those who are clearly reading the world through the lenses of CRT to reach a political conclusion about systemic white oppression. OR how whiteness is a disease which must be dealt with.

Find me one CRT advocate who speaks against the sort of rhetoric we see coming from the left in the America regarding white people.
When did I ever say I was an advocate for CRT? Can you point to a post where I make such a claim?

BTW, do you think the Catholic Church is guilty of too much white privilege?
That's off-topic.
 
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Ignatius the Kiwi

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When did I ever say I was an advocate for CRT? Can you point to a post where I make such a claim?

Can you find one CRT advocate who speaks against the sort talk about systemic white privilige then? The problem of whiteness and the like?

Do you disagree with CRT? What do you disagree with it? Why wouldn't you advocate it as a means for explaining systemic white oppression?

That's off-topic.

Yes, but it would be interesting to know your opinion. Do you not find the whiteness of Catholicism oppressive?
 
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@JimR-OCDS

Hi Jim,

I didn't mean to infer that it was a similar problem in every school, or that it was the only problem that set black children behind their white peers. You're right fatherlessness makes it hard for children to grow up happy and well adjusted. You're right that many blacks see gang relationship as a 'goal' to be attained. However, neither of those problems address the totality of the problem. The following link is from a research work done by the Brookings Institute, which I believe most hold in fairly high regard for their research work. Unequal Opportunity: Race and Education

You will read early on in the paper that the wealthiest school districts in America spend some 10 times what is spent in the poorest school districts. The majority of largely black attended schools are generally in the poorest districts. They are school structures built in predominantly black neighborhoods and surrounded by generally poorer households. Now admittedly, there are variances of that spending difference across the nation, but if you're one of the children in those poorer neighborhood schools, then it's going to be pretty tough to have the same curriculum and opportunities that those schools that largely, and by quite some measure, outspend your school.

I don't really have any idea where your 'facts' are coming from, but differences in school spending per student between weathier and poorer schools has always been an issue. While the government has attempted to address it by passing certain rules/regulations to even out the spending flow, it is still, by far, a perfect system.

Views of racial inequality in America

Here's further research by the Pew Research Foundation. Another well respected research firm that 'most' people generally regard as accurate in their studies and findings. So, while I'm certainly willing to agree with you that education and employment opportunities aren't the 'only' issue that continues our racial divisions and inequality, it would seem that nearly half of all Americans do think it's an important piece of the puzzle...still. Keep in mind that this is current data points. Many of the adults in the workplace today are of middle age and they went to school in the 70's, 80's and 90's when the picture was less rosy.

As I wrote previously, my wife actually has a friend who still will use every opportunity to denigrate and impugn the character and abilities of a black person for no other reason than the color of their skin. I worked with a man who embarrassed me terribly sitting in a McDonalds having lunch one day and with out lowering his voice one decibel, proclaimed that his sons weren't ever going to work any '[bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]' job like those who were working behind the counter of the particular McDonalds that we were in. Those attitudes do still exist and every once in a while, and probably more often than we will ever know, blacks run into such people.

Trump supporters may well, although I'm sure they'd never make the correlation, be feeling a lot of what a black person in America feels. With all the hate, anger and mocking that they are often feeling when outside of their Trump world.

Btw, telling someone to talk to one or two or a dozen teachers in their little world only aware of what goes on in their little piece of paradise, doesn't really give one a picture of the scope of the problem, as a nation. I'm not particularly sold on the idea that a few teachers in Podunk, KY have any idea the scope of the problem in Neverbeenthere, WI.

God bless,
Ted

The problem with this theory, and that's what I believe it actually is, is that when blacks immigrate from other nations like my nieces husband did from Kenya, including friends of his and relatives, they succeed educationally. Her husband worked his way through college and is now a manager at a manufacturing firm, in NH of all places, a red state.

So, if they can succeed, how is it so many black American's can't ?

Culture plays a large part of whether kids will be successful or not. When they're taught early on
that they'll never go aware because the system is rigged against black kids, they grow up bitter and vengeful. It's what we're seeing over the past year with the riots and CR Theorist is playing right into it. It's being taught that white privilege is the cause of the system being rigged against blacks. This is what is being projected into the black communities. Will it improve things for them ? No, it will just make crime and gangs grow even more as we're seeing it take place.
 
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