In-depth: What is Critical Race Theory and how might it look in classrooms

EFFECT IN 34 DAYS FROM NOW. WHAT EXACTLY IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY? OUR ABC ACTION NEWS IN-DEPTH REPORTER ANTHONY HILL IS DIGGING DEEPER INTO THIS TOPIC AND HOW IT BECAME POPULARIZED. >> Reporter: CRITICAL RACE THEORY HAS BECOME A HOT AND DIVISIVE TOPIC W. ALL THE MISINFORMATION IT'S MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE IN DIALOGUE AND HEALTHY DEBATE ON HOW WE EDUCATE STUDENTS FROM OUR NATION'S HISTORY TO CURRENT SOCIAL DISPARITIES. I SPOKE WITH SEVERAL EDUCATION EXPERTS TO EXPLAIN WHAT IT IS AND HOW IT WOULD THEORETICALLY LOOK IN THE CLASSROOM. >> I THINK THERE'S A GOOD DEAL OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND HOW IT'S APPLIED. >> SO WHAT IS CRITICAL RACE THEORY? MANY SCHOLARS DEFINE IT AS A FRAMEWORK TO HELP EXPLAIN HOW AND WHY RACIAL INEQUITIES STILL EXIST IN OUR SOCIETY. >> OFTEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT RACISM AS INDIVIDUAL ACTS OF BIAS OR BIGOTRY, BUT REALLY CRT HELPS US UNDERSTAND THE WAYS THAT RACISM IS A SYSTEM. >> Reporter: PROPONENTS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY ARGUE THAT THAT SYSTEM HAS LASTING EFFECTS AND IMPACTS THE LIVES OF PEOPLE OF COLOR TODAY. >> WE DON'T WANT TO TELL CERTAIN ASPECTS OF HISTORY. WE WANT TO TELL ALL ASPECTS OF HISTORY SO THAT OUR CHILDREN ARE COMING OUT OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM'S K-12 WITH A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT SOCIETY IS, WHAT IT WAS AND HOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND MAKE IT EVEN BETTER. >> Reporter: CRITICAL RACE THEORY WAS STARTED BACK IN THE 1970S BY LEGAL SCHOLARS AND ACTIVISTS AS A WAY OF EXAMINING LAWS AND POWER STRUCTURES THROUGH THE LENS OF RACE. >> ACKNOWLEDGE THERE ARE DIFFERENT OUTCOMES FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE, AND THAT PERHAPS JUSTICE IS NOT BLIND. >> Reporter: SINCE THEN IT'S MADE ITS WAY INTO DIFFERENT ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES AS ONE OF THE MANY LENSES USED TO CRITICALLY ANALYZE SOCIETY. CRITICAL RACE THEORY IS NOT TAUGHT AS AN ACTUAL SUBJECT IN K-12 CLASSROOMS. PROPONENTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT USED AS ONE OF THE WAYS TO TEACH HISTORY AND CIVICS. >> WE WANT OUR TEACHERS. WE WANT OUR SCHOOL LEADERS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT PHENOMENON THROUGH DIFFERENT LENS. >> Reporter: ONE OF THE CONCERNS IS THAT LOOKING AT HISTORY THROUGH THE LENS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY WOULD HAVE A DETRIMENTAL AFFECT ON WHITE CHILDREN AND PORTRAYS WHITE PEOPLE AS INHERENTLY RACIST. >> TEACHING KIDS TO HATE THEIR COUNTRY AND TO HATE EACH OTHER IS NOT WORTH ONE RED CENT. >> Reporter: THAT'S NOT THE PURPOSE OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY. IT'S REALLY TO THE OPPOSITE. TO HELP US TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE. TO HELP US BE MORE E EMPATHIC AD LOOK AT NONWITH A CRITICAL EYE. >> Reporter: ANOTHER CONCERN IS IT WILL DIVIDE STUDENTS BASED ON RACE. >> IF ANYTHING IT BRINGS THEM CLOSER TOGETHER AND ALLOWS THEM TO COMMUNICATE WITH ONE ANOTHER. >> Reporter: PROPONENTS OF CRITICAL RACE THEORY ARGUE THAT HOW WE CURRENTLY TEACH AMERICAN HISTORY LACKS DEPTH AND DOESN'T EXACTLY TEACH ALL OF OUR HISTORY. OPPONENTS ARGUE THAT IT COULD CREATE RACIAL DIVIDE BETWEEN STUDENTS AND THE CLASSROOM. IN TAMPA, I'M IN-DEPTH

Channel: ABC Action News

Views: 121,107

Keywords: critical race theory, florida law, race theory

Id: ryGQ45RBBhg

Length: 3min 9sec (189 seconds)

Published: Thu Jun 10 2021