Frustrated by the CRT Fiasco?

Here’s how to turn it into productive anti-racist dialogue

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

No matter where you stand on Critical Race Theory (CRT), you probably aren’t having very productive conversations with people who disagree with you. Whether you see the CRT controversy as a manufactured backlash against Black Lives Matter or as welcome pushback against the excesses of the anti-racism movement, the issue’s ripe for misunderstanding, hostility, and polarization.

But for those of us interested in improving racial discourse, the dispute over CRT offers an opportunity. With a little finesse, people’s obsession with CRT can be redirected into productive conversations about how our society should address persistent racial inequality.

Take, for example, one of the core issues at the heart of the CRT debate: How to teach children about race and racism in America. Even if the panic over CRT in schools is overblown and cynically manufactured (and there’s a lot of evidence it was), there’s plenty of room for disagreement among reasonable and well-intentioned people about what constitutes age-appropriate anti-racist education. Focusing CRT discussions on that question is a great way to leverage the controversy for anti-racist ends.

How to talk about race and racism