Creator Of Term ‘Critical Race Theory’ Kimberlé Crenshaw Explains What It Really Is

MSNBC

21 Jun 202108:56

Summary

TLDRThe script discusses the GOP's reaction to Critical Race Theory (CRT), accusing it of being a form of Marxism and racism. It argues CRT is not taught in K-12 schools but is a political strategy to mobilize voters by framing anti-racism as racist against white people. The co-founder of CRT, Kimberly Crenshaw, clarifies CRT's purpose is to understand and address enduring racial inequalities, not to promote racism.

Takeaways

🔍 The GOP is using Critical Race Theory (CRT) as a political tool to stir controversy and gain support.
📚 CRT is being misrepresented as a form of Marxism and is being labeled as racist.
🗣️ The speaker argues that CRT is not a standalone subject but a perspective on understanding racial inequality.
🏛️ CRT was initially developed to analyze how law contributes to racial disparities and to find ways to address them.
👨‍🏫 There is no K-12 curriculum on CRT being taught in schools, contrary to what some political narratives suggest.
🚫 The speaker suggests that the backlash against CRT is an attempt to reverse the racial reckoning following high-profile incidents like the murder of George Floyd.
📺 Media outlets like Fox News have been instrumental in amplifying the narrative against CRT, with frequent mentions to shape public opinion.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The fear of CRT being taught to children is being exploited to mobilize parents, particularly conservative activists, against it.
🎯 The strategy is aimed at influencing the upcoming elections by energizing white voters with a perceived threat to their values.
⚖️ The speaker expresses concern that the framing of anti-racism as racist against white people could succeed, as it has in the past.
📢 There is a need for accurate information and understanding of CRT to counter the misinformation and political manipulation.

Q & A

What is the GOP's concern with Critical Race Theory (CRT) according to the transcript?
-The GOP views Critical Race Theory as a threat, framing it as a form of new Marxism that uses identity politics to divide society. They claim it teaches white children they are racist and is being used as a political wedge issue.
Why do some conservatives compare Critical Race Theory to Marxism?
-Conservatives argue that Critical Race Theory resembles Marxism in that it allegedly seeks to create division, but instead of using class (as in classical Marxism), it uses race and identity politics to gain control and influence.
Is Critical Race Theory actually being taught in K-12 schools according to Kimberly Crenshaw?
-No, Kimberly Crenshaw, who co-authored one of the few books on Critical Race Theory, states that CRT is not part of the K-12 curriculum. It is primarily a law school concept and has not been widely taught outside of higher education.
What does Kimberly Crenshaw say is the real goal of Critical Race Theory?
-According to Crenshaw, Critical Race Theory is about examining how laws and policies have contributed to ongoing racial inequalities. It seeks to address these issues by understanding and intervening in the systemic barriers that still exist despite legal reforms.
What does the transcript suggest is the political strategy behind the GOP’s attack on CRT?
-The transcript suggests that the GOP's attack on CRT is part of a manufactured political strategy to create a wedge issue that can energize conservative voters and counter the multiracial coalitions that have gained political power, particularly after events like the Georgia elections.
How is Fox News portrayed in the transcript regarding its role in the CRT debate?
-Fox News is portrayed as amplifying the fear around CRT by repeatedly mentioning it—over 1,300 times in a few months—thus driving negative perceptions and mobilizing conservative parents and activists against it.
What historical parallels does Kimberly Crenshaw draw about the framing of anti-racism efforts?
-Crenshaw notes that efforts to frame anti-racism as racism against white people have a long history. This tactic was used after the Civil War, following Brown v. Board of Education, and could be used again in current debates about CRT.
What is the alleged political motivation behind pushing CRT as a wedge issue, according to the transcript?
-The transcript suggests that CRT is being used to rally conservative voters for the 2022 elections by portraying it as a threat to white children and society, even though the actual teaching of CRT in schools is minimal to nonexistent.
What are some of the negative labels conservatives use to describe CRT in the transcript?
-Conservatives in the transcript describe CRT as 'Marxism,' 'bigoted,' 'racism,' and compare it to the actions of the Ku Klux Klan, calling it divisive and harmful to society.
What does Crenshaw suggest is at stake in the ongoing debate about CRT?
-Crenshaw warns that if people don’t understand the true nature of the debate, the framing of anti-racism as racism could prevail once again, reversing progress made in racial justice and civil rights.

Outlines

00:00

😡 GOP Criticism of Critical Race Theory as a Political Strategy

The paragraph discusses the GOP's vehement opposition to Critical Race Theory (CRT) and its prevalence in political rhetoric. At a conservative Christian conference, speakers equated CRT with Marxism, claiming it uses identity politics to reshape America. These assertions frame CRT as inherently racist, a sentiment echoed by many conservatives who equate it with bigotry. The speaker highlights that this narrative is not random but a strategic move by political operatives to reclaim power by exploiting fear, particularly against a multiracial coalition that gained prominence in Georgia. The media, especially Fox News, amplifies this narrative, painting CRT as a danger to children.

05:01

📢 CRT: A Manufactured Boogeyman

This section continues to describe the manufactured fears around CRT, which has been mischaracterized to stir public outrage. Despite no evidence of CRT being taught in K-12 schools, political operatives have successfully fueled the narrative that it teaches white children to feel guilty about their race. The speaker sarcastically refers to the absurdity of blaming CRT for everything from minor mishaps to societal problems, highlighting how the term has become a buzzword. They point out that the outrage is based on a distortion of facts, but the truth is less important than the effectiveness of the fear-mongering rhetoric.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory (CRT) is an academic framework that examines society and culture as they connect to categorizations of race, law, and power. It seeks to highlight and challenge the persistence of racial inequality, particularly in the United States. In the transcript, CRT is discussed as a lens through which to view and understand systemic racism and inequality, rather than a specific curriculum taught in schools. The conversation revolves around the misconceptions and politicization of CRT, showing how it has been misrepresented and used as a 'boogie man' in political discourse.

💡GOP

GOP stands for the Grand Old Party, which is another name for the Republican Party in the United States. The script mentions the GOP's 'freakout' over Critical Race Theory, indicating a strong reaction or opposition to the theory. This is tied to the broader theme of political maneuvering and the use of CRT as a divisive issue within the party's strategy.

💡Marxism

Marxism is a social, political, and economic theory originated from Karl Marx, advocating for the establishment of a classless society through the overthrow of capitalism. In the transcript, Marxism is mentioned as a term that has been used to mischaracterize Critical Race Theory, suggesting that CRT is being unfairly linked to a radical political ideology to discredit it.

💡Identity Politics

Identity politics refers to political positions based on the interests and perspectives of social groups with which people identify. The script discusses how 'new Marxism' is accused of using identity politics to gain control, contrasting it with the 'old Marxism' that used economics. This highlights the video's exploration of how race and identity are being leveraged in contemporary political debates.

💡Wedge Issue

A wedge issue is a topic that is intentionally divisive, designed to split public opinion and create polarization. The transcript describes how CRT has been turned into a wedge issue by political operatives to regain power by dividing the public along racial lines.

💡Boogie Man

A 'boogie man' is a term used to describe something that is made to seem scary or dangerous to manipulate people's emotions. In the context of the video, CRT is referred to as a 'boogie man' that is being used to incite fear and opposition among certain groups, particularly parents concerned about what their children are being taught.

💡Racial Reckoning

Racial reckoning refers to a period of deep and critical examination of racial dynamics, often prompted by significant events. The script mentions a racial reckoning that has occurred in response to events like the murder of George Floyd, and how the backlash against CRT is an attempt to reverse this societal introspection.

💡Blue Lives Matter

Blue Lives Matter is a countermovement to Black Lives Matter, supporting police officers. The transcript suggests that after January 6th, the slogan 'Blue Lives Matter' was exposed as a sham, indicating a shift in public sentiment and the need for a new rallying cry, which some have found in the opposition to CRT.

💡Fox News

Fox News is a conservative news channel in the United States. The script mentions Fox News' role in disseminating the narrative against CRT, highlighting the media's influence in shaping public opinion and political discourse around CRT.

💡Cherry-Picked Stories

Cherry-picking refers to the selective presentation of data or information to support a particular argument or narrative. In the context of the video, cherry-picked stories are used to describe the way certain narratives about CRT are being used to manipulate public perception, often without verifying their accuracy.

💡Anti-Racism

Anti-racism is the active opposition to racism by advocating for the civil rights of dominated racial and ethnic groups. The transcript discusses how anti-racism is being framed as racist against white people, which is a strategy that has been historically used to undermine civil rights movements.

Highlights

GOP using critical race theory as a rallying cry.

Comparison of old and new Marxism with critical race theory.

Claim that critical race theory is racism and should be rejected.

Description of critical race theory as a highly manufactured strategy for political gain.

The use of critical race theory as a wedge issue to counter the multiracial coalition.

Conservatives in Congress and media's role in spreading the narrative against critical race theory.

The fearmongering around critical race theory in education.

Kimberly Crenshaw's introduction as co-founder and executive director who coined the term 'critical race theory'.

Explanation that critical race theory is a perspective on race and law, not a curriculum.

Historical context of critical race theory's development post-Civil Rights Movement.

The misperception that critical race theory is being taught in K-12 schools.

Crenshaw's clarification that critical race theory is not taught in K-12 schools.

The backlash as an effort to reverse the racial reckoning following high-profile police brutality cases.

The strategy to make critical race theory toxic in the public conversation.

The frequency of critical race theory mentions in Fox News and its impact on public perception.

The involvement of Republican activists in protests against critical race theory in schools.

The risk of framing anti-racism as racist against white people and historical precedents.

The importance of understanding the stakes and the need for a factual discourse on critical race theory.