Key Concepts

Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory

Critical race theory (CRT) is a research methodology and framework that challenges dominant social narratives, such as Western attitudes or Eurocentric values where Whiteness is normalized (Delgado & Stefancic, 2017). CRT rejects the liberal view that racism is held only by ill-informed, morally-bad individuals or exists from a less-enlightened time. Instead, critical race theorists take the following positions:

1.     Racism is so enmeshed, it is unrecognized. Racism is difficult to see because it is normalized within structures. The invisible nature of it can promote colorblindness where people believe it does not exist or when it does occur, it is within an individualized good/bad binary (DiAngelo, 2011). For example, “I’m not racist, I have black friends.”

2.     The “other” is reduced to one identity. The dominant culture often reduces minority groups or the “other” to one racial/ethnic group and oversimplified stereotypes. This requires the other to be in positions to defend or explain misinformed narratives or myths (Evans & Moore, 2015). For example, Arabs live in a desert and have a lot of camels.

3.     Counter-storytelling is a tool for change. Storytelling from the “other” provides new versions to master or common stock narratives. For example, the concept of meritocracy is the belief that if citizens work hard, they will rise to the top. However, stories from marginalized populations commonly speak of the structural barriers that provide some with unearned advantage and others with unearned disadvantage (Byrd, 2009; Evans & Moore, 2015; Rocco, et al 2014).

Sources:

Bell, D. A. (1995). Who's afraid of critical race theory. U. Ill. L. Rev., 893.

Delgado, R., & Stefancic, J. (2017). Critical race theory: An introduction. NYU Press.