On CRT in the Classroom
Sigh… lawmakers all over the country are seeking to legislate the teaching of true American history under the guise of this critical race theory boogeyman shit.
Reporter Emanuele Berry summed it up perfectly when they said, “The line of what's acceptable to say about race and racism in America, it moved. It's as though we were having one argument, and then the terms changed… This backlash, it's not surprising. This is what America does…”
First off, I am not going to explain CRT in this blog. There are other places to go for that. But I can pretty much assure you that no kids are being taught this in K-12 school and depending on their major, this ain’t coming up at the university level either. Teachers barely have enough time to instruct on the bare necessities - English, math, and whatever else is needed to fulfill the antiquated requirements handed down to them by the powers that be so yea… no room on the schedule for teaching the fundamentals of systemic racism.
However, because America is what it is and sensationalism, tribalism and xenophobia rule our collective consciousness as a nation - groups of people have become enraged at the thought that their precious children will be made uncomfortable by being exposed to the notion that things in the United States are not fair for everyone.
People are enraged on both sides - those who want to ensure their children are exposed to the truth and those who want to ensure anyone responsible for sharing that truth is persecuted by the rule of law.
Here’s my take… I fully support those who are in protest of this sort of legislation. (Indiana House Bill 1134 is one example.)
I also think that no matter what happens at your local statehouse, if you have children in your life it is your responsibility to teach them at home.
Growing up in the 90’s and 2000’s, the public school education I received on racism, Black History or any related topics was mediocre. With the exception of my third and sixth grade teachers (both Black women), most of my educators relegated our learning around those topics to the month of February, at best, or at worst ignored the topics altogether. In high school, I pointed out to my history teacher the blatant issue with her lesson plan not including the chapters from our book that covered slavery, civil rights, etc. She was annoyed and asked me to leave the class. She called my mother to complain about my behavior. My mother was annoyed about the call and said, “Tell that lady not to call me about that silly shit again.” We both laughed.
My upbringing was challenging for a few reasons but one constant that was drilled into me from birth was a deep pride in my people and my culture. I did not grow up feeling shame about being Black and did not see it as a limitation. The limits came from the outside world and over time and through lots of support from my family, loved ones and mentors I was taught how to navigate those barriers.
The key for me was not having to rely on the tools of the oppressor for that knowledge.
My grandmother had a collection of encyclopedias that she taught me how to use for research. I would then give oral reports back to her on what I’d learned about George Washington Carver, Mary McCleod Bethune and other historical figures she’d introduced me to. This was when I was a first grader. At an AME summer camp she sent my siblings and I to a few years later, I learned the Black National Anthem (Lift Every Voice) and we were drilled on Black History facts all the time.
My mom, big cousin and other parental figures often exposed us to different cultures so we grew a deep sense of appreciation for all people and were aware of how systems of oppression worked against the marginalized. I watched them demonstrate what it looked like to champion justice in big and small ways. It wasn’t always a lecture or a book report sort of situation - their choices helped inform my own personal understanding of justice. For example, growing up my mother did not tolerate speaking down on other groups of people based on their race, religion, socioeconomic background, sexuality, gender… none of that shit was appropriate ever. Watching her speak up about that sort of thing let me know what was right. Decades later, she is leading diversity efforts within her corporate sphere of influence.
My family didn’t have a lot of resources and no one had a college degree back then. Many of the things we had access to were free or very affordable - the library, community centers, Black magazines like Ebony, Jet and Essence, historical movies and shows, etc. The point is, they used everything they had to instill in me a deep desire for learning and justice early on so by the time I got to the classroom, I was unfazed by the ways in which the school system was lacking. I didn’t expect much in the first place.
I am not saying stop fighting if that is what you feel led to do. By all means, fight on.
What I am saying is that while you have the time and opportunity, gather up your young people and show them what you know. Go out into the world with them and learn new things together and encourage them to choose justice daily in their personal interactions.
If it is to be, the revolution will begin in the minds and hearts of the youth and happen by their hands. It is up to us to help them prepare.
That preparation cannot be left to chance.
Here is a short list of helpful (and hopefully easily accessible) resources to get started:
Check out books at your local library and make it a regular outing! Many library systems have incentivized reading programs for youth. Here’s a cool reading list for elementary aged children.
Attend cultural events in your town and make it a learning opportunity. In Indianapolis, where I live, the International Marketplace Coalition is a good place to start.
Listen to this episode of This American Life and discuss it as a family. Allow your kids to speak freely about what comes up for them. (This activity may be more suitable for pre-teen/teenaged children)
Connect with your local NAACP chapter or other social activist group to see if there are any actions, demonstrations or workshops taking place you can participate in.
