This mural can be found within the walls of Blackshear Elementary School in 3rd Ward Houston, Texas.

Critical Race Theory

CRT banned in schools across the United States

Critical Race Theory, also known as CRT, has been around for approximately 40 years old. CRT was created by a professor at the University of Washington Law School named Derrick Bell. Professor Bell did numerous philosophical writings and developed CRT off the basis of the 14th amendment. According to the New York Times, “The theory, born in the 1970s among legal scholars, uses race as a lens through which to examine structures of power.” Critical Race Theory is deep dissatisfaction with the aspects taken away from the civil rights movement, not necessarily written on paper. According to The First Amendment Encyclopedia, “Some of the basic tenets of CRT rest on the belief that racism is a fundamental part of American society, not simply an aberration that can be easily corrected by law; that any given culture constructs its own social reality in its own self-interest, and in the United States this means that minorities’ interests are subservient to the system’s self-interest; and that the current system, built by and for white elites, will tolerate and encourage racial progress for minorities only if this promotes the majority’s self-interest.” Some other aspects of CRT include abolishing the idea of “color blindness” and “complete integration.” Color blindness refers to the notion of seeing everyone equally while disregarding the race and color of their skin, rather than accepting and acknowledging that everyone is different and treating them equally anyway. Complete integration is the idea that everyone has and follows the same cultural practices. When in reality, CRT fights for all cultures to be equal while coexisting without sacrifice.

Black Lives Matter rejuvenated the passion for CRT

After the death of George Floyd, minority communities started to use their voices to speak out against police brutality and demand better treatment and representation throughout all aspects of American society. Protests began to outbreak, movements, campaigns, riots, and many companies start to participate within the movement. By teaching CRT in schools, communities believed it would begin to better our youth which will transfer to the future.

George Floyd’s death in May 2020 was the driving force to the Black Lives Matter movement, this mural in Houston; Tx resides in Graffiti Park where artists express their views on current events. (left) This mural resides on the side of a church in the iconic streets of 3rd Ward Houston, TX which is known as a historically black community. These inspiring words run parallel to a runners’ trail as a reminder to continue to fight for what the community believes is right. (middle) This mural of a melting pot of children was started in December 2019 and resides on the front of Blackshear Elementary in Houston, Tx, where they have been molding young minds for 105 years. The mural is referred to, by the artist, as a “selfie” of actual people within the community in 3rd Ward. (right)

This is one of the many murals painted August 2019 along the inside walls of Blackshear Elementary in Houston, TX, where children are reminded that no matter the color of their skin they can succeed. The mural shows kids in diapers to graduation to help motivate the children attending the school. (left) This banner was hung in August 2019 as well as multiple others along the walls of Blackshear Elementary in Houston, TX, and is a perfect example of how invested their teachers are in the future and overall success in their students. The message in this banner is the foundation of preparing our youth to be better than those before them. (middle) This mural along the inside walls of Blackshear Elementary in Houston TX was created in August 2019 with the honesty of change and how it will undoubtedly occur. This mural supports the children and represents how one can smile through the changes. (right)

This is 3-year-old Julius Halbert who lives in Houston, Tx, and is captured looking at his mother in the distance in June 2021. The light in his young eyes holds hope and progress for our country as he enters kindergarten within the next couple of years. (left) This mural belongs to the streets of historically black 3rd Ward Houston Tx, where its colorful appearance draws the eyes of many to encourage those who see it to at upon their civic duty to vote. Voting to maintain or change the attributes of their community to better the lives of themselves and those around them. (right)

What are they trying to ban specifically?

The bills and laws being passed to ban CRT teaching in school attempt to silence the minority once again. The main reason for attempting to add this curriculum to children’s education is to better our youth to better our future. The truth about American history should not be held back until an individual chooses to go to college or not. CRT is an avenue to teach all children what their American ancestors have failed and accomplished to then take that knowledge and do better. However, it is only fair to teach children the entirety of history while also embedding the idea of multiracial equality.

What states have already taken action?

According to Education Week, six states have already signed bills to ban teaching CRT to children in school. Those six states include Idaho, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Tennesse, New Hampshire. At the same time, states such as Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Dakota, and South Dakota are currently proposing bills and moving them through the state’s legislative. Some see the implementation of CRT in schools as another fight in a seemingly neverending cultural war. However, in reality, the founders, such as Professor Bell, educate others with this theory to have all people on the same page historically and societally.

What should we fight for?

CRT is such a hot political topic because this theory’s teaching will come significant change throughout our government. People were using CRT as a new scare tactic when it was simply created as a tool to right our wrongs when it came to political power and racial characteristics. America continues to strive towards the melting pot we all desire through change and growth as a society. There have been many obstacles in the past that we had to fight to overcome as a country. This small battle is just an additional hurdle we must jump. Our history should not be silenced, and change cannot occur when you are inside your comfort zone. To better our future as America, we need to learn from our past mistakes and triumphs. All of the change citizens have been fighting for starts with our youth.