Tag Archives: Critical Race Theory

Critical Race Theory – M3 P2

Critical Race Theory (CRT) as stated by Britannica.com is, “intellectual and social movement and organized framework of legal analysis based on the premise that race is not a natural, biologically grounded feature of physically distinct subgroups of human beings but a socially constructed (culturally invented) category that is used to oppress and exploit people of colour.”

Though it has resurfaced more so in the United States, the concept still applies to those of us living in Canada. Many of the arguments surrounding Critical Race Theory and the lived experience of Black Americans could potentially be similar to the lived experience of Indigenous people living in Canada. Our society has been created around Indigenous folk being the “Other.” Systemically, they have been treated differently (i.e. Residential Schools) leaving their current experience in our legal, medical and educational systems as very different than white folk.

Learning more about CRT has allowed me to reflect a little bit more profoundly on what I think race is and how it is constructed.

The following videos and article were also helpful for me in gaining more of an understanding around Critical Race Theory:

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05

White Teachers, Critical Race Theory and Aboriginal Education – M3 P1

The following project I found on the topic of white teachers, critical race theory and Aboriginal education. The author, Michelle Vanhouwe, submitted it as part of her Masters. What interested me the most of this project was the section about the challenges to implementing anti-racist education.

Three areas of resistance are discussed:

  • traditional pedagogic concerns: Vanhouwe goes into detail about the traditional belief of meritocracy; the belief that we are all the same and have equal opportunity if we work hard enough. Anti-racist education challenges this.
  • conservative political views: Such as assimilation and what it mean to be Canadian.
  • conservative views of race and anti-racism: We don’t acknowledge race and racism, it is seen as a problem for the Other, etc.

As I continue to research for my final project of this course, I think the Reference list from Vanhouwe will come in very handy. The town I live in has many conservative political views and this project allowed me to think about that a little bit more deeply. I sometimes live in a fairy tale world where I think everyone has the same views on life as I do because typically I choose to surround myself with like minded people. This was a good reminder that there will always be people who disagree and in order to move forward we need to work through that.