10/26/2010

Critical Race Theory

Definition: Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a movement that studies and attempts to transform the relationship between race and power by examining the role of race and racism within the foundations of modern culture. This theory emerged after the civil rights movement in an attempt to create a forum in which it was apply to the ethnic studies to insure that there was a critical view on race relations in the United States.
Apply: Critical Race Theory is now apply in many areas of study in the law discipline to insure that the civil rights movements continues to be uphold and valued. The responsibilities of these legal professional is to promote racial equality through the law. These laws can include the banning affirmative action such as prop. 209 in California, and Prop.2 here in the state of Michigan that no longer secures that a certain percentage of student of color are admitted to higher education.
Adapt: While CRT has been viewed mainly through the legal profession lens, it can also be adoptive in other disciplines. For example educators can use CRT to understand classroom dynamics, academic testing and curriculum bias. It can also be useful in the political field to understand voting patterns, and campaigns.

3 comments:

  1. Apply: Critical Race Theory can be applied to social work education and curriculum development by including works by authors of various racial groups and ethnicities that have historically been excluded from academic discourse.

    Adapt: Critical Race Theory can be used in the field of psychology to evaluate power dynamics within group therapy sessions, and how people from marginalized racial groups interact with people from dominant racial groups vs. group therapy sessions whose members are of only one racial group.

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  2. Apply: CRT should be used in applications that include the option "other." As long as the word other continues to be in use in applications and/or forms it will continue to marginalize populations. OTher indicates that there is a hierarchy among races and that the "others" are less and not important. Critical Race theory should expand to other historically marginalized populations including the LGBTQ community. By incorporating biographies and curriculum on marginalized populations it will help create a diverse atmosphere, thus, expanding not only teacher to students learning but create stronger peer-to-peer learning.

    ADAPT: CRT should be used in every profession. Critically, the usage of CRT will benefit the health profession since it is known that there is health discrepancies between minorities and privileged. Critical Race Theory is very important in understanding health providers' biases and discriminatory decisions in treatments.

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  3. Apply: Alejandro, I could not agree more with you. Critical Race Theory allows us to see the true underlying meaning when we use the word "other." Mainly when we use the word other we are comparing something to another. In these regards when looking at race often people feel that one race is superior then the other. As an individual who is White. I do not see myself as merely this, because of my Jewish heritage. Therefore, I do not feel that I am in the dominant group and I am in the "other" group which is a minority. Critical Race Theory should be incorporated into every profession because every person needs to be treated with dignity, respect, and care.

    Adapt:
    In the social work profession as well as other helping professions it is essential for professionals to know the populations that will be receiving services. Critical Race Theory can act as a useful tool that benefits everyone in the long run.

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