Critical Race Theory: Context, Controversy, and Call to Action with Dr. Richard Bell

Suddenly, this past year, everyone has begun talking about Critical Race Theory (CRT), a set of premises developed by legal scholars decades ago to interpret America’s institutions in the context of race and civil rights. In recent months, legislators in many states have rushed to pass laws to ban the teaching of CRT from K-12 classrooms across the United States. Yet what exactly is CRT? It can be hard to know, and there’s no manifesto or mission statement. This has made Critical Race Theory a bit of a moving target.

Our seminar has three quite different goals. The first objective is to locate the origins of CRT, establish its core premises, describe the recent controversy, and interrogate the stakes of it all. The second objective is to show you CRT in action—to narrate the histories of voting rights and crime and punishment in the United States through the lens of Critical Race Theory. The third is to introduce participants to a list of practices that CRT scholars believe all of us can adopt to mitigate the worst legacies of slavery in our supposedly post-slavery world.

Led by an expert on American History, Dr. Richard Bell, this conversation will teach participants about the inclusion of Critical Race Theory in American classrooms. Participants will come away with a well-rounded understanding of this contentious debate between legislators, educators, and American citizens.

To explore additional seminars led by Dr. Bell on the topic of American History, click here.