Critical Race Theory (CRT) is like a magnifying glass for the fine print of history, uncovering how racism isn’t just the result of personal prejudice but is often deeply woven into laws, policies, and institutions. CRT doesn’t focus on finger-pointing or villainizing individuals; instead, it examines how systems have perpetuated inequality over time and what we can do to fix them. It’s not about rewriting history—it’s about reading all of it, even the uncomfortable parts, so we can build a better future.
A classic example often analyzed through CRT is redlining, a 20th-century housing policy that classified predominantly Black neighborhoods as “high-risk” for loans. This exclusion from homeownership—the cornerstone of American wealth-building—trapped Black families in cycles of poverty while predominantly white neighborhoods thrived. Though redlining was officially outlawed in 1968 with the Fair Housing Act, its effects didn’t vanish overnight. Today, formerly redlined neighborhoods often still face underfunded schools, lower property values, and limited access to resources. CRT connects these dots, showing how past policies continue to ripple through the present.
Another example is the racial disparities in criminal sentencing. Studies show that, historically, laws like the “war on drugs” disproportionately targeted Black and Brown communities, leading to higher incarceration rates for offenses that white individuals committed at similar rates. Crack cocaine, for instance, carried much harsher penalties than powder cocaine—a disparity that aligned more with race and class than with any scientific justification. These policies not only tore apart families but also created long-term barriers to employment, voting rights, and economic stability for those affected. CRT explores how these inequities came to be and pushes for reforms to address their lingering effects.
Let’s also clear up a myth: CRT is not lurking in your elementary school curriculum. It’s a college-level academic framework, reserved for students who are prepared to engage in complex analyses of history, law, and policy. What younger students are learning in school is a more complete and honest version of American history, which includes the good, the bad, and the deeply regrettable. Teaching kids about slavery, segregation, or the civil rights movement isn’t about making anyone feel guilty—it’s about giving them the knowledge to understand our past so we can make better decisions for the future.
Understanding how systemic racism has shaped our society isn’t about blaming individuals or wallowing in negativity; it’s about empowerment. By recognizing the ways policies like redlining and unfair sentencing have created lasting inequities, we can identify and dismantle those structures. It’s not always a comfortable conversation, but it’s a necessary one. If we want to move beyond the mistakes of history and avoid repeating them, we need to be honest about how we got here. After all, as the saying goes, those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it—and that’s a lesson I hope to ensure all students understand.
