Critical race theory in Mississippi, explained

by Nigel Dent, Mississippi Today
February 12, 2022

What is critical race theory?

According to the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, critical race theory is an academic framework used to analyze racism’s systemic impact on society. Critical race theory focuses on the social, political and economic intersections with race and the institutions that continue to oppress marginalized people.

Initially constructed for legal analysis, at its core, CRT has roots back to the late 1900s, spearheaded by notable Black legal scholars.

Why is it so controversial?

CRT was founded on generations of Black scholarship and activism, but Republican politicians have denounced the theory and continue to mischaracterize it as a way to divide students or introduce racism into the classroom.

At last year’s Neshoba County Fair, Reeves gave a speech, which included this:

“Some of these Ivy League liberals are the dumbest smart people in the world,” Reeves said. “In what world is it OK to teach children that they are born racist? In what world is it OK to tell children they will be judged by the color of their skin and not the content of their character … In Mississippi, our kids should be learning STEM education, not Dem education.” 

Fellow critics of CRT cite similar claims of divisiveness, but people well-versed in critical race theory repeatedly emphasize the systemic analysis that it operates on. That is, CRT focuses on the entirety of the system, not the individual — instead, the individual’s place in that system.

But the message is getting lost in translation if it’s being boiled down to supposedly teaching white children that they’re born racists with a personal and active hand in oppressing their peers of color.     

READ MORE: Anti-CRT bill passed out of Senate committee likely unconstitutional, opponents say

Is it being taught in Mississippi schools?

Currently, Mississippi has only one class explicitly about CRT called Critical Race Theory: Law 743, taught at the University of Mississippi. Education reporter Molly Minta wrote about the class in an article titled “Inside Mississippi’s only class on critical race theory” to tell the story of a young Republican woman who wrote to her lawmakers criticizing their decision to move anti-CRT legislation forward after taking the class. 

The Mississippi Department of Education confirmed that CRT is not being taught in any K-12 public institution in the state.

If SB 2113 is passed into law, Mississippi will join at least 14 other states in banning or otherwise limiting critical race theory in public schools.

READ MORE: Inside Mississippi's only class on critical race theory

What's happening with critical race theory in the Legislature?

Republican lawmakers filed 11 bills addressing critical race theory this session, according to EducationWeek. Only one remains alive. The Senate passed Senate Bill 2113, which only references CRT in its title (versus the bill itself). The legislation as currently written is vague, but would prohibit “distinction or classification of students based on account of race.” 

When the bill was taken up for a vote on the Senate floor, “every Black Mississippi senator walked out in protest. The fate of this legislation now rests with the House, which has until March 1 to assign and pass it out of committee.

READ MORE: 

• Philip Gunn’s biggest legacy is on the line with critical race theory
• How Black senators controlled the narrative on a historic day at the Capitol

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FULL COVERAGE: Read all of our coverage on critical race theory

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.